Find Catoosa County Genealogy

Catoosa County genealogy records go back to 1853 when the county was formed from parts of Walker and Whitfield counties. The Probate Court in Ringgold holds marriage records, wills, and estate files from the start. The Superior Court Clerk maintains land deeds, divorce records, and court case files. Catoosa County sits in the far northwest corner of Georgia near the Tennessee border and played a role in Civil War battles at Chickamauga and Ringgold Gap. If your ancestors lived in this part of Georgia, the Catoosa County courthouse in Ringgold is where to begin.

Catoosa County Probate Court Records

The Catoosa County Probate Court in Ringgold is the main source for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses date back to 1853. The court also stores wills, letters of administration, guardianship files, and estate inventories that go back to the county's formation.

You can visit the courthouse at 875 Lafayette Street, Ringgold, GA 30736. The phone number is (706) 965-2500. Staff can help locate records if you provide names and approximate dates. Mail requests work too. Send a written request with a check or money order for the search fee. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court handles wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and marriage licenses in Catoosa County.

Note: Catoosa County was carved from Walker and Whitfield counties. Records for ancestors in this area before 1853 will be in one of those parent counties instead.

Catoosa County GAGenWeb Genealogy

The Catoosa County GAGenWeb page is a free volunteer-run resource for genealogy. It has cemetery transcriptions, census records, family histories, and other records shared by researchers working on Catoosa County lines.

This is a good place to connect with other researchers who are searching Catoosa County families. Volunteers post records from courthouses, cemeteries, churches, and old newspapers.

Other free resources 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 old newspapers from around the state that sometimes include Catoosa County items.

Catoosa County Land and Court Genealogy

The Catoosa County Superior Court Clerk holds land records, divorce files, and civil and criminal case records from 1853 forward. Deed books show who bought and sold land in Catoosa County. They name buyers, sellers, and sometimes family relationships. These are useful for placing ancestors in specific locations.

Divorce records can name children, give ages, and list property. Court minutes sometimes include other family names as witnesses or parties to legal matters. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most court records in Georgia are open to the public. Copy fees under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71) are capped at 10 cents per page for standard documents, though courts may have separate fee schedules.

Vital Records for Catoosa County

Statewide registration of births and deaths started in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. The Catoosa County health department can issue birth and death certificates from that year forward. Before 1919, births and deaths in Catoosa County were generally not recorded by the state.

For earlier records, check church records, cemetery inscriptions, and family Bibles. The Georgia Archives has death certificates from 1919 to 1943 online through the Virtual Vault for free. FamilySearch.org has indexed Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943. Marriage records at the state level cover only 1952 to 1996. For all other years, the Catoosa County Probate Court is the source.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates are restricted to the person named, parents, grandparents, adult siblings, adult children, spouses, or legal guardians. Death certificates are available more broadly for genealogy purposes.

Note: Because of Catoosa County's location near the Tennessee border, some family members may appear in Hamilton County, Tennessee records too. Always check both sides of the state line for families in this area.

Genealogy Research Tips for Catoosa County

Write down everything you know about your Catoosa County family. Start with the most recent generation and work backward. Census records are the next step. Federal census data for Catoosa County is available from 1860 forward (the county was formed in 1853, so the 1860 census is the first to list it).

The 1890 census for Georgia was destroyed. Use tax digests from that period to locate ancestors. For records before 1853, check Walker County and Whitfield County. Pre-1900 Catoosa County records are on microfilm at the Georgia Archives in Morrow. The address is 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Free access to Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org is available in the search room.

Civil War records are an important source for Catoosa County genealogy. The Battle of Chickamauga in September 1863 took place partly in Catoosa County. Confederate and Union service records, pension applications, and related documents can help trace ancestors from this period. The Georgia Archives and FamilySearch both have Confederate service records and pension applications online.

Cities in Catoosa County

Catoosa County includes Ringgold and Fort Oglethorpe. All genealogy records for these communities are held at the Catoosa County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Ringgold. No cities in Catoosa County meet the population threshold for a separate city page.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Catoosa County. If your ancestors moved in this part of northwest Georgia, check these neighboring counties as well. Families often moved between counties in the 1800s.