DeKalb County Residents Directory

DeKalb County holds a wide range of public records you can search to find people and their information. The county seat is Decatur, and the main government offices sit at 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030. With more than 770,000 residents spread across cities like Stonecrest, Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Tucker, and Chamblee, the DeKalb County residents directory covers court records, voter rolls, property filings, vital records, and more. You can start a search through county clerk portals or state databases that index DeKalb County data. Most of these records fall under the Georgia Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-70, which means they are open to the public.

DeKalb County Public Records Search

The DeKalb County court system keeps a broad set of public records that form the core of the residents directory. According to the DeKalb County Courts public records page, "public records in DeKalb County are official documents created or received by government offices that are generally available to the public." This includes court records and case files for criminal, civil, and traffic matters. It also covers court dockets and calendars, property and real estate records such as deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats, as well as vital records for birth, death, marriage, and divorce. The county also holds archived records, historical court archives, and government departmental public files. All of these can help you track down a person's activity in DeKalb County.

The main phone line for DeKalb County government is (404) 371-2000. Hours are standard business hours on weekdays. You can visit in person at the Commerce Drive address in Decatur. Some records are also available through the county website. The type of record you need will tell you which office to contact. Court case files go through the Clerk of Superior Court. Property records go through the same clerk or the tax assessor. Vital records like birth and death certificates can be requested through the county probate court or the state health department.

Under Georgia law, agencies must respond to records requests within three business days. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, the fee is based on the hourly wage of the lowest paid employee who can pull the file. Paper copies cost ten cents per page in DeKalb County.

DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk Records

The Clerk of Superior Court in DeKalb County is one of the most used offices for the residents directory. This office manages both judicial records and land records for the county. The DeKalb Superior Clerk website says it provides copies of records from 2010 onward through its Judicial Information System. That means you can search court case data going back over a decade through this portal. The clerk's office is at 556 North McDonough Street, Decatur, GA 30030. The phone number is (404) 371-2836.

Court records kept by this office include civil suits, criminal cases, domestic relations filings, and appeals. Land records cover deeds, liens, mortgages, and plats filed in DeKalb County. If you are trying to find someone through property they own or a court case they were part of, this is the place to start. The Judicial Information System lets you search by name, case number, or other identifiers. You do not need to visit in person for many of these lookups.

The GSCCCA Real Estate Records Search also indexes DeKalb County property records. This statewide tool lets you search by name, book and page, or instrument type. It has data from all 159 Georgia counties going back to 1999, with older records being added. A name search here can show you every property transaction tied to a person across DeKalb County or the whole state of Georgia. This is a free search tool and a strong part of the DeKalb County residents directory.

Note: The clerk's Judicial Information System covers records from 2010 onward, so older case files may need an in-person visit.

Voter Registration in DeKalb County

Voter records are a key piece of the DeKalb County residents directory. The DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections office handles all voter data for the county. You can reach them at 404-298-4020 or by email at voterreg@dekalbcountyga.gov. The office is at 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300, Decatur, GA 30032. If you know someone lives in DeKalb County and is registered to vote, their registration will show their name and address on file.

DeKalb County also has a policy for unhoused residents. The county says that if you are a DeKalb County resident experiencing homelessness, there are several ways to register to vote. A shelter, church, or friend's home can be used as a voter registration address. This means voter rolls in DeKalb County may list non-traditional addresses for some people, which is worth knowing when you search the residents directory.

The Georgia My Voter Page is another way to look up voter data. This free state tool lets you search by name, county, and date of birth. It shows voter status, polling place, and election district info for any registered voter in DeKalb County or anywhere else in Georgia. Voters who have not voted in three or more years or who moved without updating their registration may show as inactive. Still, their record will appear in the system. The My Voter Page is one of the quickest free tools in the DeKalb County residents directory.

DeKalb County Vital Records Search

Vital records are another source for the residents directory in DeKalb County. These include birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce records. The Georgia Department of Public Health Vital Records office handles statewide requests. Their site says vital records may be purchased from all 159 county offices in Georgia. The state office is at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, and the phone is 404-679-4702.

Birth certificates in Georgia go back to 1919. They cost $25.00 each. Death certificates also start from 1919 and cost the same. Marriage records from June 1952 through August 1996 have a $10.00 search fee. Access to birth records is limited. Only the person named on it, parents, legal guardians, grandparents, adult children, adult siblings, or spouses can get a copy. Death certificates are open to anyone. You can request vital records by mail, but processing takes 8 to 10 weeks. Personal checks are not accepted for these requests in Georgia.

For people searching the DeKalb County residents directory, marriage and divorce records can confirm a person's name changes, current legal name, or family connections. The DeKalb County Probate Court also handles marriage licenses locally. If you need a record tied to DeKalb County specifically, the probate court may be faster than the state office for recent filings.

Note: Mail requests for Georgia vital records take 8 to 10 weeks, so plan ahead if you need a certified copy.

Georgia Open Records Law and DeKalb County

The Georgia Open Records Act gives you the right to access most public records in DeKalb County. O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-70 states that Georgia 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 is what makes the DeKalb County residents directory possible. Without it, many of the records discussed on this page would not be available to the general public.

Under O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-71, any agency in DeKalb County must produce records within three business days of getting a request. The fee structure is simple. The first 15 minutes of staff time to search for your records are free. After that, the cost is the prorated hourly salary of the lowest paid employee who can do the work. Copies are $0.10 per page for paper. Electronic records cost only the price of the media used to store them. If the total estimate goes over $500, the agency can ask for prepayment before starting the search.

Some records are exempt. O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-72 lists records that agencies can withhold in DeKalb County. These include medical records, active law enforcement investigation files, sealed bids, and records that would reveal Social Security numbers, credit card info, or unlisted phone numbers. Public employee home addresses also have protection. But most other records held by DeKalb County offices are open for you to inspect and copy.

How to Search DeKalb County Records

There are a few ways to search the DeKalb County residents directory. The fastest method is to use online tools. The DeKalb Superior Clerk website gives you access to court and land records from 2010 onward. The GSCCCA real estate search covers property data from 1999 onward. The Georgia My Voter Page lets you look up any registered voter by name. These three tools alone can tell you a lot about a person in DeKalb County without ever leaving your home.

If you need records that are not online, you can file an open records request. Georgia law requires you to put your request in writing. You can email it, mail it, or hand deliver it to the right office in DeKalb County. Be as specific as you can about what you want. Give names, dates, case numbers, or any other details that help the staff find the right file. A vague request can slow things down or lead to a higher search fee. The more details you give, the faster and cheaper the process will be.

• Court records and land records: Clerk of Superior Court, 556 N. McDonough St., Decatur, GA 30030, phone (404) 371-2836
• Voter registration data: 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300, Decatur, GA 30032, phone 404-298-4020
• General county records: DeKalb County Government, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030, phone (404) 371-2000
• Vital records (birth, death, marriage): Georgia DPH at 1680 Phoenix Blvd., Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone 404-679-4702
• Statewide property search: GSCCCA at search.gsccca.org/RealEstate

In-person visits work best if you need certified copies or if the records you want are not digitized. The DeKalb County Courthouse in Decatur handles most requests. Bring a valid ID. Cash, money orders, and certified checks are the safest payment methods. Some offices accept debit cards, but it varies. Call ahead to check what the office you need will take for payment.

Cities in DeKalb County

DeKalb County has several cities with their own residents directory resources. These cities fall within DeKalb County jurisdiction for court records and property filings, but some have their own local government services and offices that can help with specific searches.

Nearby Counties

If the person you are looking for has ties to areas near DeKalb County, check these neighboring county residents directories as well. People in the metro Atlanta area often have records in more than one county.