Columbia County Genealogy Records

Columbia County genealogy records go back to 1790, the year the county was created from Richmond County. The Probate Court in Evans holds marriage licenses, wills, estate files, and guardianship records from that date. Land deeds and court records at the Clerk of Superior Court also begin in 1790. Columbia County is one of Georgia's oldest counties, and its records span over 230 years of family history. The county seat moved from Appling to Evans. Researchers tracing lines near Augusta will find Columbia County records an important resource.

Columbia County Probate Court Records

The Columbia County Probate Court is the main office for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses date to 1790. Probate records include wills, letters of administration, guardianship files, and estate inventories from the same year. These are core records for tracing family connections in the Augusta metro area.

The courthouse is at 100 Courthouse Square in Evans. The phone number is 706-868-3377. You can search in person or send a mail request with 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 are available through the Probate Court. Certified copies cost $25 for the first copy and $5 for each extra. These fees are the same at all 159 Georgia county offices.

Note: Columbia County's seat moved from Appling to Evans. Older records may reference Appling as the courthouse location. Both towns are in Columbia County.

Columbia County Genealogy Online

The Columbia County GAGenWeb page is a free volunteer-run site with cemetery transcriptions, census data, family files, and shared research for Columbia County genealogy.

Volunteers post transcribed courthouse records, cemetery readings, and old newspaper clippings. This is a strong place to start your Columbia County research and find other people working on the same family lines.

You can also search Columbia County 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.

Columbia County Superior Court Records

The Clerk of Superior Court holds land deeds from 1790, divorce records, and civil and criminal case files. Land deeds are one of the best genealogy tools for Columbia County. They show who owned property, who sold it, and who the neighbors were. Early deeds sometimes name wives and children too.

Divorce records often list children, ages, and property. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most court records in Georgia are open to the public. You can get copies in person or by mail. Civil case files can reveal estate disputes, debt cases, and guardianship matters that name family members not found in other records.

Columbia County's long history means deed books are extensive. The earliest deeds from the 1790s cover land grants from the state of Georgia. These grant records are also at the Georgia Archives. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, the Open Records Act caps copy fees at 10 cents per page for standard documents.

Vital Records for Columbia County Genealogy

Statewide vital records began in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. Birth and death certificates from that year forward are available from the 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. Only the person named, parents, grandparents, adult siblings, adult children, spouses, or legal guardians can get them. Death certificates are easier to access for genealogy. For records before 1919, check church records, cemetery inscriptions, and Family Bible records.

The Georgia Virtual Vault has free death certificates from 1919 to 1943. FamilySearch has Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 at no cost. The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive has obituaries and legal notices from newspapers in the Augusta area.

Research Tips for Columbia County

Start with what you know. Write down names, dates, and places. Then work backward. Census records are a great next step. Columbia County appears in federal census data from 1800 to 1940. Georgia lost its 1790 and 1890 censuses. Use tax digests for those years instead.

Pre-1900 Columbia 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 in the search room. The Augusta Genealogical Society is another resource for Columbia County research.

• Check cemetery records when vital records are not available
• Search church records for baptisms and burials
• Look at early land grants at the Georgia Archives
• Use tax digests to fill in gap years when census data is missing
• Review estate and guardianship files for family details

Columbia County was formed from Richmond County in 1790. For ancestors in this area before that date, check Richmond County records. The Virtual Vault has "Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries" to help track which county held your family over time.

Cities in Columbia County

Evans and Martinez are the two largest communities in Columbia County. All genealogy records for cities in this county are maintained at the Columbia County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Evans. No cities in Columbia County meet the population threshold for a separate city page.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Columbia County. Richmond County is the parent county with pre-1790 records for this area. If your ancestors moved within the Augusta region, check these neighboring county records.