Access Hall County Genealogy

Hall County genealogy records go back to 1818, the year the county was created from Cherokee territory. The Probate Court in Gainesville holds marriage licenses from 1819, wills and estate files from 1819, and guardianship records. Land deeds and court records at the Clerk of Superior Court also begin in 1819. Gainesville is the county seat, with a population of 47,712. Hall County has a notable genealogy asset: birth records from 1908 to 1911 survive on microfilm at the Georgia Archives. Researchers tracing family lines in northeast Georgia will find over 200 years of records available.

Hall County Probate Court Records

The Hall County Probate Court is the main source for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses date to 1819. 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 225 Green Street SE in Gainesville. The phone number is 770-531-7025. 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 Hall 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. Hall County also has birth records from 1908 to 1911 on microfilm at the Georgia Archives in Morrow. These pre-statewide records are a rare find for genealogy researchers.

Hall County Genealogy Records Online

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

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

You can also search Hall 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. This is a good way to search from home without driving to Gainesville.

Hall County Superior Court Records

The Clerk of Superior Court holds land deeds from 1819, divorce records, and civil and criminal case files. Land deeds are one of the best tools for Hall County genealogy. They show property transfers, family connections, and neighbors. Early deeds record the first settlers in the Cherokee territory that became Hall County.

Divorce records list children, property, and sometimes ages and birth dates. 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 and guardianship cases that name family members.

Hall County deed books from the 1820s and 1830s are rich sources. The Cherokee land lottery brought settlers to this area. Lottery records at the Georgia Archives list the original grantees. 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 Hall 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 Hall County Probate Court or the Georgia Department of Public Health. Certified copies cost $25 for the first and $5 for each extra.

Hall County birth records from 1908 to 1911 are on microfilm at the Georgia Archives at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260. These records predate the statewide system and are a valuable genealogy find. Not many Georgia counties have birth data from this period.

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 have fewer restrictions. 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.

Research Tips for Hall County

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

Pre-1900 Hall County records are on microfilm at the Georgia Archives. 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 Northeast Georgia History Center in Gainesville also has local history collections.

The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive has digitized pages from Gainesville-area newspapers. Obituaries, marriage notices, and legal ads are useful genealogy sources.

• Check the 1908-1911 birth records on microfilm at the Georgia Archives
• Search cemetery records when vital records are missing
• Look at church records for baptisms and burials
• Use tax digests for census gap years
• Review estate and guardianship files for family connections

Hall County was formed from Cherokee territory in 1818. Parts were later carved out for other counties. Lake Lanier, built in the 1950s, flooded some communities in Hall County. The Virtual Vault has "Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries" to track county lines over time.

Note: A major tornado destroyed much of Gainesville in 1936. Some local records and family papers were lost. Check the Georgia Archives for microfilm copies made before the storm, and use state-level records to fill gaps.

Cities in Hall County

Gainesville is the county seat and largest city in Hall County with a population of 47,712. All genealogy records for cities in Hall County are maintained at the Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Gainesville. Gainesville does not have a separate city page on this site, but all county records are accessible at the courthouse on Green Street.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Hall County. If your ancestors moved within the northeast Georgia area, check these neighboring county records.