Dodge County Genealogy Search

Dodge County genealogy records date back to 1870, when the county was created from parts of Montgomery, Pulaski, and Telfair counties. The Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Eastman hold marriage licenses, wills, estate files, land deeds, and court records that help trace family connections in this part of central Georgia. Eastman grew as a railroad town, and many families moved through here in the late 1800s. If you have ancestors from the Heart of Georgia region, Dodge County records may hold the answers you need.

Dodge County Probate Court Genealogy

The Dodge County Probate Court is the primary source for marriage and estate records in the county. This office holds marriage licenses from 1870 to the present. It also keeps wills, letters of administration, guardianship files, and estate inventories. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has jurisdiction over wills, estates, guardianships, and marriage licenses in Dodge County.

You can visit the courthouse in Eastman to look through records in person. Staff members are there to help you find what you need. The court also takes requests by mail if you cannot make the trip. Send a written request with the names and approximate dates you are looking for, along with the required search fee. Copies cost a small amount per page. Certified copies cost more but may be needed for legal matters or lineage society applications.

Note: Because Dodge County was formed in 1870, any records for ancestors who lived in this area before that year would be held by Montgomery, Pulaski, or Telfair counties.

Dodge County Court Records and Genealogy

The Dodge County Clerk of Superior Court holds land records, divorce files, and civil and criminal case records from 1870 to the present. These are helpful for genealogy because they show land ownership, legal disputes, and family ties. Deed books and plat maps reveal where your ancestors lived and how much land they held.

Divorce records from the Superior Court often name children, list property, and give ages or birth dates. This type of detail can be hard to find in other records. 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 from the Clerk of Superior Court in Eastman.

Land records are especially valuable for Dodge County genealogy in the Reconstruction era. After the Civil War, new land ownership patterns emerged. Freedmen's Bureau records at the National Archives can supplement Dodge County land records for that period. The railroad brought growth to Eastman in the 1870s and 1880s, so you may find your ancestors through land purchases tied to the rail lines.

Vital Records for Dodge County Genealogy

Georgia started statewide birth and death registration in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. For Dodge County, that means official vital records before 1919 are scarce. The county vital records office in Eastman issues birth and death certificates from 1919 to the present.

Birth certificates cost $25 for the first copy and $5 for each extra. Death certificates are the same. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates are restricted to close family members. Death certificates are more widely available. For older records, the Georgia Virtual Vault has death certificates from 1919 to 1943 online for free. FamilySearch also has indexed Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 at no cost.

When vital records are not available, estate records from the Probate Court can fill gaps. A will or estate inventory often names family members and gives clues about birth dates and death dates. Church records, cemetery inscriptions, and newspaper obituaries are also good substitutes for missing vital records in Dodge County.

Note: Marriage records from 1952 to 1996 were also kept at the state level by the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Dodge County GAGenWeb Genealogy

The Dodge County GAGenWeb page is a free volunteer-run genealogy resource with cemetery transcriptions, census records, family trees, and more.

Volunteers post records they find at courthouses and archives. This site is a good place to connect with other researchers working on Dodge County families. You might find a distant relative already has the records you need.

Other free online resources include the Georgia Historic Newspapers archive with over a million pages of old newspapers. FamilySearch has Georgia marriages from 1754 to 1960 and probate records from 1742 to 1990, all free to search.

Research Tips for Dodge County Genealogy

Start with what you know and work backward. Census records are often the best next step after writing down your known family information. Federal census data for Dodge County is available from 1870 onward at the Georgia Archives through Ancestry.com (free in their search room). The 1880 and 1900 censuses are particularly useful because they give detailed household information.

Pre-1900 Dodge County records are on microfilm at the Georgia Archives in Morrow. For records after 1900, go to the courthouse in Eastman. The Georgia Archives is at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

• Check cemetery records and tombstone inscriptions
• Search church records for baptisms and burials
• Look at Family Bible records on microfilm at the Georgia Archives
• Review estate records when birth or death dates are unknown
• Use the Vanishing Georgia photo collection

Since Dodge County was formed from parts of three other counties in 1870, check Montgomery, Pulaski, and Telfair county records for anything before that date. The Virtual Vault has a free resource called "Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries" that helps you figure out which county held jurisdiction at any point in time.

Note: The 1890 federal census for Georgia was destroyed, so there is a gap between 1880 and 1900 that you must fill with other sources like tax digests or church records.

Cities in Dodge County

Dodge County includes Eastman, Rhine, Chester, Milan, and Chauncey. All genealogy records for these communities are maintained at the Dodge County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Eastman.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Dodge County. If your ancestors moved within central Georgia, check neighboring county records too. Families often crossed county lines for work or marriage.