Search Houston County Genealogy

Houston County genealogy records date to 1821, when the county was formed from land ceded by the Creek Nation. The Probate Court in Perry holds marriage licenses, wills, estate files, and guardianship records from 1821. Land deeds and court records also start that year. The courthouse at 201 Perry Parkway in Perry is the main hub for genealogy research. Houston County is home to Warner Robins and Robins Air Force Base, which brought many families to this area after World War II. Older records cover nearly two centuries of settlement in central Georgia.

Houston County Probate Court Records

The Houston County Probate Court is the primary source for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses date to 1821. The court also keeps 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 Houston County.

You can visit the courthouse at 201 Perry Parkway in Perry to search records in person. The phone number is 478-218-4800. For mail requests, send a written request with full names and approximate dates, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order for fees. Staff can handle basic lookups but may not do extended research.

Birth and death certificates from 1919 forward are on file. Certified copies cost $25 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy. These are standard fees across all Georgia counties.

Houston County records from 1821 are a valuable resource for central Georgia genealogy. The early marriage and estate records are particularly useful for tracing families in this region.

Houston County Genealogy Records Online

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

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

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

Houston County Superior Court Genealogy

The Houston County Clerk of Superior Court holds land records, divorce files, and civil and criminal case records from 1821. Land deeds are a key genealogy source. They show who bought and sold property, who the neighbors were, and sometimes name family members as witnesses. Deed books in Houston County span the full history of the county.

Divorce records often list children, property, ages, and birth dates. That kind of detail can help confirm family ties. 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 Perry.

Civil lawsuits, estate disputes, and guardianship cases name multiple family members. Check these records when vital records fall short. They can provide names and dates not found elsewhere.

Vital Records for Houston 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 Houston County Probate Court or the Georgia Department of Public Health. Certified copies cost $25 for the first and $5 for each extra 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, 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 Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 indexed at no cost. These are strong starting points for Houston County genealogy.

Research Tips for Houston County

Start with what you know and work backward. Census records are a natural next step. Federal census data for Houston County begins in 1830. The 1890 census was destroyed. Tax digests help fill that gap.

Pre-1900 Houston 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 Perry.

• 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
• Look at estate and guardianship records for family details

Houston County was part of the Creek cession of 1821. Many families moved here from older Georgia counties to the east. If your ancestors came from elsewhere, trace their path using land lottery records and tax digests. The Virtual Vault has boundary change maps. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, copy fees from public agencies are capped at 10 cents per page.

Cities in Houston County

Houston County includes Warner Robins, the county's largest city. All genealogy records are maintained at the Houston County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Perry.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Houston County. Families in central Georgia often moved between counties, so check neighboring records when your trail stalls.