1.What are Georgia rules about public records?
The Georgia Open Records Act, found in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, sections 50-18-70 through 50-18-76, ensures that all public records are available for inspection and copying by citizens of the state unless those records are specifically exempted by law.
2.What are considered public records in Georgia?
In Georgia, public records include all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, computer based or generated information, or similar material prepared and maintained or received in the course of the operation of a public office or agency. Public records shall also include items received or maintained by a private person or entity on behalf of a public office or agency that are not otherwise subject to protection from disclosure. Other exceptions include those records whose release would hinder personal privacy or otherwise mislead the public or endanger the operations of government or the corporations who must submit records.
3.What public record databases are available in Georgia that I should know about?
At the Georgia State level, the more popular links that we provide include public record databases for company & corporation searches; professional, medical, and business licenses; inmates; property; registered sex offenders; voter registration; unclaimed property; statistics; Uniform Commercial Code filings; most wanted fugitives; parolees; liens; codes; home values; missing persons; public colleges; aerial photographs; charitable organizations; corrections facilities; GIS maps; trademarks and service marks; farm subsidies; campaign contributions; and much more.
4.What is important to know about the Georgia court system?
Georgia has 370 Municipal Courts that serve incorporated municipalities; 159 Magistrate Courts that adjudicate civil claims less than $15,000; 159 Probate Courts that handle wills and estates; 159 Juvenile Courts whose purpose is the welfare of children; 70 State Courts that handle misdemeanors, traffic cases, and civil actions; 49 Circuits of Superior Courts which are trial courts that handle felonies, divorces, and land title; a Court of Appeals for the review of civil and criminal cases from trial courts; and the Georgia Supreme Court that reviews decisions made by the other courts. The Superior Courts assume the role of State Courts in counties that do not have State Courts.
5.How do I find court records in Georgia?
Use the <Georgia by Category> menu on the left and select <Court Records> to access our links to District Court records; Court of Appeals records; Supreme Court dockets; and county civil, criminal & traffic databases.
6.What is important to know about criminal records in Georgia?
The Georgia Crime Information Center is the central repository for felony criminal histories. Felony cases are handled at the Superior Court level. Misdemeanor, DWI/DUI, and Preliminary Hearings are handled at the Superior level and also at all lower levels.
7.How do I find criminal records in Georgia?
Use the <Georgia by Category> menu and select <Criminal Records>. You will find links to GA Bureau of Investigation (BOI) for criminal histories, Dept of Corrections (DOC) inmate records, Board of Pardons & Paroles parolee records, Federal Bureau of Prisons inmates, Federal PACER system criminal court records (an inexpensive site), statewide sex offenders, and links to county & city arrests, inmates, criminal court records, crime maps & police reports. Click on <Criminal Records-Pay Site> to search our Premium service for GA BOI felony convictions, DOC inmate records, Parole Board records of current parolees, statewide sex offenders, and felony and/or misdemeanor convictions from 8 counties.
8.How do I find property records in Georgia?
Use the <Georgia by Category> menu on the left and select <Property Records> to access Georgia state, county, and city property databases. Use the <Georgia by Category> menu on the left and select <Recorded Documents> to access land records such as deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, judgments, lis pendens, and other records.
9.How do I search birth, death, divorce and marriage records in Georgia?
Use the <Georgia by Category> menu on the left and select births, deaths, marriage records, or divorces. The <Birth Records> page has links to Richmond County birth records. The <Death Records> page has links to the Social Security Death Index for Georgia, statewide historical death indexes, and city & county links to burial, cemetery, obituary, and other death record databases. The <Marriage Records> page has links to marriage databases in the counties of Cherokee, Randolph, and Richmond. The <Divorce Records> page information on ordering divorce records from the GA Division of Public Health.
10.How do I order copies of vital records in Georgia?
Vital Records are available from: Georgia Division of Public Health, Vital Records, 2600 Skyland Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30319, (404) 679-4702, Fax: (404) 679-4730. For more information on ordering Vital Records in Georgia, use the <Georgia by Category> menu on the left and click on <Georgia Vital Records>.
11.How do I find occupational, medical, professional, or business licenses in Georgia?
To find the license status of a Georgia physician, realtor, CPA, contractor, registered nurse, dentist, barber shop, private investigator, or any other of over 70 Georgia license verification services, use the <Georgia Licenses> menu on the left and pick from the list.