Access Long County Genealogy
Long County genealogy records begin in 1920, when the county was created from Liberty County. The Probate Court in Ludowici holds marriage licenses, wills, estate files, and guardianship records from that year. Land deeds and court records also start in 1920. The courthouse at 119 N. Main Street in Ludowici is the primary place to search for family records. Long County is a small, rural county in southeastern Georgia near Fort Stewart. For records before 1920, researchers need to check Liberty County.
Long County Quick Facts
Long County Probate Court Records
The Long 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 Long County.
Visit the courthouse at 119 N. Main Street in Ludowici to search in person. The phone number is 912-545-2123. 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 handle basic lookups.
Birth and death certificates from 1919 forward are on file. Certified copies cost $25 for the first copy and $5 for each extra copy. Georgia charges the same fees at every county office.
| Address | 119 N. Main Street, Ludowici, GA 31316 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (912) 545-2123 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
Long County was carved from Liberty County in 1920. For any records before that date, check the Liberty County courthouse in Hinesville.
Long County Genealogy Records Online
The Long County GAGenWeb page is a free volunteer-run genealogy resource with cemetery records, census transcriptions, and family documents shared by researchers.
Volunteers post records from courthouses, cemeteries, and archives. This is a helpful way to connect with others researching Long County families.
You can also search Long 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.
Long County Superior Court Genealogy
The Long County Clerk of Superior Court holds land records, divorce files, and civil and criminal case records from 1920. Land deeds show property transfers and name neighbors and family members. Even though Long County is one of Georgia's newer counties, its deed books still cover a full century of land transactions.
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 request copies in person or by mail from the clerk in Ludowici.
Civil lawsuits and estate disputes name family members. These records help fill gaps when vital records are lacking for your time period.
Vital Records for Long 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 Long 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 Liberty County records, church records, and cemetery inscriptions.
The Georgia Virtual Vault has death certificates from 1919 to 1943 online for free. FamilySearch also has Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 at no cost.
Research Tips for Long 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 Long County by name. For earlier census data, look under Liberty County. The 1890 census was destroyed.
Records for the Long County area before 1920 are in Liberty County collections. 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 Liberty County records for pre-1920 data
- Use the Georgia Historic Newspapers for obituaries
- Look at estate and guardianship records for family names
Long County is near Fort Stewart, which was established in 1940. Military families may have records at the National Archives as well as local sources. 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 Long County
Long County includes Ludowici and a few small communities. All genealogy records are maintained at the Long County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Ludowici. No cities in Long County meet the population threshold for individual city pages.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Long County. Families in southeastern Georgia moved between counties, so check neighboring records when your search stalls.