Laurens County Genealogy Search

Laurens County genealogy records date to 1807, the year the county was created from parts of Washington and Wilkinson counties. The Probate Court in Dublin holds marriage licenses, wills, estate records, and guardianship files from that year. Land deeds and court records also start in 1807. The courthouse at 101 N. Jefferson Street in Dublin is the main hub for genealogy research. Laurens County sits in the heart of middle Georgia, and its records cover over two centuries of family life in this region.

Laurens County Probate Court Records

The Laurens County Probate Court is the main source for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses go back to 1807. 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 Laurens County.

You can visit the courthouse at 101 N. Jefferson Street in Dublin to search records. The phone number is 478-272-3210. For mail requests, send a written request with the names and dates you need, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order for fees. Staff can help with basic lookups but may not do lengthy research.

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 standard fees.

Laurens County records from 1807 are an important resource for middle Georgia genealogy. The early marriage and estate records are particularly useful for researchers working in this area.

Laurens County Genealogy Records Online

The Laurens 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. You might find that someone has already done part of the work you need for your Laurens County research.

You can also search Laurens 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 for each page after that.

Laurens County Superior Court Genealogy

The Laurens County Clerk of Superior Court holds land records, divorce files, and civil and criminal case records from 1807. Land deeds are a key genealogy tool. They show property sales, name neighbors, and sometimes list family members as witnesses. Deed books in Laurens County cover the full span of the county's existence.

Divorce records from the Superior Court often name children, list property, and give ages or 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 Dublin.

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

Vital Records for Laurens 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 Laurens 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 Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 indexed at no cost. These are solid starting points for Laurens County genealogy.

Research Tips for Laurens 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 Laurens County starts in 1810. The 1890 census was destroyed. Tax digests help fill that gap.

Pre-1900 Laurens 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 Dublin.

• 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

Laurens County was formed from Washington and Wilkinson counties. For earlier records, check those parent counties. The Virtual Vault has "Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries" to help track where your family was counted. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, copy fees from public agencies are capped at 10 cents per page.

Cities in Laurens County

Laurens County includes Dublin, East Dublin, Cadwell, and other small communities. All genealogy records are maintained at the Laurens County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Dublin. No cities in Laurens County meet the population threshold for individual city pages.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Laurens County. Families in middle Georgia moved between counties often, so check neighboring records when your search stalls.