Search Elbert County Genealogy

Elbert County genealogy records go back to 1790, the year the county was created from Wilkes County. The Probate Court in Elberton 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. Elbert County sits in northeast Georgia along the Savannah River, bordering South Carolina. With over 230 years of records, it is one of the state's oldest and richest sources for family history research.

Elbert County Probate Court Records

The Elbert County Probate Court is the main office for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses date to 1790. The court also holds wills, letters of administration, guardianship files, and estate inventories. These records span over two centuries of family life in northeast Georgia.

The courthouse is at 45 Forest Avenue in Elberton. The phone number is 706-283-2000. You can search in person or send a mail request with a self-addressed stamped envelope and 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 in Elbert County.

Birth and death certificates from 1919 forward are available from the Probate Court. Certified copies cost $25 for the first and $5 for each extra. For vital events before 1919, check church records, cemetery inscriptions, and the Probate Court's own early records. Elbert County's long record run means wills and estate files often fill the gaps left by missing vital records.

Elbert County Genealogy Records Online

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

Volunteers post courthouse transcriptions, cemetery readings, and old newspaper clippings from the Elberton area. This is a strong starting point for connecting with other Elbert County researchers.

You can also search Elbert County records through the E-Access to Court Records system. Registration is free. Basic case data costs nothing. If you need actual documents, the first page is $2.50 and each page after that is $1.00.

Elbert 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 tools for Elbert County genealogy. They show property transfers, neighbors, and family relationships. Early deeds from the 1790s record the original land grants in this area.

Divorce records list children, property, and sometimes ages. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most court records in Georgia are open to the public. Civil case files can reveal estate disputes, debt cases, and guardianship matters that name family members.

Elbert County borders South Carolina across the Savannah River. Families often crossed back and forth. If your ancestors lived near the river, check Abbeville County and Anderson County in South Carolina too. 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 Elbert County Genealogy

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 Elbert 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 the person named, parents, grandparents, adult siblings, adult children, spouses, or legal guardians. Death certificates are easier to get for genealogy work.

The Georgia Virtual Vault has death certificates from 1919 to 1943 online for free. FamilySearch has Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 at no cost. For records before 1919, church records, cemetery readings, and Family Bible entries are your best sources.

Research Tips for Elbert County

Start with what you know. Write down names, dates, and places. Then work backward. Census records from 1800 to 1940 cover Elbert County. Georgia lost its 1790 and 1890 censuses. Use tax digests for those gap years.

Pre-1900 Elbert 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 Georgia Historic Newspapers archive has digitized pages from the Elberton Star and other area papers.

• Check cemetery records when vital records are not available
• Search church records for baptisms and burials
• Look at South Carolina records for families along the Savannah River
• Use early land grants at the Georgia Archives
• Review estate and guardianship files for family connections

Elbert County was formed from Wilkes County in 1790. For ancestors before that date, check Wilkes County records (from 1777). The Virtual Vault has "Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries" to track county lines over time.

Cities in Elbert County

Elberton is the county seat and largest city in Elbert County. All genealogy records for cities in this county are maintained at the Elbert County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Elberton. No cities in Elbert County meet the population threshold for a separate city page.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Elbert County. Wilkes County is the parent county. Elbert also borders South Carolina across the Savannah River.