Search Burke County Genealogy
Burke County genealogy records are among the oldest in Georgia, dating back to 1777. This was one of the original eight counties created during the American Revolution. The Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Waynesboro hold marriage records, wills, land deeds, and court files spanning nearly 250 years. Burke County was once the largest county in Georgia and has been carved up many times to form newer counties. Researchers tracing family lines in east-central Georgia will find Burke County records essential, especially for colonial-era and early American families.
Burke County Quick Facts
Burke County Probate Court Records
The Burke County Probate Court is the main source for marriage and estate records. Marriage records date to 1777. Probate records include wills, letters of administration, guardianship files, and estate inventories from the same year. These are core records for genealogy research in one of Georgia's founding counties.
The courthouse is at 200 E. 6th Street in Waynesboro. The phone number is 706-554-2279. For mail requests, include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment by check or money order. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has jurisdiction over wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and marriage licenses.
Birth and death certificates from 1919 forward cost $25 for the first copy and $5 for each extra. For vital records before 1919, check church records and cemetery transcriptions.
| Address | 200 E. 6th Street, Waynesboro, GA 30830 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (706) 554-2279 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
Burke County GAGenWeb Genealogy
The Burke County GAGenWeb page is a free volunteer-run resource with cemetery records, census data, family trees, and shared research for Burke County genealogy.
Volunteers post courthouse records, cemetery transcriptions, church records, and old newspaper extracts. This is a strong starting point for anyone tracing Burke County family lines.
Burke County Superior Court Genealogy
The Clerk of Superior Court in Waynesboro holds land records, divorce files, and court records from 1777. Land deeds are extremely valuable for colonial-era research. Early land grants, plats, and property transfers trace the first families in this part of Georgia.
Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most court records are open to the public. The Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71 caps copy fees at 10 cents per page for standard documents. Divorce records list children and property. Civil case files can name many family members in estate disputes.
Burke County was once enormous. Many other counties were carved from its original territory over the decades. If you cannot find a record in Burke County, the ancestor may have lived in an area that later became a different county. The Virtual Vault can help sort out those boundary changes.
Vital Records for Burke County
Georgia started statewide vital records in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. The Georgia Department of Public Health handles state-level requests. You can also get copies from the Burke County Probate Court.
Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates are restricted. Death certificates are more broadly available for genealogy. The Georgia Virtual Vault has free death certificates from 1919 to 1943. FamilySearch has Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 at no cost.
For records before 1919, church registers, cemetery headstones, and family Bibles are the best sources. Burke County's long history means there are many old church and cemetery records in the area.
Burke County Online Genealogy Resources
Search Burke County court records through the E-Access to Court Records system. Registration is free. Basic case data costs nothing. Documents cost $2.50 for the first page and $1.00 after that.
Free online resources include FamilySearch with Georgia marriages from 1754 to 1960 and death records from 1914 to 1943. The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive has digitized newspaper pages with obituaries and legal notices.
Research Tips for Burke County
Start with what you know. Write down names, dates, and places. Then work backward. Census data for Burke County goes back to the earliest federal censuses, though the 1790, 1800, 1810, and 1890 records for Georgia were destroyed.
Pre-1900 Burke County records are on microfilm at the Georgia Archives at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Free access to Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and Fold3 is available in the search room.
- Check colonial-era land grants in the Virtual Vault
- Search cemetery records for headstone inscriptions
- Review church registers for births, marriages, and deaths
- Use tax digests for years when census data is lost
- Look at neighboring counties formed from Burke County land
The Virtual Vault has "Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries" to track which county held your ancestors. Burke County's territory shrank many times as new counties were created from its land.
Cities in Burke County
Waynesboro is the county seat and largest city in Burke County. All genealogy records are maintained at the Burke County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Waynesboro. No cities in Burke County meet the population threshold for a separate city page.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Burke County. Several were formed from original Burke County territory.