Valdosta Genealogy Records

Valdosta genealogy records go back to 1825 at the Lowndes County courthouse. Valdosta is the county seat, so all probate, marriage, land, and court records for Lowndes County are kept here in town.

Lowndes County Probate Court in Valdosta

The Lowndes County Probate Court in Valdosta is the main office for genealogy records in this area. Marriage licenses go back to 1825. Probate files start the same year. The court keeps wills, letters of administration, guardianship records, and estate inventories. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has full jurisdiction over these record types.

The courthouse is on North Ashley Street in downtown Valdosta. Walk in during business hours and ask staff for help. They can search by name if you have an approximate time period. Bring as much detail as you can. A full name plus a rough year range is usually enough to start a search.

You can also send mail requests. Include the full name of the person, the type of record, approximate dates, and your return address. Send the required fee with your request. Call ahead to confirm current prices. Certified copies cost more than plain copies.

Land Records in Valdosta

The Lowndes County Superior Court Clerk in Valdosta holds all land records. Deed books, plat maps, and property transfers go back to 1825. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, land records are public. Anyone can view them without proving a family connection.

Land records help trace family lines in south Georgia. Property deeds show where ancestors lived. Transfers between family members name the people involved and sometimes state the relationship. Estate sales divide land among heirs and list each one. Look at both the grantor and grantee indexes when searching.

Lowndes County is near the Florida border. Some families moved back and forth between south Georgia and north Florida. If you lose track of a family in Lowndes County records, check the counties across the state line in Florida. Hamilton and Madison counties in Florida border the Valdosta area.

Copy fees are set by state law. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, standard copies from public agencies cost 10 cents per page. Court records may have different fee schedules. Ask the Superior Court Clerk for current costs.

Vital Records for Valdosta Genealogy

Georgia began statewide birth and death registration in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. For records after that year, contact the Georgia Department of Public Health. Birth certificates cost $25 for the first copy. Death certificates are the same price.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, birth certificate access is limited to the named person, parents, grandparents, adult children, adult siblings, spouses, or legal guardians. Death certificates have fewer restrictions. They list parents' names, birth information, and burial location. That makes them very useful for genealogy.

The Virtual Vault at the Georgia Archives has free death certificates from 1919 to 1943. FamilySearch has Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 indexed and free. For earlier records, check church records, cemetery inscriptions, and newspaper notices from the Valdosta area.

Lowndes County GAGenWeb

The Lowndes County GAGenWeb page has free genealogy data posted by volunteers, including cemetery records, census transcriptions, and family files for Lowndes County.

This site connects researchers working on Lowndes County families. Volunteers share courthouse transcriptions, headstone photos, and other primary source materials.

Online Resources for Valdosta Genealogy

FamilySearch has Georgia marriages from 1754 to 1960, probate records from 1742 to 1990, and death records from 1914 to 1943. All free to search. The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive has old Valdosta papers with obituaries and legal notices.

The E-Access to Court Records system lets you search Lowndes County court cases online from home. Registration is free. Basic case data costs nothing. Full documents cost $2.50 for the first page and $1.00 per additional page.

Valdosta State University has a special collections department with local history materials. The Odum Library holds papers, photographs, and records tied to Lowndes County and south Georgia. It is free to visit for genealogy research.

The Georgia Archives in Morrow has Lowndes County records on microfilm. Free access to Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and Fold3 is in the search room. Address: 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260.

• Check records in north Florida counties for families that crossed the border
• Search cemetery records when vital records are missing
• Look at church records for baptisms, marriages, and burials
• Use tax digests for years when census records were lost
• Review the Valdosta State University special collections

Lowndes County Records

Valdosta is the county seat of Lowndes County. All genealogy records are at the courthouse on Ashley Street. Visit the full county page for more details.

Nearby Cities

These cities are in the region around Valdosta. Check nearby records if your ancestors lived in south Georgia.