Emanuel County Genealogy Search

Emanuel County genealogy records date to 1812, the year the county was created from Bulloch and Montgomery counties. The Probate Court in Swainsboro holds marriage licenses, wills, estate files, and guardianship records from 1812 forward. Land deeds and court records at the Clerk of Superior Court also begin in 1812. Emanuel County has an unusual genealogy asset: birth records from 1822 to 1863 survive for surnames K through Z. Researchers with ancestors in east-central Georgia will find over 200 years of records at the courthouse in Swainsboro.

Emanuel County Probate Court Records

The Emanuel County Probate Court is the main office for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses date to 1812. The court also holds wills, letters of administration, guardianship files, and estate inventories. These records are vital for tracing families in east-central Georgia.

The courthouse is at 125 S. Main Street in Swainsboro. The phone number is 478-237-8911. 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 Emanuel County.

Birth records from 1822 to 1863 survive at the Probate Court, but only for surnames K through Z. The A-J records appear to be lost. This partial collection is still a rare genealogy resource. Few Georgia counties have any birth records from that era.

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.

Emanuel County Genealogy Records Online

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

Volunteers post courthouse transcriptions, cemetery readings, church records, and old newspaper clippings from the Swainsboro area. This is a strong starting point for Emanuel County family research.

You can also search Emanuel 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 that.

Emanuel County Superior Court Records

The Clerk of Superior Court holds land deeds from 1812, divorce records, and civil and criminal case files. Land deeds show property transfers, neighbors, and family ties. Early deed books document the first settlers in the Emanuel County 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. You can get copies in person or by mail. Civil case files reveal estate disputes, debt cases, and guardianship matters.

Emanuel County's land records from the early 1800s are especially useful. They document the transition from head-right grants to land lotteries. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, the Open Records Act caps copy fees at 10 cents per page for standard documents from public agencies.

Vital Records for Emanuel 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 Emanuel 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. Only the person named, parents, grandparents, adult siblings, adult children, spouses, or legal guardians can get them. Death certificates have fewer restrictions. For records before 1919, the 1822-1863 birth records (K-Z only) are a unique source. Also check church records, cemetery inscriptions, and Family Bible entries.

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. The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive has digitized pages from the Swainsboro area.

Research Tips for Emanuel County

Start with what you know. Write down names, dates, and places. Then work backward. Census records from 1820 to 1940 cover Emanuel County. The 1890 census for Georgia was destroyed. Tax digests can fill in that gap.

Pre-1900 Emanuel 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.

• Check the 1822-1863 birth records (K-Z surnames) at the Probate Court
• Search cemetery records when vital records are missing
• Look at church records for baptisms and burials
• Use tax digests to fill in census gap years
• Review estate and guardianship files for family connections

Emanuel County was formed from Bulloch and Montgomery counties in 1812. For ancestors in this area before that date, check those parent counties. The Virtual Vault has "Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries" to track county lines over time.

Cities in Emanuel County

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

Nearby Counties

These counties border Emanuel County. Bulloch and Montgomery counties are the parent counties with pre-1812 records for this area.