Access Chatham County Genealogy

Chatham County genealogy records are among the oldest and most extensive in Georgia. The county was one of the original eight created in 1777. Probate records go back to 1777, marriage records to 1806, land records to 1785, and court records to 1783. The Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Savannah hold these collections. The City of Savannah Municipal Archives also has birth records from 1890 and death registers from 1803 to 1913. Chatham County is a premier destination for genealogy research in the Deep South, with records spanning nearly 250 years of family history.

Chatham County Probate Court Genealogy

The Chatham County Probate Court is the main source for marriage and estate records in the county. Marriage licenses date back to 1806. Probate records, including wills, go back to 1777, with some wills dating to 1775. Estate records include inventories, appraisements, accounts of sales, letters of administration, and guardian bonds.

The Chatham County Probate Court is located at 133 Montgomery Street, Room 509, Savannah, GA 31401. The phone number is (912) 652-7268. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Staff can help locate specific records if you provide names and approximate date ranges.

Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has jurisdiction over wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and marriage licenses. Chatham County's probate records are among the richest in Georgia because of the county's long history as a major port city.

Note: The Virtual Vault at the Georgia Archives has Chatham County deed books available online. This is one of the few county-specific collections available digitally through the state archives.

Chatham County Genealogy Records Online

The Chatham County government website provides information about how to access genealogy records at the courthouse in Savannah.

From this site you can find details about office hours, fees, and the types of records available at the Chatham County Probate Court.

You can also search Chatham County genealogy records through the E-Access to Court Records system. Registration is free. Basic case data is available at no charge. Documents cost $2.50 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after that. This lets you search from home without a trip to Savannah.

Chatham County GAGenWeb Genealogy

The Chatham County GAGenWeb page is a free volunteer-run resource with cemetery transcriptions, census data, family trees, and shared research for Chatham County genealogy.

Volunteers post records from courthouses, cemeteries, churches, and old newspapers. This is a strong resource for connecting with other Chatham County genealogy researchers.

Chatham County Superior Court Records

The Chatham County Superior Court Clerk at 133 Montgomery Street, Room 304, Savannah, GA 31401 maintains land records from 1785, divorce records from 1783, court records from 1783, and naturalization records from 1801. The phone number is (912) 652-7197. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Land deed books are especially rich in Chatham County. They record property sales, grants, and transfers going back to the colonial era. Divorce records name family members, list property, and sometimes give ages. Naturalization records are an important source for Savannah genealogy because so many immigrants entered Georgia through the port. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most court records in Georgia are open to the public.

Note: 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, but court records may have different fee schedules set by local rules.

Vital Records for Chatham County

Chatham County has exceptional vital records for genealogy. The City of Savannah Municipal Archives holds death registers from 1803 to 1913 and birth records from 1890 to the present. The Municipal Archives is at P.O. Box 1027, Savannah, GA 31402. The phone number is (912) 651-4212. The Savannah death registers are also on Ancestry.com in the "Savannah, Georgia Vital Records" collection.

Statewide registration began in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. The Chatham County Health Department at 2011 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah, GA 31406 issues birth and death certificates from 1919 forward. The phone number is (912) 356-2138. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates are restricted. Only the person named, parents, grandparents, adult siblings, adult children, spouses, or legal guardians can get them. Death certificates are more open. Certificates cost $25 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy.

The Virtual Vault has Georgia death certificates from 1919 to 1943 online for free. FamilySearch has indexed Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 as well.

Chatham County Library Genealogy

The Bull Street Branch Library in Savannah has the Kaye Kole Local History and Genealogy Room. The address is 2002 Bull Street, Savannah, GA 31401. The reference phone number is (912) 652-3627 and the genealogy room number is (912) 652-3697.

This library holds the Savannah Morning News on microfilm from 1763 to the present. The Georgia Room has an index to the newspaper from 1763 to 1986. Old newspapers are among the best sources for obituaries, marriage announcements, and legal notices in Chatham County. The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive also has digitized pages from Savannah and other Georgia newspapers available free online.

Research Tips for Chatham County

Chatham County has records spanning nearly 250 years, so knowing where to start is key. Write down what you already know and work backward. Census records are available from the earliest federal censuses, though the 1790, 1800, 1810, and 1890 records for Georgia were destroyed.

For colonial-era ancestors, check the Virtual Vault for colonial wills, plats, and warrants. The Georgia Archives has pre-1900 Chatham County records on microfilm. The Archives is 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 Savannah Municipal Archives for pre-1919 birth and death records
• Search the Savannah Morning News index at the Bull Street Library
• Look for naturalization records at the Superior Court for immigrant ancestors
• Review colonial wills and plats in the Virtual Vault

Cities in Chatham County

Chatham County includes Savannah, Pooler, Garden City, Tybee Island, Bloomingdale, and Thunderbolt. All genealogy records are held at the Chatham County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Savannah.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Chatham County. If your ancestors moved within the coastal Georgia area, check these neighboring county records too.