Haralson County Genealogy Records

Haralson County genealogy records go back to 1856, when the county was formed from Carroll and Polk counties. The Probate Court in Buchanan holds marriage licenses, wills, estate files, and guardianship records from that year. Land deeds and court records also start in 1856. The courthouse at 4485 GA Hwy 120 in Buchanan is the main place to search for family records. Researchers tracing roots in western Georgia near the Alabama border will find Haralson County records useful for building family connections in this part of the state.

Haralson County Probate Court Records

The Haralson County Probate Court is the primary source for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses start in 1856. The court also keeps wills, letters of administration, guardianship records, and estate inventories. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has jurisdiction over wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and marriage licenses in Haralson County.

You can visit the courthouse at 4485 GA Hwy 120 in Buchanan to search records. The phone number is 770-646-2008. Mail requests are accepted too. Send a written request with the names and dates you need, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order for fees. The staff can help with basic lookups but may not do in-depth research for you.

Birth and death certificates from 1919 forward are also available. Certified copies cost $25 for the first copy and $5 for each extra copy. These fees are the same at every county office in Georgia.

Haralson County was carved from Carroll and Polk counties. If you need records before 1856, check those parent counties for earlier documents.

Haralson County Genealogy Records Online

The Georgia Probate Courts Directory lists contact information and office details for every county probate court in the state, including Haralson County.

From this directory you can find the current address, phone number, and hours for the Haralson County Probate Court in Buchanan.

You can also search Haralson County court records through the state's E-Access to Court Records system. Registration is free. Basic case data costs nothing. If you need actual documents, the first page costs $2.50 and each page after that is $1.00. This is a good option for searching from home.

Haralson County Superior Court Genealogy

The Haralson County Clerk of Superior Court holds land records, divorce files, and court records from 1856. Land deeds are a strong genealogy source. They show who bought and sold property, who the neighbors were, and they sometimes name family members as witnesses. Deed books in Haralson County cover the county's full history from its formation.

Divorce records often list children, property, ages, and birth dates. That kind of detail can confirm family ties when other records are scarce. 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 from the clerk in Buchanan.

Estate disputes and civil lawsuits also name family members. If vital records are lacking for your time period, check civil court files and estate records for names and dates.

Vital Records for Haralson County Genealogy

Georgia began statewide vital records in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. Birth and death certificates from 1919 forward are available from the Haralson County Probate Court or the Georgia Department of Public Health. Certified copies cost $25 for the first and $5 for each additional copy.

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. For records before 1919, check church records, cemetery inscriptions, and Family Bible 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. These are good starting points for Haralson County genealogy.

Research Tips for Haralson County

Start with what you know and work backward. Census records are a natural next step. Federal census data for Haralson County begins in 1860 (the first census after the county formed). The 1890 census was destroyed. Use tax digests to fill that gap.

Pre-1900 Haralson 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, and Fold3 is available in the search room.

• Check cemetery records when vital records are not available
• Search church records for baptisms, marriages, and burials
• Look at Family Bible records at the Georgia Archives
• Use the Georgia Historic Newspapers archive for obituaries
• Review estate and guardianship records for family details

Haralson County sits near the Alabama line. Families often crossed state borders for work, land, or marriage. If you lose a family trail in Haralson County, check Cleburne County, Alabama records too. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, copy fees from public agencies in Georgia are capped at 10 cents per page for standard documents.

Cities in Haralson County

Haralson County includes Buchanan, Bremen, Tallapoosa, and Waco. All genealogy records are maintained at the Haralson County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Buchanan. No cities in Haralson County meet the population threshold for individual city pages.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Haralson County. Families in western Georgia often moved between counties, so check these records too.