Dunwoody Public Records

The Dunwoody residents directory draws from court files, property deeds, voter data, and open records requests held by city and county offices. Dunwoody is a city of about 51,795 people in DeKalb County, just north of Atlanta along the I-285 corridor. The City of Dunwoody handles some local records from its offices on Perimeter Center East, but most public records for Dunwoody residents go through the DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court. You can search many of these records online through county and state tools. Others take a written request or a trip to the courthouse. This page walks through each source so you know where to look and what you can find in the Dunwoody area.

Dunwoody Court Records

Court records for Dunwoody are filed with the DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court. The main clerk office sits at 556 North McDonough Street, Room 207, Decatur, GA 30030. Civil lawsuits, criminal cases, divorce files, and property deeds for Dunwoody residents all go through this office. The clerk is an elected post. It also covers jury management and court fee payments for all of DeKalb County. If someone who lives in Dunwoody was part of a lawsuit or had a case in Superior Court, the record is on file here.

The DeKalb County Courts public records portal is the best way to search court data for Dunwoody from home. You can look up cases by party name or case number. The system covers civil and criminal filings in DeKalb County Superior Court. Basic searches are free. Results show case type, filing date, party names, and case status. If you need certified copies, the portal tells you how to order them and what they cost.

DeKalb County also runs a Magistrate Court and a State Court. Traffic cases and minor civil disputes from Dunwoody often go to State Court, while small claims and warrant applications go to Magistrate Court. These courts keep their own records. Between the three court levels, a person who has lived in Dunwoody for any length of time may show up in more than one set of files. Check each if your first search comes up short.

Note: Some older Dunwoody cases filed before the digital switch may only exist on paper at the DeKalb County courthouse in Decatur.

Dunwoody City Government Records

The City of Dunwoody keeps its own local records at city hall. The main office is at 41 Perimeter Center East, Dunwoody, GA 30346. You can call (678) 382-6700. The city also has a second office at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338. Dunwoody was incorporated in 2008, so city-level records only go back to that year. Before 2008, all records for this area ran through DeKalb County alone. The city holds code enforcement files, building permits, zoning data, business licenses, and municipal court records.

The City of Dunwoody uses software to receive and track open records requests. When you submit a request, the system sends email updates so you know the status of your filing. Copies of police reports and open records can also be picked up by visiting city hall in person. The city clerk handles these requests. You can email cityclerk@dunwoodyga.gov to start the process or ask about what files are on hand.

Dunwoody runs its own Municipal Court for city ordinance cases and traffic tickets that happen within city limits. These are separate from the DeKalb County courts. Fines and fees depend on the type of case. Municipal court records are public under Georgia law and are part of the local residents directory. If you got a ticket in Dunwoody or need to check a code violation, this is the court that handles it.

Open Records Requests in Dunwoody

Georgia has a strong open records law. O.C.G.A. Sections 50-18-70 through 50-18-74 give any person the right to ask for public records from any government office in the state. This covers the City of Dunwoody, DeKalb County offices, and state agencies. You do not need to be a Dunwoody resident. You do not need to say why you want the records. The law applies the same way whether you ask in person, by mail, or through email.

Under O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-71, every office must respond within three business days. The first 15 minutes of staff search time are free. After that, the charge is based on the hourly pay of the lowest paid worker who can pull the records. Paper copies cost $0.10 per page in Dunwoody, the same as everywhere else in Georgia. If you ask for electronic copies, the cost is the price of the media used to store them. When the total cost is likely to go over $500, the agency can ask for prepayment before they start the search.

O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-72 lists some records that are off limits. Sealed court files, medical records, active law enforcement case files, and records that would show Social Security numbers are all exempt. But the law says these exemptions must be read narrowly. If the record does not clearly fall under an exemption, the office must turn it over. Most records in the Dunwoody residents directory are open for inspection and copying.

DeKalb County Records for Dunwoody

Dunwoody sits in DeKalb County. The DeKalb County government website ties together tax records, property data, code enforcement files, and other public documents that cover Dunwoody. The main county government office is at 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030. From this site you can reach the tax assessor, the board of commissioners, and the various court offices that serve the Dunwoody area.

The DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court handles the bulk of public records for Dunwoody. Court filings, property deeds, liens, and lis pendens all go through this office. The clerk also processes passport applications and manages the county's jury system. If you need a certified copy of a deed or a court document tied to a Dunwoody address, the clerk office in Decatur is where you go.

For a full look at DeKalb County resources that serve Dunwoody, visit the DeKalb County residents directory page. That page covers the clerk office, probate court, voter rolls, and other county services in detail. Since Dunwoody is entirely within DeKalb County, every county-level record applies to this area.

Property Records in Dunwoody

Property records are a key part of the Dunwoody residents directory. They show who owns a home, condo, or commercial space in the city. The GSCCCA Real Estate Records Search lets you look up property deals across all of Georgia. Filter by DeKalb County to find Dunwoody transactions. The index goes back to 1999 and shows buyer and seller names, the property address, any liens, and the book and page where the deed is filed.

Dunwoody has a mix of residential neighborhoods and large commercial properties, especially around Perimeter Center. Property changes hands often in this area. The GSCCCA search is free for basic lookups. It pulls from deeds filed with the DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority runs this database, so any deed filed in DeKalb County for a Dunwoody property also appears in the statewide index.

The GSCCCA also runs F.A.N.S., the Filing Activity Notification System. This free tool sends you alerts when someone files a new document against your property. You sign up with just an email or phone number. It can help catch fraud early if someone tries to file a false lien or deed on your Dunwoody property. The DeKalb County Board of Tax Assessors keeps separate records showing assessed values and tax bill mailing addresses, which is another way to identify property owners in the area.

Dunwoody Voter Registration Data

Voter records are one of the most useful parts of the Dunwoody residents directory. The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections manages voter rolls for all of Dunwoody. For quick lookups, the Georgia Secretary of State's My Voter Page lets you search any voter by name and date of birth. It is free. The results show voter status, polling place, election district, and when the person last voted.

If someone moved within Dunwoody or changed their name, the voter record updates once the new data goes through. Under Georgia law, voters must update their address at least 30 days before an election. A registration can go inactive if a person moves and does not update, or if they skip three or more election cycles. The My Voter Page works for Dunwoody and every other city in Georgia.

• Search by name and date of birth on the My Voter Page
• Check voter status and registration details at no cost
• See polling place and district for any Dunwoody voter
• View absentee ballot request status
• Full voter lists available for purchase from the Secretary of State

Vital Records for Dunwoody Residents

Vital records cover birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates. The Georgia Department of Public Health Vital Records office manages these at the state level. Their main office is at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. You can call 404-679-4702. Hours run 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The state website says vital records may be purchased from all 159 county offices in Georgia. For Dunwoody, that means the DeKalb County Probate Court.

Marriage licenses for Dunwoody residents are issued through the DeKalb County Probate Court at 556 North McDonough Street, Decatur, GA 30030. The probate court also handles estate filings and guardianship records. These can help trace family ties in the residents directory. Certified copies of marriage certificates are available for a fee. All fees are not refundable.

Birth certificates in Georgia go back to 1919 and cost $25.00 per copy. Only the named person, parents, legal guardians, grandparents, adult children, adult siblings, or spouses can order a birth certificate. Death certificates also start at 1919 and cost $25.00. Death records are open to the public. These rules apply statewide, so Dunwoody residents follow the same steps as everyone else in Georgia.

State Databases for Dunwoody

Several state databases can help you find people in Dunwoody beyond what the city and county keep on file. The Georgia Courts eAccess portal gives online access to court records from Superior Courts across the state. You can search by party name or case number. The system covers civil and criminal cases filed in DeKalb County Superior Court, which includes all Dunwoody cases. Basic searches are free.

The Georgia Secretary of State holds voter data, business entity filings, and professional license records. You can search for a Dunwoody business owner by name or look up a professional license through the state system. These tools are free and cover everyone in Georgia. The Secretary of State's office also sells full voter registration lists, which include names, home addresses, and voting history.

• Georgia eAccess for Superior Court case lookups
• My Voter Page for voter registration data
• GSCCCA Real Estate Search for property deeds and liens
• Georgia GOALS for professional license checks
• DeKalb County Board of Assessors for tax and ownership records

Searching more than one source gives you a fuller picture. A single person in Dunwoody might show up in voter rolls, property records, court files, and license databases. Most of these tools let you search by name, so you can check them all in a few minutes.

Dunwoody Records and Georgia Law

The Georgia Open Records Act is the backbone of public access in Dunwoody. O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-70 says the state has a "strong public policy in favor of open government" and that access to public records should be encouraged. This law covers every office in Dunwoody that holds public documents. City departments, DeKalb County agencies, and the courts all fall under it.

O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-71 sets the rules for response times and fees. Any agency in DeKalb County or the City of Dunwoody must respond to a records request within three business days. If the records exist, the office must hand them over or give a written reason why they can't. Fees stay at $0.10 per page for paper copies. Electronic records cost the price of the storage media. If the estimated cost goes past $500, the agency can ask you to pay up front before they start the search. These caps keep costs predictable when you are searching the Dunwoody residents directory.

Georgia courts have said many times that the Open Records Act must be read broadly in favor of the person asking for records. If a Dunwoody city office or DeKalb County agency denies your request, you can go to court to force the release. The losing side may have to pay legal fees. In practice, most routine requests go through without a fight. The law is clear and the penalties for noncompliance are real, so offices tend to follow the rules.

Which County Handles Dunwoody Records

Dunwoody sits entirely in DeKalb County. The DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court at 556 North McDonough Street in Decatur is the main office for court, property, and public records covering Dunwoody. If you are not sure whether a record is held by the city or the county, start with DeKalb County. Most major filings go through the county clerk rather than the city.

Nearby Cities in Georgia Directory

These cities sit close to Dunwoody in the north metro Atlanta area. If you are looking for someone who lives near Dunwoody, their records may be filed in one of these places instead.