Search Georgia Residents Directory
Georgia keeps public records across all 159 counties and dozens of state agencies. The Georgia residents directory gives you ways to search voter rolls, court files, property records, professional licenses, and criminal history data. You can look up a person by name through free state databases or county clerk portals. The Georgia Secretary of State holds voter and business records. County Superior Court Clerks keep land deeds, court case files, and other public documents. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has criminal history data. Most of these records fall under the Georgia Open Records Act, so they are open to the public. Use this page to find the right Georgia database for your search.
Georgia Residents Directory Quick Facts
Georgia Residents Directory Databases
Georgia runs several online databases where you can search for people and their public records. The state has put many of these tools online so you can search from home. Each database covers a different type of record. Some are run by the Secretary of State. Others are run by the courts or law enforcement agencies in Georgia.
The Georgia Secretary of State is a good starting point for a residents directory search. This office handles voter registration, business filings, professional licenses, and charity records. The Secretary of State website says it has "never been easier for entrepreneurs to set up and renew their businesses" in Georgia. You can search several divisions from one site. The Elections Division, Corporations Division, and Professional Licensing Boards all fall under this office at 2 MLK Jr. Drive, Suite 313, Floyd West Tower, Atlanta, GA 30334. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
The Georgia Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-70 says the state has a "strong public policy in favor of open government" and that "public access to public records should be encouraged to foster confidence in government." This law applies to most records held by state and local agencies in Georgia. Agencies must produce records within three business days. The first 15 minutes of search time are free.
Voter Records in Georgia Residents Directory
Voter registration is one of the most used tools in the Georgia residents directory. The Georgia My Voter Page lets you look up any voter by name, county, and date of birth. The site says users may "check your Voter Status, Register to Vote, Update your current information, View the Polling Place Addresses." This is a free search tool for Georgia residents.
The My Voter Page also shows election district info, sample ballots, and absentee ballot request status. One FAQ on the site says "your registration can become inactive if you change your place of residence and do not update your registration, if our office sends mail to your address on file and it is returned undeliverable, or if you have not voted in three or more years." Voters must update their address at least 30 days before an election in Georgia. This is good to know when you use the Georgia residents directory to find someone by their voting record.
If you need full voter registration lists, the Georgia Secretary of State sells them. You can find the order form at the voter registration lists page. These lists have voter names, home addresses, mailing addresses, race, gender, registration dates, and last voting dates. The office is at 2 MLK Jr. Drive, Suite 802 Floyd West Tower, Atlanta, Georgia 30334. Processing takes about two weeks. All fees are final and not refundable.
Note: Custom orders or rush service are not available for Georgia voter list requests.
Business and License Search in Georgia
The Georgia residents directory includes business and professional license records. The Georgia Corporations Division Business Search lets you search for any business by name, control number, registered agent, or officer name. The site says "the results page displays all registered entities matching your search query and provides the business name, control number, entity type, principal office address, registered agent details, and current status." Clicking on a name shows more details like date of formation and state of formation. This helps you find people who own or run businesses in Georgia.
Georgia has strict naming rules. Names must use the English alphabet. Words like bank, insurance, university, and college need extra approval. A name reservation costs $25 and lasts 30 days in Georgia.
The Georgia Online Licensing System called GOALS lets you search for licensed professionals in Georgia. You can search by last name, first name, or license number. A wildcard search with an asterisk is also available. The system covers dozens of professions in the Georgia residents directory. These range from architects and contractors to nurses, psychologists, cosmetologists, plumbers, and funeral directors. The licensing office moved to 3920 Arkwright Road, Suite 195, Macon, GA 31210.
Georgia Court and Property Records
Court and property records are a key part of the Georgia residents directory. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority was set up in 1993 to manage statewide indexes. Their site says that "each of Georgia's 159 counties has one" clerk, and "clerks are the official record keepers of the county." They handle criminal and civil court filings and serve as custodian of county land and property records in Georgia. The GSCCCA is at 1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30345. Phone is 678-222-4232.
The GSCCCA Real Estate Records Search is a strong tool for the Georgia residents directory. You can search by name, book and page, property details, or instrument type. The site says the "index contains property transactions from all counties since January 1, 1999, including the name of the seller and buyer, location of the property, any liens on the property, and the book and page where the actual deed is filed." Historical data from 1993 to 1998 is being added. You can run county, regional, or statewide searches across Georgia.
The GSCCCA also runs a free Filing Activity Notification System called F.A.N.S. in Georgia. It notifies property owners when someone files a document tied to their property. You can sign up with just an email or phone number. This is a good way to watch for fraud on your own property records in Georgia.
For court cases, the Georgia Courts eAccess portal gives online access to court records across the state. Many counties also have their own case search tools. The statewide system covers civil and criminal cases from Superior Courts in Georgia.
The GSCCCA search portal also has a UCC filing index and a central database of notaries public in Georgia. These records can help you track down business and financial activity tied to a person.
Criminal History in Georgia Residents Directory
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the Georgia Crime Information Center, which keeps the state's criminal history database. The GBI site says GCIC "maintains the database that contains Georgia Criminal History Records Information." You can get name-based or fingerprint-based checks. Processing takes 5 to 10 business days. Results come by encrypted email or U.S. Mail. The CCH Helpline is 404-244-2639 option 3. You can also email gacriminalhistory@gbi.state.ga.us for questions about Georgia criminal records.
Georgia also has record restriction rules. Under the law, eligible arrests can be restricted after 2 years for misdemeanors, 4 years for felonies, or 7 years for serious violent felonies. You must give written notice before fingerprinting someone for a background check in Georgia. The GBI mailing address is CCH/Identification Services, PO Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30037-0808.
The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search lets you find people in state prison. Search results may show photos. The GDC site warns that "it is their responsibility to verify any information obtained through this portal by corresponding directly with the Inmate Records and Information office" at PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029. The phone number is 404-656-4661. This is a useful part of the Georgia residents directory for finding incarcerated individuals.
Vital Records Search in Georgia
The Georgia Department of Public Health Vital Records office handles birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. Their site says "Vital Records may be purchased from all 159 county offices" in Georgia. The State Office of Vital Records is at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Phone is 404-679-4702. Hours are 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday except state holidays.
Birth certificates go back to 1919 and cost $25.00 in Georgia. Death certificates also start at 1919 and cost $25.00. Marriage records from June 1952 to August 1996 cost $10.00 for a search fee. Extra copies ordered at the same time cost $5.00 each. The site says "Personal Checks are not accepted. Please send payments in the form of a certified check or money order." Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks in Georgia. Birth records have access limits. Only the person named, parents, legal guardians, grandparents, adult children, adult siblings, or spouses can get them. Death certificates are open to the public in Georgia.
Note: Newborn birth certificates are not mailed automatically in Georgia. You must request a copy.
Georgia Open Records Requests
The Georgia Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. Sections 50-18-70 through 50-18-74 controls how you can get public records in the state. The Georgia Attorney General's page on Open Records explains the law. It says the act "shall be broadly construed to allow the inspection of governmental records" and exceptions "shall be interpreted narrowly." This is the backbone of the Georgia residents directory.
Under O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-71, agencies must produce records within three business days. The fee for search and retrieval is the prorated hourly salary of the lowest paid qualified employee. The first 15 minutes are free. Paper copies cost $0.10 per page. Electronic records cost the actual price of the media. If the estimate goes over $500, prepayment is required in Georgia.
The Governor's Open Records Request portal handles requests for the Governor's office. The Open Records Officer is Evan Frey. The office is at 201 State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia 30334. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Some records are not available through this office. These include voting history, ballots, vital records, criminal histories, autopsy reports, police reports, traffic citations, and arrest records. Those must come from other Georgia agencies.
O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-72 lists exempt records in Georgia. These include medical records, law enforcement investigation files, sealed bids, and records that reveal Social Security numbers, credit card info, or unlisted phone numbers. Public employee home addresses are also protected. But the law says most other records are open for anyone to inspect in Georgia.
Georgia Residents Directory by County
Each of Georgia's 159 counties has a Superior Court Clerk who keeps public records. Pick a county below to find local contact info and search tools for the residents directory in that area.
Georgia Residents Directory by City
Georgia has 45 cities with populations over 25,000. Pick a city to find residents directory resources and which county handles records for that area.