Find Genealogy in Harris County

Harris County genealogy records date to 1827, when the county was created from parts of Muscogee and Troup counties. The Probate Court in Hamilton holds marriage licenses, wills, estate records, and guardianship files from that year. Land deeds and court records also start in 1827. The courthouse at 102 College Street in Hamilton is where most genealogy research begins. This county sits along the Alabama border in west-central Georgia, and its records cover nearly 200 years of family history in this area.

Harris County Probate Court Records

The Harris County Probate Court is the main source for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses go back to 1827. The court also holds 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, conservatorships, and marriage licenses in Harris County.

Visit the courthouse at 102 College Street in Hamilton to search in person. The phone number is 706-628-4944. For mail requests, include a written request with full names and dates, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order. The staff will help with basic lookups. In-depth research may take longer or require a visit.

Birth and death certificates from 1919 forward are on file at the Probate Court. Certified copies cost $25 for the first and $5 for each extra copy. Georgia charges the same fees at every county office.

Harris County Genealogy Records Online

The Harris County GAGenWeb page is a free volunteer-run genealogy resource with cemetery transcriptions, census data, and family documents shared by researchers.

Volunteers post records they find at courthouses and archives. You might find that someone has already done part of the work for your Harris County family lines.

You can also search Harris County court records through the state's E-Access to Court Records system. Registration is free. Basic case data is available at no charge. Document viewing costs $2.50 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after that.

Harris County Superior Court Genealogy

The Harris County Clerk of Superior Court holds land records, divorce files, and civil and criminal case records from 1827. Land deeds are a strong genealogy tool. They show property transfers, name neighbors, and often include family members as witnesses. Harris County deed books cover the full span of the county's existence.

Divorce records from the Superior Court often list children, property, 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 from the clerk in Hamilton.

Civil case files, estate disputes, and guardianship records are also worth checking. They frequently name multiple family members and can fill in gaps when vital records are missing.

Vital Records for Harris County Genealogy

Georgia started statewide vital records in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. Birth and death certificates from 1919 forward are available from the Harris County Probate Court or the Georgia Department of Public Health.

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 has indexed Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 at no cost. These are solid starting points.

Research Tips for Harris County

Start with what you know and work backward one generation at a time. Census records are a great next step. Federal census data for Harris County starts in 1830. The 1890 census was destroyed. Tax digests can fill gaps.

Pre-1900 Harris 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. For post-1900 records, contact the courthouse in Hamilton.

• Check cemetery records when vital records are missing
• Search church records for baptisms, marriages, and burials
• Review Family Bible records on microfilm at the Georgia Archives
• Use the Georgia Historic Newspapers for obituaries and legal notices
• Look at estate and guardianship records for family details

Harris County borders Alabama. Families crossed state lines often. If your trail goes cold in Harris County, check Russell County or Lee County, Alabama. The Virtual Vault has boundary change maps to help you track where ancestors lived as counties shifted. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, copy fees from public agencies are capped at 10 cents per page for standard documents.

Cities in Harris County

Harris County includes Hamilton, Pine Mountain, and Shiloh. All genealogy records are maintained at the Harris County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Hamilton. No cities in Harris County meet the population threshold for individual city pages.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Harris County. If your ancestors moved within the Columbus metro area or along the Alabama border, check neighboring county records too.