Find Genealogy Records in Smyrna

Smyrna genealogy records are filed at the Cobb County courthouse in Marietta. The Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk hold marriage licenses, wills, land deeds, and court records that can help trace family lines in this part of Georgia.

Cobb County Courthouse Records for Smyrna

Smyrna does not have its own courthouse for genealogy records. All records are filed at the Cobb County courthouse in Marietta, about 8 miles north of Smyrna. The Probate Court holds marriage licenses from 1865 to the present. It also keeps wills, estate files, guardianship papers, and letters of administration.

The Superior Court Clerk has land deeds, divorce records, and civil court cases. Land records for Cobb County start in 1865. Divorce records go back to the same year. These records can show property transfers, family disputes, and connections between family members that other records miss.

Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court handles all wills, estates, guardianships, and marriage licenses in the county. This is the main office for Smyrna genealogy records. You can visit in person or send a written request by mail with the proper fees.

Vital Records for Smyrna Genealogy

Georgia started statewide vital records in 1919. The Department of Public Health keeps birth and death certificates under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. Before 1919, records depend on what the local area kept. Coverage was uneven across the state.

Birth certificates cost $25 for the first copy. Each additional copy costs $5. Death certificates are the same price. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates are only available to the person named on the record, parents, grandparents, adult children, adult siblings, spouses, or legal guardians. Death certificates are easier to get.

For older records, try the Georgia Archives Virtual Vault. It has death certificates from 1919 to 1943 that you can view for free. FamilySearch has indexed Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943. Both are good starting points for Smyrna genealogy.

Marriage records from 1952 to 1996 were filed with both the county Probate Court and the state. If you cannot find a marriage record at the Cobb County courthouse, check with the Georgia Department of Public Health for that time frame.

Online Genealogy Records for Smyrna

Search Cobb County records online through the E-Access to Court Records portal. It is free to register. Basic case data is free to view. Full document copies cost $2.50 for the first page and $1.00 per page after that.

The Georgia Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 gives the public a right to see most government records. This covers court records in Cobb County. You can also file a written open records request with the clerk. Copy fees under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71 are capped at 10 cents per page for standard letter or legal size copies from public agencies.

Free sites for Smyrna genealogy include FamilySearch, which has Georgia marriages from 1754 to 1960 and probate records from 1742 to 1990. The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive has old Cobb County papers with obituaries, wedding announcements, and legal notices.

Cobb County GAGenWeb Resources

The Cobb County GAGenWeb page is a free genealogy site maintained by volunteers. It has cemetery transcriptions, census records, family files, and other data useful for Smyrna genealogy research.

This site has free volunteer-contributed records for the Cobb County area that cover Smyrna and surrounding communities.

Volunteers share cemetery data, old census records, and family trees on this page. If someone else has already done research on your Smyrna family, their work may be posted here. You can also reach out to other researchers working on the same family names.

Smyrna Genealogy Research Tips

Write down everything you already know. Names, dates, places. Then work back one generation at a time. Do not skip ahead.

Census records are often the best next step. Federal census data is available from 1820 to 1950 on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch. The 1850 census was the first to list every household member by name and age. Before that, only the head of household was named. The 1890 census was mostly lost to fire. Use Cobb County tax digests to fill that gap.

Smyrna sits in the southern part of Cobb County. Before 1932, part of this area was in Campbell County. When Campbell County was dissolved, its records moved to Fulton County. If you cannot find a record in Cobb County, check Fulton County for the Campbell County period. This is a common issue for researchers looking at Smyrna families in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

• Check cemetery records at local churches and Smyrna Memorial Cemetery
• Search Georgia Historic Newspapers for old Smyrna obituaries
• Look at church records for baptisms and marriages
• Use the Georgia Archives in Morrow for free database access
• Review land deed records to trace property ownership

The Georgia Archives is at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. They have free Ancestry.com and FamilySearch access in the search room.

Cobb County Records

Smyrna is part of Cobb County. All genealogy records are filed at the county level. Visit our Cobb County page for full details on the courthouse, fees, and how to request records.

Nearby Cities

These cities are close to Smyrna. People often moved between nearby towns, so checking records in these areas can help with your research.