Search South Fulton Genealogy
South Fulton genealogy records are maintained at the Fulton County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Atlanta. South Fulton is one of the newest cities in Georgia, incorporated in 2017, but the land and families here go back to the 1800s. All marriage licenses, wills, estate files, land deeds, and court records for South Fulton are filed at the Fulton County courthouse. The county has records from 1853 forward, giving researchers over 170 years of family history to explore.
South Fulton Quick Facts
Where to Find South Fulton Genealogy Records
South Fulton does not have its own courthouse for genealogy records. All records are at the Fulton County Probate Court in Atlanta. The Probate Court holds marriage licenses from 1853 to the present. It also keeps wills, letters of administration, guardianship files, and estate inventories.
The Fulton County Probate Court Records Division is at 136 Pryor Street SW, 2nd Floor C230, Atlanta, GA 30303. Call (404) 612-4640 for help. You can visit in person or send a mail request with a completed Estates Record Request Form and a $10 search fee. Copies cost $1 each. Certified copies are $11 each. Pay by money order or attorney's check. Visit the Fulton County Probate Court website for forms and more details.
Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has full jurisdiction over wills, estates, guardianships, and marriage licenses in Fulton County. This covers all of South Fulton.
| Address | 136 Pryor Street SW, 2nd Floor C230, Atlanta, GA 30303 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (404) 612-4640 |
| Website | fultonprobatega.org |
Superior Court and Land Records
The Fulton County Superior Court Clerk holds land deeds, divorce records, and civil and criminal case files for South Fulton. The office is at 136 Pryor Street SW in Atlanta. Call (404) 612-5107.
Land records are one of the best tools for South Fulton genealogy. Deed books show when property changed hands, who sold to whom, and sometimes list family members who had a stake in the land. Old plat maps show property lines and neighbor names. These records go back to 1853 in Fulton County. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most court records are open to the public.
Divorce records are also at the Superior Court. These files often list children, property, ages, and birth dates. They can confirm family connections that other records miss.
Vital Records for South Fulton
Birth and death certificates for South Fulton residents are available from the Fulton County Vital Records Office at 141 Pryor Street SW, Suite 1029A, Atlanta, GA 30303. Call (404) 613-1260. Birth certificates cost $25 for the first copy. Each extra copy is $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, parents, grandparents, adult siblings, adult children, spouses, or legal guardians. Death certificates are easier to get for genealogy work. They list the person's name, date of death, parents' names, and burial details.
Georgia's statewide vital records system started in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. For older records, check the Georgia Archives. The Virtual Vault has death certificates from 1919 to 1943 online for free.
Online Genealogy Resources
You can search South Fulton genealogy records from home using several free and paid tools. The E-Access to Court Records system lets you look up probate cases and court files. Registration is free. Basic case data costs nothing. If you need documents, the first page is $2.50 and each page after that is $1.00.
FamilySearch has free indexed records for Georgia marriages from 1754 to 1960, probate records from 1742 to 1990, and death records from 1914 to 1943. The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive has old newspapers with obituaries and legal notices from the South Fulton area.
The Georgia Probate Courts directory lists contact information for all 159 Georgia counties, including Fulton County which serves South Fulton.
Georgia Archives and Research Centers
The Georgia Archives at 5800 Jonesboro Road in Morrow is about 20 minutes from South Fulton. Call (678) 364-3710 for hours. The archives hold microfilmed county records, vital records, military records, and land grants. Free access to Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org is available in the search room.
For African American genealogy in the South Fulton area, the Auburn Avenue Research Library at 101 Auburn Avenue NE in Atlanta has manuscripts, photos, and oral histories. The Atlanta History Center at 130 West Paces Ferry Road NW also has research archives open to the public.
Before South Fulton existed as a city, this area was unincorporated Fulton County. Census records from 1820 to 1950 list residents by household. Tax digests help track families between census years. Both are at the Georgia Archives. The 1850 census was the first to list every person by name and age.
Research Tips for South Fulton
Start with what you know. Write down names, dates, and places for your family. Then work backward.
Since South Fulton was not a city until 2017, older records will list this area as unincorporated Fulton County or by community names that no longer appear on maps. Check old land records and tax digests to pin down exactly where your family lived. Property records are often more precise than census records for location.
The 1890 census was mostly destroyed in a fire. For that decade, use city directories, church records, and tax digests to fill the gap. Cemetery records and tombstone inscriptions also help when vital records are missing. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, public records in Georgia are open for inspection, so don't hesitate to ask county offices for the records you need.
Fulton County Genealogy Records
South Fulton is part of Fulton County. All marriage licenses, probate records, land deeds, and court cases for the city are filed at the Fulton County courthouse in Atlanta. Fulton County records go back to 1853.
Nearby Georgia Cities
These cities are near South Fulton and share genealogy resources through the same county systems.