Access Twiggs County Genealogy

Twiggs County genealogy records go back to 1809, making it one of the older counties in central Georgia. The Probate Court in Jeffersonville holds marriage licenses, wills, estate files, and guardianship records spanning more than two centuries. The Clerk of Superior Court keeps land deeds, divorce files, and civil case records. Twiggs County was carved from Wilkinson County, so researchers tracing families before 1809 should check Wilkinson County records. The courthouse in Jeffersonville is the primary location for genealogy research in this area.

Twiggs County Probate Court Records

The Twiggs County Probate Court is the main source for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses date to 1809. The court also keeps wills, letters of administration, guardianship files, and estate inventories. These are vital documents for tracing family lines in Twiggs County.

You can visit the courthouse at 426 S. Railroad Street in Jeffersonville to search in person. The court also takes requests by mail. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment by check or money order. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has jurisdiction over wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and marriage licenses. Certified copies cost $2.50 for the first page and $0.50 for each page after that. Call ahead to confirm fees.

Note: Before 1852, probate matters in Georgia were handled by the Inferior Court. Older Twiggs County estate records may be filed under that name.

Birth and death certificates from 1919 forward are also available. The first copy costs $25. Each extra copy is $5.

Twiggs County Superior Court Genealogy

The Twiggs County Clerk of Superior Court holds land records, divorce files, and civil case records from 1809 to the present. Land deeds are one of the best genealogy sources in Twiggs County. They show property transfers, neighbors, and family connections going back to the early 1800s.

Divorce records list children, property, and ages. That kind of detail confirms family connections when other records are scarce. 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 courthouse in Jeffersonville.

Tax digests from the Superior Court are especially useful for the years when census records are missing. Georgia lost its 1790, 1800, 1810, and 1890 federal census data. Twiggs County tax records from those years can help fill gaps. Civil case files are also worth reviewing for estate disputes and property lawsuits that name family members.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, the Open Records Act caps copy fees at 10 cents per page for standard documents.

Vital Records for Twiggs County Genealogy

Georgia did not start statewide vital records until 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. For Twiggs County births and deaths before 1919, you need county-level sources. Church records, cemetery transcriptions, and family Bibles are good alternatives for pre-1919 data.

Birth certificates from 1919 onward are available from the Georgia Department of Public Health or the Twiggs County Probate Court. 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 have fewer restrictions and are easier to get for genealogy.

The Georgia Virtual Vault has death certificates from 1919 to 1943 online for free. FamilySearch.org also has Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 indexed at no cost. These are strong starting points for Twiggs County research.

Twiggs County GAGenWeb Resources

The Twiggs County GAGenWeb page is a free volunteer-run genealogy resource with cemetery transcriptions, census data, and family trees shared by other researchers.

This site connects you with other people working on Twiggs County family lines. Volunteers post records they have found at courthouses, libraries, and archives across Georgia.

Other free online resources for Twiggs County 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, legal notices, and family announcements.

Genealogy Research Tips for Twiggs County

Start with what you know. Write down all the names, dates, and places you have for your Twiggs County family. Then work backward one generation at a time.

Census records are often the best next step. Federal census data from 1820 to 1940 covers Twiggs County. The 1850 census was the first to list every person by name and age. For the years where Georgia census records were lost, use Twiggs County tax digests. The Georgia Archives at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260 is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Free access to Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and Fold3 is available in the search room.

You can also search Twiggs County records through the state's E-Access to Court Records system. Registration is free. Basic case data costs nothing. Documents cost $2.50 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after that.

• Check cemetery records when vital records are missing
• Search church records for baptisms, marriages, and burials
• Look at Family Bible records on microfilm at the Georgia Archives
• Use the Vanishing Georgia collection for historical photos
• Review estate and guardianship records for family details

Twiggs County was created from Wilkinson County in 1809. If your ancestors were here before that date, check Wilkinson County records. The Virtual Vault has "Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries" to help track where your family was counted over time.

Note: Pre-1900 Twiggs County records are available on microfilm at the Georgia Archives in Morrow. Post-1900 records are only at the courthouse in Jeffersonville.

Cities in Twiggs County

Jeffersonville is the county seat and largest city in Twiggs County. All genealogy records for cities in this county are maintained at the Twiggs County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Jeffersonville. No cities in Twiggs County meet the population threshold for a separate city page.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Twiggs County. If your ancestors moved within central Georgia, check neighboring county records. County borders shifted often as Georgia created new counties from existing ones.