Find Cobb County Genealogy Records

Cobb County genealogy records begin in 1865, though the county was formed from Cherokee County in 1832. Many early records were destroyed during the Civil War when Union forces burned the courthouse during Sherman's Atlanta Campaign. The Probate Court in Marietta holds marriage licenses from 1865, wills, and estate files. The Clerk of Superior Court keeps land deeds, divorce records, and court files from the same year. Cobb County is one of the most populous counties in Georgia and a major part of the northwest metro Atlanta area. Despite the Civil War losses, the courthouse still has over 160 years of genealogy records.

Cobb County Probate Court Genealogy

The Cobb County Probate Court is the main source for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses start in 1865. The court holds wills, letters of administration, guardianship records, and estate inventories. Earlier records from 1832 to 1864 were largely lost during the Civil War. That gap is a challenge for researchers.

The Cobb County courthouse is at 100 Cherokee Street in Marietta. The phone number is 770-528-3300. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. 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. These are standard state fees.

Note: Records before 1865 were largely destroyed during the Civil War. For Cobb County genealogy before that date, use census records, state-level sources, tax digests, and Georgia Archives microfilm.

Cobb County GAGenWeb Genealogy

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

Volunteers post courthouse records, cemetery records, church records, and old newspaper extracts. This is a strong starting point for anyone researching Cobb County family lines.

Cobb County Government Resources

The Cobb County government website provides details on how to request records, office hours, and fee schedules for the Probate Court and other county offices.

From this site you can find contact information, learn about record request procedures, and get directions to the courthouse in Marietta. Cobb County also has an online records search for some newer documents.

Cobb County Superior Court Records

The Clerk of Superior Court in Marietta holds land records, divorce files, and court records from 1865. Land deeds trace property transfers and family ties. Divorce records list children and property. These are among the best genealogy sources in Cobb County.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most court records in Georgia 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. Civil case files can name multiple family members.

The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in 1864 took place in Cobb County. Military records from that era can supplement the lost courthouse records. The National Archives has Civil War service records, pension files, and muster rolls that may help fill the gap for Cobb County families before 1865.

Vital Records for Cobb County

Georgia started statewide vital records in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. Birth and death certificates from that year forward are available from the Cobb County Probate Court or the Georgia Department of Public Health. Certified copies cost $25 for the first and $5 for each extra.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates are restricted to close family members. Death certificates are more open. 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 vital records before 1919, check church records, cemetery inscriptions, and family Bibles. The Marietta National Cemetery has Civil War burials. The Marietta City Cemetery also has pre-war graves.

Cobb County Online Genealogy Resources

Search Cobb County records through the E-Access to Court Records system. Registration is free. Basic case data costs nothing. Documents are $2.50 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after.

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 Marietta newspapers with obituaries and legal notices.

Research Tips for Cobb County

The biggest challenge for Cobb County genealogy is the Civil War gap. Records from 1832 to 1864 are mostly gone. Here are ways to work around it.

Federal census records from 1840 and 1850 cover Cobb County before the war. The 1860 census is the last pre-war record. Tax digests from the Georgia Archives can fill other gaps. The Georgia Archives at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260 has Cobb County records on microfilm. 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.

• Use 1840, 1850, and 1860 census records for pre-war families
• Check Civil War service records at the National Archives
• Search cemetery records at Marietta National Cemetery
• Review church records for baptisms and burials
• Look at the Cobb County Library genealogy collection

The Virtual Vault has "Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries" to track where your ancestors were counted. Cobb County was formed from Cherokee County in 1832 after the Cherokee removal.

Cities in Cobb County

Cobb County has several major cities in the northwest Atlanta metro area. All genealogy records are held at the Cobb County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Marietta.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Cobb County. Cherokee County is the parent county. If your ancestors moved in the northwest metro area, check these records.