How to Search Georgia Public Records
Georgia uses Clerk of Superior Court for court records AND as county recorder. Tax Assessors handle property values. Several counties have merged with their cities (Macon-Bibb, Augusta-Richmond).
- Court cases: Clerk of Superior Court in each county. e-Access at georgiacourts.gov for some statewide access.
- Property values: County Tax Assessor — Georgia uses "Tax Assessor," not Auditor or Appraiser.
- Recorded documents: Clerk of Superior Court serves as county recorder.
- Sex offenders: GBI Sex Offender Registry at gbi.georgia.gov.
- Marriage: Probate Court — standard across Georgia.
Georgia Counties — Most Searched
Statewide Databases
Every link below goes directly to a government source.
Criminal & Court Records
Jail & Inmate Records
Sex Offender Registry — GBI
GDC — Offender Search
Vital Records
Vital Records — Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce
Business Search — SOS
How to Search Georgia Criminal Records
Start with the county Superior Court Clerk for criminal case records. Fulton County (Atlanta), DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Cobb counties have online court search systems. For most of Georgia's 159 counties, you'll need to call or visit. There is NO free statewide criminal name search — Georgia requires fingerprints through GCIC for background checks. For current county jail inmates, go to the county Sheriff's website. For state prison inmates, use the Georgia DOC offender search.
How to Search Georgia Court Records
Go to the Superior Court for felonies, major civil cases, divorce, and equity. Then check State Court for misdemeanors and mid-level civil cases. For small claims under $15,000 and preliminary hearings, go to Magistrate Court. For wills, estates, marriage licenses, and firearm permits, go to Probate Court. Georgia's 159 counties each operate independently — online access varies dramatically from county to county.
How to Search Georgia Property Records
Go to the Superior Court Clerk for deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded documents — in Georgia, the Superior Court Clerk IS the recorder (there's no separate Recorder's office). For property valuations and tax assessments, go to the County Tax Assessor. For tax bills and payment, go to the County Tax Commissioner. Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Cobb counties have online property search tools.
How to Get Georgia Vital Records
For birth and death certificates, order from the Georgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Records, or the county Health Department. For marriage licenses, go to the Probate Court — not the Superior Court Clerk. For divorce records, go to the Superior Court Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted.
Why does my Georgia search return no results? ▼
Most searches fail because the wrong office is used. Each record type is maintained by a different department. If one system returns nothing, switch to the office that actually handles that record type.
Is there a single database for all Georgia records? ▼
No. Each government office in Georgia runs its own database independently. You need to search the specific office that handles the record type you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Clerk of Superior Court in Georgia? ▼
The Clerk of Superior Court is the county official who records deeds, mortgages, liens, and UCC filings. This is equivalent to the Recorder or Register of Deeds in other states. They also handle court filings for Superior Court.
How do I search Georgia property records? ▼
Search through the county Tax Assessor's website. Most Georgia counties offer free parcel search with ownership, tax value, and sales history. Note: some consolidated city-county governments (like Augusta-Richmond) have different office titles.
Is there a free statewide criminal search in Georgia? ▼
No free statewide criminal database. The GBI offers a background check for a fee. Individual county Clerk of Superior Court offices may have online case search.
BBB A+ Rated