About Georgia Public Records

The top providers of records in Georgia are the administration office of the courts, Secretary of State, department of public health, and county Assessors. Other than larger departments which provide records on a daily basis, there are services from the state and local governments to obtain information, files and more from lesser frequently thought of departments. The Georgia Technology Authority maintains an open felon search from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is one example. Instant data bases also search professional licenses, inmates, property and case files. A directory of larger and smaller government departments, together, offer a vast number of public sources to help conduct an effective search.

Georgia, also known as the "Peach State", was the 4th state to enter the Union in January of 1788. The state's agriculture leads the U.S. in peanut and pecan production. The economy also benefits by production of cotton, tobacco, soybean and corn. However, the service industry is the state's largest sector. Georgia is the 23rd largest state with just over 59 thousand square miles and ranks 9th most populous with approximately 9.5 million residents.
           
            Georgia consists of 159 counties, the most in the U.S. after Texas with 254. The entire state is part of one county or another including the barrier islands along the Atlantic ocean. Georgia counties function as an arm of the state government and deal with local issues. There are 535 municipalities that can be called cites, towns or villages. There are no legal differences between the various types of municipalities. The largest cities are Atlanta with over 400,000 residents followed by Augusta, Columbus and Savannah. Cities elect local officials such as the mayor, boards and commissions. Counties and cities provide local services through its various agencies and departments to serve the residents of Georgia.
           
            The Georgia Open Records and Meetings Act ensures residents of the state a transparent government. These statutes also known as the Georgia Sunshine Laws provide that records and information held by governments are open to the public. With exceptions to confidentiality and privacy, open records and meeting laws allow Georgians access to information about their governments. Private citizens, journalists and groups often make request for information for reasons ranging from uncovering a story of overspending and corruption to personal purposes such as ordering recorded documents. All Georgia departments and divisions fall under the Freedom of Information Act.
           
            Conducting a Georgia background check is made possible by collecting many records obtained from state and local government agencies. Recorded criminal offenses are an essential part of background searches. The Georgia Crime Information Center from the state's bureau of investigations provides a requestor with criminal reports of felony convictions. Arrests in Georgia can be obtained with the consent of the person being checked. Individuals looking for employment that are required to present a current driving history can obtain their motor vehicle record (MVR) with online request using the State of Georgia Department of Driver Services official website. Court records can be searched by counties for history of lawsuits, criminal cases, divorce filings and trials from various jurisdictions. Locating a person's address and obtaining a history of a subject's previous residences may show that a search expanded to the outside of Georgia is necessary for a complete background check.
           
            Locating Georgia assets can be challenging for anyone not familiar with the availability of information. Financial records such as bank accounts and certain investments are protected under Georgia and federal privacy laws. Asset information can be obtained such as property ownership from the Georgia Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority. Find business ownership with an instant free database search provided by the Georgia Secretary of State.
           
            Using a public record directory of the best found Georgia sites online to conduct a complete background investigation or looking up a single recorded document can be made simple and easy. Find out where to order the Georgia records you are seeking from the specific department. Lookup and verify information with instant databases without browsing the web resulting in unrelated sources.

Access Georgia Courts online directly. Search court records; from Georgia county courts to Supreme courts. Find criminal filings, Georgia dissolution of marriage or divorce records from official state websites. File small claims lawsuits. Link to Georgia probate sources with helpful information. Bankruptcy courts by jurisdiction or by districts. Georgia state courts contact information such as telephone numbers and more.

As there may be more one source to obtaining Georgia criminal, civil and divorce records, it is important to search multiple state courts to find the correct records.

Georgia criminal records are managed by the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) under the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). Georgia criminal history records can be obtained from local Sheriff or Police Departments. The GCIC Lobby Office provides assistance with criminal history inquiries, record restrictions, and record inspections by appointment only. Court records are accessible through the Georgia Courts eAccess portal with various provider systems. The GBI maintains the Georgia Sex Offender Registry. The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) provides a Find an Offender tool searchable by name, description, ID, or case number.

Statewide Georgia vital records. The mission of the State Office of Vital Records is to provide accurate records and data concerning vital events to Georgians and other stakeholders in an expeditious and friendly manner. Search births, marriage records and death certificates. Divorces filed with courts. State vital records offices. Link to the agencies in Georgia and order vital records. Many records are public information available to the public from private and government entities. You can use information to verify your records. Look up vital statistics and free vital searches in Georgia to conduct research online. Birth records are available from 1919 to the present and certified copies of death records from 1919 to the present. Georgia Department of Community Health Publications and Forms.

Access Georgia government agencies and obtain information on executive branches, legislative branches and judicial branches within state jurisdiction. Link below to the state government agencies as well as state government information and services. Other state government resources such as codified state law, voters registration and other state government departments

Direct Georgia official government links to driver license and registration resources. Vehicle registration, tags, driving history, online forms, office locations, and hours.

Expunge your criminal past of felonies, misdemeanors, D.U.I convictions and more in the state of Georgia. Get information regarding expungements and begin to erase your previous Georgia criminal records statewide as well as nationwide. Some records can contain inaccurate or erroneous information that can be amended. Both juvenile and adult cases that can be corrected and begin your search for employment without a tainted past showing.

Georgia genealogy related links and topics. Individual state search of your ancestors, start a family tree, browse census records and more online. Resources and data from the Secretary of State Virtual Vault, Department of Community Health Vital Records, Ladson Genealogical Library in Vidalia, USGenWeb Project and National Archives Southeast Region in Atlanta.