Purchasing Resources for Georgia Public Records

Georgia Public Records Laws and Regulations

Learn more about which agencies control and provide access to Georgia official records
By Emmet McMahan

Georgia public records laws and regulations control the access that the public has to records on individuals such as criminal background checks, 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.

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

• 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.