In Georgia, most genealogically significant records are found in county records.  Each county has a Superior Court and a Probate Court.  The Probate Court was formerly known as the Court of Ordinary and prior to that, it was known as the Inferior Court. 

Superior Court records include:

• Deeds.  Transfer of real property (land or slaves) from one individual to another.  Generally includes a description of the property and the name(s) of grantor (seller) and grantee (buyer).  Includes date of transfer in the body of the document and date recorded at the end.  Recording date can be years later.  In cases of courthouse fire, individuals will sometimes have their deeds re-recorded.
• Civil and Criminal Case Files. 
• Minutes.  A daily record of the proceedings of the Superior Court.  At the very least minutes will contain references to all civil and criminal cases; in some instances, more detailed information is included. Also included are corporate charters; naturalization records; attorney petitions to practice law.

Probate Court records include:

• Marriages.  Georgia law did not require marriages be recorded until 1805.  Generally, marriage records include the names of the bride and groom, and the individual who married them.  19th century Georgia marriages do not provide parents names.  If the bride has property, sometimes there will be a marriage contract recorded in deed records. 
• Court Minutes.  Minutes for Ordinary purposes generally relate to estates, and individuals.  Minutes for County purposes relate to roads and revenues.
• Estate Records.  Estate records are particularly useful for connecting generations.   To successfully use estate records, it's important to understand the process.  If an individual left a will, there is an executor appointed.  If there is no will, or the executor is unable to serve, then the court appoints an administrator to the estate. 

• Administrator Bonds.   A bond posted by the administrator with the Ordinary to ensure that the administrator performs all required duties related to the estate.
• Annual Returns.  Submitted annually by the executor or administrator until the estate is settled, these returns record all receipts and disbursements for an estate.
• Distributions.  Record of who got what.  Often, these are not clearly marked and they are frequently recorded with annual returns.
• Guardian Bonds.  Bond posted by the guardian of minor child or children of the estate to ensure proper care and education if provided.  In 1845, the law allowed for widowed mothers to be vested with control and guardianship of any minor(s) as long as she did not remarry.
• Letters of Administration.  Document that gives the administrator responsibility for administering an estate when the deceased died intestate (with no will) or when the executor is unable to serve.  Temporary Letters of administration are issued when an estate is in need of an administrator before the 30 day notice period elapses. 
• Letters of Dismission.  Document that dismisses the administrator, executor or guardian either because all duties have been completed, or the estate was mismanaged.  These are not always recorded and early ones are rare.
• Inventories and Appraisements.  Itemized listing of all personal property in an estate and the value of each item.
• Receipts or Vouchers.  Records of payments and receipts related to the estate.
• Sales.  Records documenting items sold from the estate.  Includes name of purchaser and amount paid.
• Wills.  Written prior to death, a will contains the last wishes of an individual as they related to the distribution of his or her property (real and personal).  A will is filed (or recorded)with the Ordinary after the death of the individual.

What next?  If your ancestor was an attorney and died in the latter part of the 19th century  to the mid 20th century, check out the memorials published in the Reports of the Annual Sessions of the Georgia Bar Association