Taliaferro County Genealogy

Taliaferro County genealogy records date back to 1825 when the county was formed from parts of Greene, Hancock, Oglethorpe, Warren, and Wilkes counties. The Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Crawfordville hold marriage records, wills, estate files, land deeds, and court cases useful for tracing family lines. Taliaferro is one of Georgia's smallest counties by population, but its records stretch back nearly two hundred years. Early vital records from 1875 and 1876 also survive here, making it one of the few Georgia counties with birth data from that era.

Taliaferro County Probate Court Records

The Taliaferro County Probate Court is the main source for marriage and estate records used in genealogy research. This court holds marriage licenses from 1825 to the present. It also keeps wills, letters of administration, guardianship files, and estate inventories. These records are key for tracing family lines in this part of Georgia.

You can visit the Probate Court in person at the courthouse in Crawfordville. Staff can help you find what you need. The court also takes requests by mail. Send a written request with the names and approximate dates you are looking for, along with a check or money order for the search fee. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has jurisdiction over wills, estates, guardianships, and marriage licenses in Taliaferro County. Copies cost varies, so call ahead to get the current fee schedule before you send a request.

Note: Taliaferro County is one of the least populated counties in Georgia, so the Probate Court staff may handle multiple roles and response times can vary.

Taliaferro County Early Vital Records

Taliaferro County holds a rare set of birth records from 1875 and 1876. Georgia passed a vital records act in 1875 that required counties to record births and deaths. Most counties did not follow through. Only about eleven counties have surviving records from that era. Taliaferro is one of them.

These early birth records are on microfilm at the Georgia Archives in Morrow. They cover a short window but can fill gaps that other records cannot. If your ancestors lived in Taliaferro County during that time, these records may list names, birth dates, and parents. Statewide vital records did not begin until 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9, so these 1875 records are a valuable find for genealogy research in the county.

The Georgia Archives address is 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Free access to Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and Fold3 is available in the search room.

Taliaferro County Superior Court Genealogy

The Taliaferro County Superior Court Clerk holds land records, divorce records, and civil and criminal case files going back to 1825. These records help with genealogy because they show property transfers, legal disputes, and family connections that other records might miss.

Deed books and old court minutes can help you figure out where your ancestors lived and what land they owned. Divorce records are another useful source. The Superior Court has handled divorce cases since the county was formed. These files often name children, list property, and give ages or birth dates that confirm family links. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most court records in Taliaferro County are open to the public for inspection.

Note: Some early Taliaferro County records may also appear in Greene, Hancock, or Wilkes county files since the county was carved from those areas.

Vital Records for Taliaferro Genealogy

For records after 1919, the Georgia Department of Public Health handles birth and death certificates. You can order these online, by mail, or in person at the state office or at the Taliaferro County vital records office in Crawfordville. Birth certificates cost $25 for the first copy and $5 for each extra copy. Death certificates are the same price.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates are only available to the person named, parents, grandparents, adult siblings, adult children, spouses, or legal guardians. Death certificates are more widely available and are often the easier route for genealogy research. For records before 1919, check the Georgia Archives for microfilmed Taliaferro County records. The Virtual Vault has death certificates from 1919 to 1943 online for free.

• Birth certificates from 1919 to present at state or county level
• Death certificates from 1919 to present
• Birth records from 1875-1876 on microfilm at Georgia Archives
• Marriage records from 1825 at the Probate Court

Taliaferro County GAGenWeb Genealogy

The Taliaferro County GAGenWeb page is a free volunteer-run genealogy resource. It has cemetery transcriptions, census data, family trees, and other records shared by researchers working on Taliaferro County family lines.

This site connects you with other people researching Taliaferro County families. Volunteers often post records they have found at courthouses, libraries, and archives. It is a good starting point if you are new to research in this county.

Other free online resources include FamilySearch, which has Georgia marriages from 1754 to 1960, probate records from 1742 to 1990, and death records from 1914 to 1943. The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive has over one million pages of old Georgia newspapers with obituaries and legal notices that can help with Taliaferro County genealogy.

Note: The GAGenWeb page for Taliaferro County may not be updated often since the county has a very small population, but it still has useful historical data.

Genealogy Research Tips for Taliaferro County

Start with what you know. Write down all the names, dates, and places you have for your Taliaferro County family. Then work backward one generation at a time. Census records are often the best next step. Federal census data is available from 1830 to 1940 at the Georgia Archives through Ancestry.com. Keep in mind that the 1890 federal census for Georgia was destroyed. For that gap, use Taliaferro County tax digests to find where your ancestors lived.

Taliaferro County was formed in 1825, so earlier records for this area will be in Greene, Hancock, Oglethorpe, Warren, or Wilkes County files. This is a common issue in Georgia genealogy. The state has 159 counties and boundaries shifted often in the 1800s. The Virtual Vault has a free resource called "Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries" that shows which county your ancestors were counted in for any given year. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, copy fees for public records are capped at 10 cents per page for standard documents.

Pre-1900 Taliaferro County records are available on microfilm at the Georgia Archives in Morrow. For records after 1900, contact the courthouse in Crawfordville directly.

Cities in Taliaferro County

Taliaferro County includes the town of Crawfordville, which serves as the county seat. All genealogy records for communities in Taliaferro County are maintained at the Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Crawfordville. No cities in this county meet the population threshold for a separate city page.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Taliaferro County. If your ancestors moved within this area, check neighboring county records as well. County lines changed often in Georgia, so an ancestor counted in Taliaferro County one decade might appear in a different county the next.