Search Lowndes County Genealogy Records

Lowndes County genealogy records date to 1825, when the county was created from Irwin County. The Probate Court in Valdosta holds marriage licenses, wills, estate files, and guardianship records from that year. Land deeds and court records also start in 1825. The courthouse at 327 N. Ashley Street in Valdosta is the main hub for genealogy research. Lowndes County is the largest county in the Valdosta metro area and sits near the Florida border. Its records cover nearly 200 years of family history in south Georgia.

Lowndes County Probate Court Records

The Lowndes County Probate Court is the main source for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses go back to 1825. 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 Lowndes County.

You can visit the courthouse at 327 N. Ashley Street in Valdosta to search records. The phone number is 229-333-5270. 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 handle extended research.

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

Lowndes County is the largest county in south Georgia. Its courthouse in Valdosta handles a high volume of record requests. Plan ahead if you are visiting in person.

Lowndes County Genealogy Records Online

The Lowndes 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 good way to connect with other people researching Lowndes County families and find transcribed documents.

You can also search Lowndes 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. This lets you search from home without driving to Valdosta.

Lowndes County Superior Court Genealogy

The Lowndes County Clerk of Superior Court holds land records, divorce files, and civil and criminal case records from 1825. Land deeds are a key genealogy source. They show property transfers, name neighbors, and often list family members as witnesses. Deed books in Lowndes County span nearly two centuries of south Georgia land ownership.

Divorce records often contain names of children, property details, ages, 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 Valdosta.

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

Vital Records for Lowndes 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 Lowndes 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 Lowndes County genealogy.

Research Tips for Lowndes County

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

Pre-1900 Lowndes 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 Valdosta.

• 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

Lowndes County is close to the Florida border. Families moved between Georgia and Florida often. If your trail goes cold, check Hamilton or Madison County, Florida. The Virtual Vault has "Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries" to track boundary shifts. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, copy fees from public agencies are capped at 10 cents per page.

Cities in Lowndes County

Lowndes County includes Valdosta, the county seat and largest city. All genealogy records are maintained at the Lowndes County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Valdosta.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lowndes County. Families in south Georgia often moved between counties and across the Florida line, so check neighboring records too.