Access Lanier County Genealogy

Lanier County genealogy records begin in 1920, though the county was officially created in 1919 from parts of Berrien, Clinch, and Lowndes counties. Marriage, probate, land, and court records all start in 1920. The Probate Court in Lakeland holds marriage licenses, wills, estate files, and guardianship records. The courthouse at 100 W. Main Street in Lakeland is the starting point for genealogy research. Lanier County is one of Georgia's smallest counties, and its records are manageable for researchers but point back to parent counties for anything before 1920.

Lanier County Probate Court Records

The Lanier County Probate Court is the primary source for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses start in 1920. 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 Lanier County.

Visit the courthouse at 100 W. Main Street in Lakeland to search in person. The phone number is 229-482-3895. Mail requests are accepted. Send a written request with the names and dates you need, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment for fees. Staff are available for basic lookups.

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

Lanier County was carved from Berrien, Clinch, and Lowndes counties. For records before 1920, check those parent counties.

Lanier County Genealogy Records Online

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

Volunteers post records from courthouses, cemeteries, and archives. This is a helpful way to find records and connect with other researchers focused on Lanier County.

You can also search Lanier 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.

Lanier County Superior Court Genealogy

The Lanier County Clerk of Superior Court holds land records, divorce files, and court records from 1920. Land deeds show property transfers and often name neighbors and family members. Even though Lanier County is newer, its deed books still cover a full century of land transactions in south Georgia.

Divorce records 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 Lakeland.

Civil lawsuits and estate disputes often name family members. These records can help fill gaps when vital records are not available.

Vital Records for Lanier 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 Lanier 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, check church records, cemetery inscriptions, and Family Bible records in Berrien, Clinch, or Lowndes counties.

The Georgia Virtual Vault has death certificates from 1919 to 1943 online for free. FamilySearch has Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 indexed at no cost.

Research Tips for Lanier County

Start with what you know and work backward. Census records are a good next step. The 1920 federal census is the first to list Lanier County by name. For earlier census data, look under Berrien, Clinch, or Lowndes counties. The 1890 census was destroyed.

Records for the Lanier County area before 1920 are held by its parent counties. Microfilm copies are 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 missing
• Search church records for baptisms, marriages, and burials
• Review Berrien, Clinch, and Lowndes county records for pre-1920 data
• Use the Georgia Historic Newspapers for obituaries
• Look at estate records for family names and dates

Lanier County is in south Georgia near the Florida border. Families sometimes crossed state lines. If your trail goes cold, check Hamilton County, Florida. 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 Lanier County

Lanier County includes Lakeland and Stockton. All genealogy records are maintained at the Lanier County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Lakeland. No cities in Lanier County meet the population threshold for individual city pages.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lanier County. Families in south Georgia often moved between counties, so check neighboring records.