Wayne County Genealogy Records

Wayne County genealogy records go back to 1803, when the county was formed from part of the original Appling County territory in southeast Georgia. The Probate Court in Jesup holds marriage licenses, wills, estate files, and guardianship records covering more than 220 years. The Clerk of Superior Court keeps land deeds, divorce files, and civil case records. Wayne County is one of the larger counties in the coastal plain region. The courthouse in Jesup is the main hub for genealogy research, and the records here are well preserved for a county of its age.

Wayne County Probate Court Records

The Wayne County Probate Court is the main source for marriage and estate records. Marriage licenses go back to 1803. The court also keeps wills, letters of administration, guardianship files, and estate inventories. These documents are vital for tracing family lines in Wayne County.

Visit the courthouse at 174 N. Brunswick Street in Jesup 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 additional page. Call ahead to confirm fees.

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

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

Wayne County Superior Court Genealogy

The Wayne County Clerk of Superior Court holds land records, divorce files, and civil case records from 1803 to the present. Land deeds are one of the best genealogy sources in Wayne County. They show property transfers, neighbors, and family networks going back to the early 1800s.

Divorce records often list children, property, and ages. That detail helps confirm family ties 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 Jesup courthouse.

Tax digests from the Superior Court fill gaps where census records are missing. Georgia lost its 1790, 1800, 1810, and 1890 federal census data. Wayne County tax records from those periods serve as substitutes. Civil case files also name family members in estate disputes and property lawsuits.

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 Wayne County Genealogy

Georgia did not start statewide vital records until 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. For Wayne County births and deaths before 1919, check the Probate Court, church records, cemetery transcriptions, and family Bibles. These sources can fill in what official records do not cover.

Birth certificates from 1919 onward are available from the Georgia Department of Public Health or the Wayne 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 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 Wayne County research.

Wayne County GAGenWeb Resources

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

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, legal notices, and family announcements.

Genealogy Research Tips for Wayne County

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

Census records are a great next step. Federal census data from 1820 to 1940 covers Wayne County. The 1850 census was the first to list every person by name and age. For years where Georgia census records are missing, use Wayne 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 Wayne 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 additional page.

• 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

Wayne County boundary changes matter. Parts of Wayne County were carved off to form other counties over the years. Your ancestors may have lived in the same spot but appeared in different counties at different times. The Virtual Vault has "Georgia Counties: Their Changing Boundaries" to track these shifts.

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

Cities in Wayne County

Jesup is the county seat and largest city in Wayne County. Screven is also located in the county. All genealogy records for cities in Wayne County are maintained at the Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk in Jesup. No cities in Wayne County meet the population threshold for a separate city page.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Wayne County. If your ancestors moved within southeast Georgia, check neighboring county records. County lines shifted often as new counties were carved from existing ones.