Making the most of Georgia public records will require you to have a guide or referral. You can conduct Internet searches of many government agencies for free but you will spend a lot of time looking at irrelevant links and websites if you have no idea where to start.

You will first need to obtain some basic information on the individual or property for which you are seeking Georgia official records. For example, if you are seeking information about an individual, it will be helpful to know some addresses where that person has previously lived.

There are three general types of public records in Georgia:

1. Georgia criminal records that include files on registered sex offenders, past convictions or information on current inmates in a particular prison. These records can help you perform a Georgia background check on prospective employees.
2. Georgia vital records such as census records, consumer protection information or legislation minutes. You may find these records helpful when researching a product or political candidate.
3. Real estate records like property appraisals, ownership and taxes. These types of records can be useful when buying or selling a home.

Action Steps
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Find Georgia court records from local government agencies

City and county clerks in Georgia can frequently provide a great deal of current information about an individual when you know their name and address.

I recommend: Georgia County Map has a list of the counties in Georgia along with a link to the county website if available. Judicial Branch of Georgia provides a list of links that will take you to the website of each county court.

Learn more about the laws regarding Georgia public records

The records that are publicly available vary widely by state. You will want to have at least a general idea of what information you can expect to find before conducting your search.

I recommend: The Georgia Secretary of State has a guide to obtaining public records in Georgia among other resources. The Georgia First Amendment Foundation has current information on Georgia’s Open Records Act and other related legislation.

Perform a specific Georgia public records search

Many cities and counties in Georgia maintain a variety of records on individuals and property that are freely available to the general public.

I recommend: The Houston County Superior Court maintains a variety of court records and offers Georgia public records online. The Muscogee County Public Records offers an online search of county land records.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Exhaust free sources of information before you consider paying for state of Georgia public records. Sites that charge a fee may only provide information you could obtain elsewhere for free. Fortunately, libraries frequently subscribe to services that you would normally need to pay a fee to access. You should also bear in mind that many public records are simply not available online.

Whether you're looking for information about a potential employee or researching facts on a Georgia property, you need to access Georgia public records. Public records are documents that have been filed or recorded by either public agencies or private individuals. Such records include birth and death records, marriage and divorce papers, criminal records, real estate documents, licenses, and so on.

Public records are held by federal, state and local governments, who in turn determine their availability. Although state of Georgia public records are accessible to the public, you may be expected to pay for some information; the fees will vary depending on the department and state. You can always visit state departments and offices for public records, though there's a breadth of information online.

When researching GA public records, remember the following:

1. When doing a background check on an individual, you may want to consider a nationwide search. This will cover information, not just in your state, but in the country as a whole

2. Make sure that the Georgia official records you get are up to date.

3. Get information from a credible source when searching Georgia public records online. You may be liable for turning someone down if you base a hiring decision on incorrect facts.

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Search Georgia state public records to get information on real estate

Information on real estate is always available to the public. If you're looking for specific data on a particular property, such as zoning information, assessments or building requirements, you can find those on government sites, such as county offices. Additionally, you can research title and deed information, find out who owns a property and get tax information.

I recommend: Real Marketing is an online resource that provides links to Georgia county assessor's offices, county recorder's offices and county treasurer's offices. You can find comprehensive property information by visiting these online government resources.

Consider checking Georgia court records before you hire an employee

As a business owner, it's smart to run background checks on potential employees, especially if you're hiring child care providers and teachers. Background checks can range from verifying a person's Social Security number, to a detailed account of the person's history and acquaintances. Before doing a background check, you must get permission from the individual.

I recommend: SearchSystems.net is a public records directory that provides information for subscribers. A member of the Better Business Bureau, this site provides access to a variety of public records. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation can help you obtain criminal records. Additionally, public access to court records is available through the Judicial Branch of Georgia.

Track down anyone with a Georgia public records search

With the assistance of the Internet and the right data, you can track down any individual, living or deceased. If you already know the person's Social Security number, date of birth, or last known address, you can use these to research vital records. Less information than that makes your search a little more difficult, but still possible.

I recommend: You can find records of marriage, divorce, birth and death at the Georgia Department of Human Resources. Public People Finder can help you track someone down using a variety of information, but they do require a fee.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act regulates how consumer credit information, such as Georgia public bankruptcy records, are collected and used by outside companies-- not employers. The act also restricts reporting on arrest records and other negative information after seven years, with the exception of criminal convictions.

Georgia public records laws and regulations control the access that the public has to records on individuals such as criminal background, immigration status and vital records. These laws also apply to government records such as meeting minutes and voting records.

State of Georgia public records may be grouped according to the aspect of public records that they address. These include the following three general areas:

1. Laws on GA public records that regulate the manner in which public information may be accessed. These laws may specify issues such as the length of time the state has to respond to information requests, any fees an agency is allowed to charge and whether the requestor must provide a reason for wanting the information.
2. Laws that define what information on an individual may be considered public. These laws control the personal information that may be accessed by an individual or party designated by the individual.
3. Laws that specify what government records may be accessible to the public. These laws are usually intended to permit journalists to perform a Georgia court case search or to allow private citizens to provide input on government decisions.
   

Action Steps
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Review the procedures for accessing public records in Georgia

Access to Georgia court records and public records covered by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in Georgia is typically handled by the Attorney General. County and municipal courts may also provide access to Georgia criminal records.

I recommend: The Georgia First Amendment Foundation provides the text of the Open Records Act in Georgia. The New Georgia Encyclopedia discusses effect of the Open Records Act on the release of public records in Georgia.

Learn about the laws regulating access of Georgia state public records for individuals

Public records for individuals typically include vital records such as Georgia divorce records, marriage licenses and death certificates. Individuals may only be able to access their own personal records.

I recommend: The Georgia Department of Human Resources provides the regulations for obtaining vital records in Georgia. The North Georgia Health District offers access to public records on individuals based on the Georgia Open Records Act.

Look for Georgia public records laws on government records

Government records may include meeting minutes, budget reports and real estate sales. Some government departments provide many different types of government records, while others may be dedicated to a specific type of record.

I recommend: Augusta State University discusses the laws in Georgia that allow the public release of records, such as meeting minutes. The City of Sugar Hill provides the regulations on making an open records request for government records.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Georgia public records law is generally guided by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This federal legislation was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966. The FOIA was amended by the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments in 1996 which controls the electronic access the public has to these records.