Find Henry County Genealogy Records

Henry County genealogy records date to 1821, the year the county was formed from land ceded by the Creek Nation. The Probate Court in McDonough holds marriage licenses, wills, estate files, and guardianship records from 1821. Land deeds and court records also start that year. The courthouse at 1 Courthouse Square in McDonough is the central hub for genealogy research. Henry County has grown rapidly as part of the south Atlanta metro area, but its older records cover over 200 years of family history in central Georgia.

Henry County Probate Court Records

The Henry County Probate Court is the main source for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses go back to 1821. 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 Henry County.

Visit the courthouse at 1 Courthouse Square in McDonough to search in person. The phone number is 770-288-8022. For mail requests, send a written request with full names and dates, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order. Staff can do basic lookups. Complex research may take more time or need an in-person visit.

Birth and death certificates from 1919 forward are on file at the Probate Court. Certified copies cost $25 for the first copy and $5 for each extra copy. All Georgia counties charge these same fees.

Henry County records from 1821 are among the older collections in the south metro Atlanta area. The early marriage and estate records are a strong starting point for family research.

Henry County Genealogy Records Online

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

Volunteers post records they find at courthouses, cemeteries, and archives. This is a great way to connect with others researching Henry County families.

You can also search Henry County court records through the state's E-Access to Court Records system. Registration is free. Basic case data costs nothing. Document viewing is $2.50 for the first page and $1.00 after that. This lets you search from home without driving to McDonough.

Henry County Superior Court Genealogy

The Henry County Clerk of Superior Court holds land records, divorce files, and civil and criminal case records from 1821. Land deeds are a strong genealogy tool. They show property transfers, name neighbors, and sometimes list family members as witnesses or heirs. Deed books in Henry County cover over two centuries of land transactions.

Divorce records from the Superior Court often contain names of children, property details, ages, and birth dates. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most court records are open to the public. You can get copies in person or by mail from the clerk in McDonough.

Civil lawsuits, guardianship cases, and estate disputes often name multiple family members. These records fill gaps when vital records are not available for the time period you need.

Vital Records for Henry 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 Henry 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, making them easier to get for genealogy. For records before 1919, try the Probate Court, church records, cemetery inscriptions, or 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 strong starting points for Henry County research.

Research Tips for Henry County

Start with what you know. Write down names, dates, and places. Then work backward. Census records are a great next step. Federal census data for Henry County starts in 1830. The 1890 census was destroyed. Tax digests help fill that gap.

Pre-1900 Henry 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 McDonough.

• 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

Henry County was part of the Creek cession of 1821. The Virtual Vault has "Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries" to help track boundary shifts over the years. 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 Henry County

Henry County has two major cities. All genealogy records for these cities are maintained at the Henry County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in McDonough. Select a city below for local genealogy information.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Henry County. If your ancestors lived in the south metro Atlanta area, check neighboring county records too. County lines shifted as Georgia grew.