Find Washington County Genealogy

Washington County genealogy records date back to 1784, making it one of the oldest counties in Georgia. It was one of the original counties formed from colonial territory. The Probate Court in Sandersville holds marriage licenses, wills, estate files, and guardianship records spanning more than 240 years. The Clerk of Superior Court keeps land deeds, divorce files, and civil case records. Washington County was a parent county for many surrounding counties, so its early records cover a wide area of central Georgia. The courthouse in Sandersville is the starting point for genealogy research here.

Washington County Probate Court Records

The Washington County Probate Court is the main source for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses go back to 1784. The court also keeps wills, letters of administration, guardianship files, and estate inventories. As one of Georgia's oldest counties, Washington County has a deep archive of probate records that cover the state's earliest period.

You can visit the courthouse at 132 W. Haynes Street in Sandersville to search in person. The court also takes mail requests. 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.

Note: Before 1852, probate matters in Georgia were handled by the Inferior Court. Older Washington 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.

Washington County Superior Court Genealogy

The Washington County Clerk of Superior Court holds land records, divorce files, and civil case records from 1784. Land deeds are among the most valuable genealogy resources in Washington County. Early deeds track property transfers from the colonial and post-Revolutionary period. They show family networks, property inheritance, and migration patterns.

Divorce records often list children, property, and ages. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most court records are open to the public. You can request copies in person or by mail from the courthouse in Sandersville. The clerk also keeps voter registration lists and tax digests from various periods.

Tax digests are especially useful for Washington County. Georgia lost its 1790, 1800, 1810, and 1890 federal census data. Washington County tax records from those periods are some of the best surviving substitutes. Civil case files, estate disputes, and property lawsuits often name multiple family members and reveal connections.

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

Vital Records for Washington County Genealogy

Georgia did not start statewide vital records until 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. For Washington County births and deaths before 1919, you need county-level sources. Church records, cemetery transcriptions, and family Bibles are essential alternatives. Given the county's long history, early church records can be particularly valuable.

Birth certificates from 1919 onward are available from the Georgia Department of Public Health or the Washington County Probate Court. 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.

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 solid starting points for Washington County research.

Washington County GAGenWeb Resources

The Washington 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 Washington County family lines. Volunteers post records from courthouses, libraries, and archives across Georgia.

Other free 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, legal notices, and family announcements.

Genealogy Research Tips for Washington County

Start with what you know. Write down all names, dates, and places. Then work backward one generation at a time.

Census records are a great next step. The 1790 census for Georgia was destroyed, but tax digests from that era survive for Washington County. Federal census data from 1820 to 1940 is at the Georgia Archives. The 1850 census was the first to list every household member by name. 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 Washington 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 per page after.

• Check cemetery records and tombstone inscriptions 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 photo collection for historical images
• Review estate and guardianship records for family connections

Washington County boundary changes are important. As one of Georgia's original counties, large portions were carved off to form new counties over many decades. Your ancestors may have lived in the same place but appeared in different counties over time. The Virtual Vault has "Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries" to help track these changes.

Note: Pre-1900 Washington County records are on microfilm at the Georgia Archives in Morrow. Post-1900 records are at the courthouse in Sandersville.

Cities in Washington County

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

Nearby Counties

These counties border Washington County. If your ancestors moved within central Georgia, check neighboring county records. Many of these counties were formed from Washington County territory.