Find Telfair County Genealogy

Telfair County genealogy records go back to 1807, the year the county was created from Wilkinson County. The Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in McRae-Helena maintain marriage records, wills, estate files, land deeds, and court cases that help trace family lines in south-central Georgia. Telfair County has more than two centuries of genealogy data, and the courthouse in McRae-Helena is the central starting point for researchers looking into family roots in this part of the state.

Telfair County Probate Court Records

The Telfair County Probate Court is the main source for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses date back to 1807. The court also holds wills, letters of administration, guardianship files, and estate inventories. These are the core records for genealogy work in the county.

You can visit the Probate Court at the courthouse in McRae-Helena. Staff can help you locate what you need. The court also takes mail requests. Send a written request with the names and approximate dates, 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 Telfair County. Fees vary, so call ahead to check current costs.

Note: Telfair County was a parent county for Wheeler County (created 1912) and parts of other counties, so some records may cover areas now in other jurisdictions.

Telfair County Superior Court Genealogy

The Superior Court Clerk holds land records, divorce records, and civil and criminal case files from 1807 forward. Deed books and old court minutes show property transfers, legal disputes, and family connections. These records often fill gaps that vital records leave open.

Divorce records from the Superior Court are a strong genealogy source. They often list children by name, give ages or birth dates, and describe property. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most court records in Telfair County are open to the public. You can visit the clerk's office in McRae-Helena or send a written request. Land records are especially useful for the period before 1850, when the census only listed heads of household. Tax digests also help. They list property owners each year and can place your ancestors in the county when census records are missing or destroyed.

Vital Records for Telfair Genealogy

Georgia began statewide vital records in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. For birth and death certificates from that year forward, contact the Georgia Department of Public Health or the Telfair County vital records office. Birth certificates cost $25 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy. Death certificates are the same price.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates are limited to the person named, parents, grandparents, adult siblings, adult children, spouses, or legal guardians. Death certificates are easier to access for genealogy purposes. For records before 1919, check the Georgia Archives. The 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.

• Birth certificates from 1919 to present at state or county level
• Death certificates from 1919 to present
• Marriage records from 1807 at the Probate Court
• Divorce records from the Superior Court Clerk
• Estate records including wills and inventories

Telfair County GAGenWeb Genealogy

The Telfair 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 Telfair County families.

This site connects you with others researching Telfair County family lines. Volunteers post records from courthouses, libraries, and archives. It is a good starting point when you are new to research in this county.

The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive is another free tool. It has over one million pages of old Georgia newspapers with obituaries, legal notices, and announcements that can help with Telfair County genealogy. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, public record copy fees are capped at 10 cents per page for standard letter or legal size documents.

Note: Check FamilySearch for Georgia probate records from 1742 to 1990 and marriages from 1754 to 1960, both of which may include Telfair County entries.

Research Tips for Telfair County

Start with what you know. Write down all names, dates, and places for your Telfair County family. Then work backward one generation at a time. Census records are usually the best next step. Federal census data from 1810 to 1940 covers the period after Telfair County was formed. The 1850 census was the first to list every household member by name and age.

Telfair County was carved from Wilkinson County in 1807. Parts of Telfair later went to create Wheeler and other counties. If your ancestor lived on the edge of Telfair County, check whether that land stayed in Telfair or moved to a new county. Georgia has 159 counties and the lines changed often. The Virtual Vault has a free resource called "Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries" that helps with this issue.

Pre-1900 Telfair County records are on microfilm at the Georgia Archives in Morrow. The archives are at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260, open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Free access to Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and Fold3 is available in the search room.

Cities in Telfair County

Telfair County includes the city of McRae-Helena, which serves as the county seat, along with smaller communities like Lumber City and Scotland. All genealogy records for these areas are maintained at the Telfair County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk. No cities in this county meet the population threshold for a separate city page.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Telfair County. If your ancestors moved within southeast Georgia, check these neighboring county records as well.