Like all other states in the country, Georgia is required to ensure open access to all records that are considered public to its citizens. The Open Records Law, which is actually a series of laws passed over the years to guarantee open access to any form of data that is produced, received or stored by the state’s government agencies, stipulates that members of the public have the right to see, inspect and copy records that are defined as public. Types of data that fall in this category include: documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, computer-based and computer-generated information, and any other material produced as part of the state’s government agencies’ function.
Public records in Georgia also include information in the custody of individuals or private entities that has been produced or received by the entity in relation to the function of government agencies, including records resulting from the cooperation of private and government entities.
There are two main hubs for public records in Georgia and these are the Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts and the State Office for Vital Records. However, county agencies are also custodians of public records and, depending on the record you need and your location, you can decide whether it will be easier and quicker to request a public record from the central hub or the county custodian. Below you will find answers to the most common Georgia public records questions.
Are birth records public in Georgia?
To be eligible for access to birth records, you need to be either the person whose certificate it is, one of the parents or grandparents of that person, a child of the person whose certificate you need or a sibling -- in both of these cases you will need to be an adult – or a spouse of the person, or an authorized legal guardian, or another legally authorized agent.
How do you get a copy of a Georgia birth certificate?
The State Office for Vital Records is a division of the Georgia Department of Public Health that stores birth certificates from 1919 to date. A request form is available on the Department of Public Health’s website, which you need to fill in and sign, and add to a photocopy of a valid ID, including a driver’s license, state issued ID, employee ID card or a passport, and a certified check or money order for the fee.
Are death certificates public records in Georgia?
To be eligible for access to death records you have to be in a direct family relationship with the person whose name is on the certificate or a legal representative of the family, which are the most common cases.
How do you get a death certificate in Georgia?
Death certificates can be requested both from the county where the death occurred and from the central Office for Vital Records. A valid ID is necessary plus a filled in and signed application form and a check or money order for the fee that the Office charges for supplying the document.
Are Georgia marriage records public?
Marriage licenses are considered public records in Georgia and are available to everyone. The marriage application is one exception where official copies of it are only available to the bride and groom.
How do you get a copy of your marriage certificate in Georgia?
The State Office of Vital Records provides certified copies of marriage certificates, applications and verifications for 1952 to 1996. If you need a record issued after 1996, you have to request it from the probate court in the county where the event occurred. The same is true if you are doing research that involves marriage certificates issued before 1952. The request includes a completed form, a photocopy of a valid ID and a certified check or money order for the fees.
Are divorce records public in Georgia?
Divorce proceedings are considered public records in Georgia. Anyone can request to see the divorce records of any divorce that occurred in the state.
How do you find divorce records in Georgia?
The Georgia Department of Public Health can conduct a search and provide you with a divorce confirmation as well as details on which county court handled the divorce. Certified copies of divorce records can only be issued by the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the divorce decree was issued.
How do you check for property liens in Georgia?
All kinds of liens can be found online on the website of the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Authority. This search is free of charge and there are no eligibility criteria. All you need is the type of party you will be searching for, type of lien, and name.
Are Georgia court records public?
Courts records are available to the public in Georgia. You will need to contact the specific court whose records you need to access. The website of the Administrative Office of the Courts contains useful information regarding court rules and forms, as well as caseload reports for the period 2007-2012 and annual reports on the work of every court and the AOC itself for the period up until 2013.
How do you look up your Georgia driving record?
You can request a driving history report for yourself by registering with the Georgia Department of Driver Services. You have the option of getting either a three-year or a seven-year report as of the date of request, and the report can be either certified or non-certified. The non-certified version is viewable online for a period of 30 days after the date of request, and the certified version is non-viewable. It is printed, certified and sent to an address of your choice. Fees vary depending on the period, which you want the report to cover and its type. You can also check a driver’s license status online, granted the license you want to check was issued in Georgia.
How do you find out who owns a property in Georgia?
The Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Authority website contains a real estate index that includes all property transactions from the beginning of 1999 onwards, from all counties in the state. The information contained in the index includes buyers’ and sellers’ names, location, liens, and the book and page of the deed’s filing with the relevant county authority. Data about transactions for 1993 to 1998 are in the process of being added to the database.
How do you check if a business is registered in Georgia?
Corporate entities in Georgia are registered with the Secretary of State’s Corporate Division. To view records including annual registrations, corporate filings, name reservations and certified copy orders, among others, you will need to create an account and log into the Secretary of State website with it to access the information you need.