About Georgia Public Records

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.

State background and court information

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.

Court records and filings

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.

Court search routes

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 State Court Structure:

The Georgia juvenile courts have jurisdiction to hear cases involving moving traffic violations, and other miscellaneous traffic violations, as well as various juvenile matters. Georgia's municipal courts and the city court of Atlanta, have jurisdiction over DWI and DUI matters, traffic and other violations, and hold venue to preliminary hearings. The Georgia magistrate court has jurisdiction to hear cases involving torts, contracts ($0/$15,000), and small claims (with amounts in controversy of $15,000 and below). The Georgia magistrate court has jurisdiction over misdemeanor matters, ordinance violation matters, and holds venue to preliminary hearings. Georgia's state courts hear tort matters, contract matters, small claims, civil appeals, and other miscellaneous civil matters. The state courts hear various misdemeanors, DWI or DUI matters, and criminal appeals matters. state courts hear moving traffic violation matters, and other miscellaneous traffic matters. State courts hold venue for preliminary hearings. Georgia's municipal courts hear tort, contract ($0/$15,000), and small claims ($15,000). Georgia's probate courts hear cases involving mental health, estate matters, and other miscellaneous civil matters. The probate court also has jurisdiction over various misdemeanors, DWI or DUI, moving traffic violations, and other miscellaneous traffic matters. Georgia's county recorder's court has jurisdiction to hear matters involving DWI or DUI, and traffic or other violations, and holds venue to preliminary hearings. Georgia's civil courts hear tort, contract ($0/$7,500-$0/$25,000), small claims ($0/$7,500-$0/$25,000). The civil courts hold venue to preliminary hearings also. Georgia's superior court hears various tort claims, contract claims, civil appeals matters, and other miscellaneous civil matters. The superior court has exclusive real property rights jurisdiction, exclusive domestic relations jurisdiction, and exclusive felony, and criminal appeals jurisdiction. The superior court hears traffic and other violations, except for parking violations. Georgia's court of appeals must hear (has "mandatory jurisdiction" over) civil matters, noncapital criminal matters, administrative agency matters, juvenile matters, original proceedings, and interlocutory decision matters. The superior court may hear (has "discretionary jurisdiction" over) various other civil matters, noncapital criminal matters, administrative agency matters, juvenile matters, original proceedings, and interlocutory decision matters. Georgia's highest court is the supreme court. Georgia's supreme court has mandatory jurisdiction in specific civil, capital criminal, juvenile, disciplinary, certified questions from federal courts, original proceeding cases. It has discretionary jurisdiction in various other civil, noncapital criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, original proceeding, interlocutory decision cases.

Criminal records and background checks

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.

Vital records

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.

Government records and agencies

Access Georgia government agencies and obtain information on executive branches, legislative branches and jucidial 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

Driving and vehicle records

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

Expungements and record clearing

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.

Genealogy and historical research

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.

Missing children resources

Georgia citizens have law enforcement and other public agencies to call on for assistance if a child is reported missing from Georgia. The Georgia Public Alert System is coordinated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. It is a system of alerts triggered by reports of missing children which are then broadcast statewide or regionally, depending on the circumstance. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation also offers an online search database to assist in locating missing children. Georgia provides many resources to eradicate this criminal activity including links to law enforcement and agencies of authority to assist in the search and recovery of a missing child. The internet also plays an important role by providing online inquiries and multiple sites which offer support and information for families searching for a missing child. Online resources enable the public to inform themselves and their children of important safety measures which can be taken to help prevent child abduction. Websites also offer lists, photos, and details of children currently missing in Georgia, as well as a list of current alerts for children reported missing.