Warren County Genealogy Records

Warren County genealogy records stretch back to 1793, making this one of the older counties in Georgia. The Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Warrenton hold marriage records, wills, estate files, land deeds, and court cases that cover over 230 years of local history. Warren County was one of the original counties created in the early days of the state, and its courthouse records are a rich source for anyone tracing roots in east-central Georgia. Many families in this area have connections that reach into the late 1700s.

Warren County Probate Court Records

The Warren County Probate Court is the primary source for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses go back to the early 1800s. The court also keeps wills, letters of administration, guardianship papers, and estate inventories. These records are essential for genealogy in Warren County. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has jurisdiction over wills, estates, guardianships, and marriage licenses.

Warren County records from the late 1700s are among the oldest county records in Georgia. Some of these early documents have survived fires and floods. The Probate Court in Warrenton can help you find what you need. You can visit in person, call, or send a request by mail. Include the full name of the person you are researching, the type of record, and the approximate date. Copy fees are typically $1 per page. Certified copies cost more. Always call first to confirm current fees and whether the record you need is available.

Note: Warren County has records from the 1790s, so be specific with dates to help staff locate the right document.

Vital Records for Warren County Genealogy

Statewide vital records in Georgia did not begin until 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. For Warren County births and deaths before that year, you need to rely on church registers, cemetery records, and family Bibles. The Georgia Archives has early Warren County records on microfilm. Death certificates from 1919 to 1943 are available free through the Virtual Vault.

Birth certificates from the state office cost $25 for the first copy. Death certificates have the same price. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates are restricted to the named person, parents, grandparents, adult siblings, adult children, spouses, or legal guardians. Death certificates are available to a wider range of people, which makes them more accessible for genealogy research. The Georgia Department of Public Health handles state-level requests.

Warren County marriage records date to the early 1800s. The Probate Court holds these. The state only has marriage records from 1952 to 1996. For marriages before or after that window, contact Warren County directly.

Warren County Superior Court Genealogy

The Warren County Superior Court Clerk holds land records, divorce files, and civil and criminal case records. Deed books in Warren County go back to the 1790s. These show property sales, gifts, and transfers between family members. Land records often name neighbors and adjoining landowners, which helps place families in a specific location. Divorce records list children, property, and sometimes ages or birth dates.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most court records are open to the public. The Superior Court Clerk's office is in Warrenton. You can visit during business hours to search deed indexes and case files. Warren County's early land records are especially valuable because they document the original settlement patterns of this part of Georgia.

Note: Tax digests from Warren County can serve as a census substitute for years when federal census records are missing, especially for 1790, 1800, and 1810.

Warren County GAGenWeb Genealogy

The Warren County GAGenWeb page is a free volunteer genealogy resource. It has cemetery transcriptions, census extracts, family histories, and other records shared by researchers with Warren County connections.

This site lets you connect with other people working on Warren County family lines. Volunteers post records from courthouses, libraries, and archives. It is a good starting point for research in this county.

The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive has over one million pages of old Georgia newspapers. FamilySearch provides free access to Georgia marriages from 1754 to 1960, probate records from 1742 to 1990, and death records from 1914 to 1943. All of these help with Warren County genealogy.

Warren County at the Georgia Archives

The Georgia Archives in Morrow holds pre-1900 Warren County records on microfilm. These include marriage records, estate files, deed books, and court minutes. Federal census records for Warren County are available from 1800 through 1940 (with the 1800 and 1810 Georgia census records destroyed). The 1820 census is the earliest surviving federal count for Warren County.

The search room at the Georgia Archives gives free access to Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and Fold3. Staff can help you find the right microfilm reels. The archives are at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260, open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, copy fees at public agencies are capped at 10 cents per page for standard documents. The Georgia Archives follows this fee structure for most research copies.

Research Tips for Warren County

Begin with what you know. List all names, dates, and places for your Warren County family and work backward. Census records are the logical next step. Warren County has census data going back to 1820. For earlier years, tax digests and land lottery records fill the gap.

Warren County was one of the original Georgia counties created in 1793 from parts of Wilkes, Columbia, and Richmond counties. If your family was in this area before 1793, check those counties. Georgia has 159 counties, and boundary changes happened frequently. The Virtual Vault has a free tool called "Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries" that tracks which county covered a specific area in any given year.

• Check cemetery records and tombstone inscriptions when vital records are unavailable
• Search church records for baptisms, marriages, and burials
• Look at Family Bible records on microfilm at the Georgia Archives
• Use the Vanishing Georgia photo collection for Warren County images
• Review estate records when key dates are unknown

Cities in Warren County

Warren County includes Warrenton, the county seat, along with smaller communities like Norwood and Camak. All genealogy records are kept at the Warren County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Warrenton. No cities in the county meet the population threshold for a dedicated page.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Warren County. If your ancestors moved around this part of Georgia, records in neighboring counties may hold key information. Boundary changes were common in the 1800s.