Statesboro Genealogy Record Search

Statesboro genealogy records are held at the Bulloch County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk at 20 Siebald Street. Bulloch County records go back to 1796, giving researchers over two centuries of marriage licenses, probate files, land deeds, and court cases for this part of southeast Georgia.

Bulloch County Probate Court Records

The Bulloch County Probate Court is the main source for Statesboro genealogy records. It holds marriage licenses from 1796 to the present. Wills, estate files, guardianship records, and letters of administration are also kept here. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has jurisdiction over all estate and marriage records in Bulloch County.

Statesboro is the county seat. All probate records for Bulloch County are stored at this courthouse. You can visit in person to search records. Staff can help you find what you need. The court also takes mail requests. Include the full name of the person, any dates you have, and the type of record. Search fees and copy fees apply.

Regular copies cost about $1 per page. Certified copies run higher. Call ahead to check current costs. Bulloch County has a long history. Records from the late 1700s are among the oldest in this part of Georgia. Some early records may be fragile, so the courthouse staff may need to pull them for you rather than letting you handle them directly.

Land Records and Superior Court

The Bulloch County Superior Court Clerk holds land deeds, plat maps, divorce records, and civil case files going back to 1796. These records help with Statesboro genealogy because they show property ownership, family ties, and legal disputes.

Land records are key for genealogy in southeast Georgia. Deed books show when your ancestors bought or sold property near Statesboro. They list names, prices, and tract descriptions. Plat maps show the exact location of each piece of land. If your family owned property in Bulloch County in the 1800s, the Superior Court has the paperwork.

Divorce records are another source. They often name children, list assets, and give ages or birth dates. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most court records in Bulloch County are open to the public. Visit the clerk's office during business hours to search these records.

Vital Records for Statesboro

Georgia did not start keeping vital records at the state level until 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. For Statesboro, birth and death records before 1919 may not exist at the state level. Church records, cemetery records, and family Bibles are the best sources for earlier dates.

The Georgia Department of Public Health handles state vital records. Birth certificates cost $25 for the first copy and $5 for each extra. Death certificates are the same. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates are only available to close family members and legal guardians.

Death certificates are easier to get for genealogy work. They list the person's name, date and place of death, parents' names, and burial site. Marriage records from 1952 to 1996 were also filed at the state level. But the Bulloch County Probate Court is the best source for marriage records going back to 1796.

Online Genealogy Resources

The Georgia Probate Courts directory lists contact details for all 159 Georgia counties, including the Bulloch County Probate Court in Statesboro.

This directory is a useful starting point if you need to contact multiple county courts across Georgia for genealogy records.

Free resources for Statesboro genealogy include FamilySearch, which has 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 over a million pages of old Georgia newspapers with obituaries, legal notices, and family announcements. Search for the Statesboro Herald and other local papers for Bulloch County news.

Georgia Southern University in Statesboro has a special collections library with local history materials. The Zach S. Henderson Library holds manuscripts, photos, and records tied to Bulloch County and southeast Georgia. If you are doing in-person genealogy research in Statesboro, it is worth a visit.

Georgia Archives and E-Access

The Georgia Archives is at 5800 Jonesboro Road in Morrow, about 220 miles northwest of Statesboro. Call (678) 364-3710 for hours. The archives hold microfilmed Bulloch County records, vital records, military records, and land grants. Free access to Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and Fold3 is available in the search room.

The Virtual Vault gives you free online access to some collections from home. Death certificates from 1919 to 1943 are available. Confederate pension applications, county maps, and the Vanishing Georgia photo collection are also there. Online access is especially helpful when you live far from Morrow.

The E-Access to Court Records system lets you search Bulloch County records online. Registration is free. Basic case data costs nothing. Documents cost $2.50 for the first page and $1.00 per page after. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, the Georgia Open Records Act limits copy fees.

Research Tips for Statesboro Genealogy

Start with what you know. Write down names, dates, and places. Work backward one generation at a time.

Census records are a good next step. Federal census data from 1820 to 1950 is at the Georgia Archives. Bulloch County appears in early Georgia censuses from the 1800s. The 1790 and 1800 federal censuses for Georgia were destroyed. For those years, use tax digests to find where your ancestors lived. The 1850 census was the first to list every person in the household by name.

Bulloch County was created from Bryan and Screven counties in 1796. If your ancestors were in southeast Georgia before that date, check Bryan and Screven county records. The Virtual Vault has a free resource on Georgia county boundary changes that helps you track which county your family lived in at any given time.

• Check cemetery records when vital records are missing
• Search church records for baptisms, marriages, and burials
• Look at Georgia Southern University special collections
• Use the Vanishing Georgia collection for old Bulloch County photos
• Try estate records when birth or death dates are unknown

Bulloch County Genealogy Records

Statesboro is the county seat of Bulloch County. All marriage licenses, probate records, land deeds, and court cases are filed at the Bulloch County courthouse. Records go back to 1796.

View Bulloch County Genealogy Records

Nearby Georgia Cities

These cities are near Statesboro. Each has its own page with local genealogy resources and courthouse information.