Find Dooly County Genealogy

Dooly County genealogy records date back to 1841, when the county was organized in south-central Georgia. The Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Vienna maintain marriage licenses, wills, estate papers, land deeds, and court case files that help trace family roots in this rural part of the state. Dooly County was named for Colonel John Dooly, a Revolutionary War officer. Many early settlers here were farmers who worked the fertile land along the Flint River. If your ancestors called this area home, the records in Vienna are the place to start your search.

Dooly County Probate Court Genealogy

The Dooly County Probate Court is the main source for marriage and estate records used in genealogy. This office holds marriage licenses from 1841 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 Dooly County.

You can visit the courthouse in Vienna to search for records in person. Staff can help you find the documents you need. The court also takes requests by mail. Send a written request with names and approximate dates, along with the required search fee. Copies cost a small amount per page, and certified copies cost more. For genealogy purposes, regular copies are usually fine unless you need them for a legal filing.

The Georgia Probate Courts Directory lists contact details for all 159 county probate courts, including Dooly County.

This directory helps you find the right contact information for Dooly County and any neighboring counties you may also need to search.

Note: Call ahead to confirm current hours and fees before making a trip to the Dooly County courthouse.

Dooly County Court Records for Genealogy

The Dooly County Clerk of Superior Court holds land records, divorce files, and civil and criminal case records from 1841 onward. Land deeds and plat maps show where your ancestors lived and what property they owned. Divorce records often name children, list property, and give ages or birth dates that can help confirm family relationships.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most court records in Georgia are open to the public. You can request copies in person or by mail. These records are especially valuable for the antebellum period when vital records did not exist at the state level. Tax digests from the 1840s and 1850s can also show who owned property and where they lived in Dooly County.

After the Civil War, Dooly County land records reflect changes in ownership that are important for genealogy. Freedmen who gained land, families who lost property, and new settlers from other states all left traces in the deed books. If your family was in Dooly County during Reconstruction, the Superior Court records can fill in gaps left by missing vital records.

Vital Records for Dooly County Genealogy

Georgia started statewide vital records in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. Before that, Dooly County has no official birth or death records at the state level. The county vital records office in Vienna can issue birth and death certificates from 1919 forward. Birth certificates cost $25 for the first copy. Death certificates cost the same.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates are restricted to close family members and legal representatives. Death certificates are more widely available. For records before 1919, try the Georgia Virtual Vault for death certificates from 1919 to 1943. FamilySearch has Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 at no cost.

Note: When official vital records are missing, look for clues in estate records, cemetery inscriptions, church records, and old newspaper notices.

Dooly County Genealogy Research Resources

Several free online resources can help with Dooly County genealogy. FamilySearch 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 over a million pages of old papers with obituaries and legal notices.

Pre-1900 Dooly County records are available 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, FamilySearch, and Fold3 is available in the search room. For records after 1900, contact the courthouse in Vienna directly.

Census records are key for Dooly County genealogy. Federal census data starts in 1850 for this area (since the county was formed in 1841). The 1850 census was the first to name every person in the household. The 1890 census was destroyed, so there is a gap between 1880 and 1900. Use tax digests and church records to fill that gap.

• Check cemetery records when vital records are missing
• Search church records for baptisms and burials
• Look at Family Bible records at the Georgia Archives
• Review estate records for family names and dates

Dooly County boundary changes can affect your research. The county was formed from Indian lands ceded by the Creek Nation. Parts of Dooly County were later used to form Crisp County in 1905 and Turner County in 1905. If your family lived near those borders, check those counties as well. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, the Georgia Open Records Act caps copy fees at 10 cents per page for standard documents from public agencies.

Cities in Dooly County

Dooly County includes Vienna, Unadilla, Byromville, Pinehurst, and Lilly. All genealogy records for these communities are kept at the Dooly County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Vienna.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Dooly County. Families often moved across county lines, so check neighboring records if you hit a dead end in Dooly County.