Georgia Record Navigation
Use this guide to find Georgia court, vital, property, and agency records with clear starting points, useful search inputs, and guidance on when to request certified copies from the right office.
On This Page:
Pick the record type first, then go to the office that actually keeps the file.
Find a court case or docket
Georgia case files are kept by the county courts; online access varies by county, and certified copies come from the clerk.
Get a birth, death, or marriage certificate
Vital records are issued to eligible requesters; identity and relationship documentation are often required.
Verify a divorce or get the decree
Only the county clerk can provide a certified divorce decree; the state can confirm that an event occurred.
Look up deeds, liens, or property details
Recordings establish the property record; assessor sites help locate parcels and owners but are not ownership proof.
Check a business or professional license
The Secretary of State maintains official business registrations and many state professional licenses.
| Source Or Office | Best For | Helpful Search Input | Access Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| County Clerk of Superior Court | Civil and criminal case files, divorce decrees, real estate deeds, liens, plats | Party name, case number, filing year, deed book/page or instrument number | County online index (where offered), in person, or by mail request | Each county runs its own system; certified copies are issued by the clerk that holds the record. |
| Georgia Department of Public Health – State Office of Vital Records | Birth and death certificates; statewide verification of marriage and divorce events | Full name, date of event, place of event, parents’ names (for births) | Online request portals (where available), mail, or in person at state or county vital records offices | Eligibility and identification rules apply; the state provides verifications, while some certificates are issued at the county level. |
| County Probate Court | Marriage licenses and certified marriage certificates | Full names of spouses, date of marriage, county of issuance | In person, mail, or limited online request options depending on county | Order certified marriage records from the county that issued the license. |
| County Board of Assessors / Tax Assessor | Parcel maps, owner names, assessed values, property characteristics | Property address, parcel ID, owner name | County property search portals or in-office research | Assessment data supports valuation and tax; it is not a substitute for recorded deeds. |
| Georgia Secretary of State | Business entity records, filings, certificates of existence, professional licensing lookups | Business name, control number, license holder name, license number | Online searches and certificate orders; some filings available electronically | Covers corporations, LLCs, and many licensed professions statewide. |
| Georgia Department of Corrections and State Registries | State prison inmate lookup; statewide sex offender registry | Name, GDC ID, date of birth, county or city filters (for registry) | Online offender search and registry queries | County jails are managed by sheriffs; check the specific county for jail rosters or custody status. |
Civil, criminal, traffic, judgments, and divorce decrees filed in Georgia trial courts
Birth and death certificates; marriage certificates; statewide marriage/divorce verifications
Deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, plats, and related land recordings
State prison inmates, supervision status, and statewide offender registry
Business registrations, filings, officers, and many professional licenses
Official Georgia sources are best when you need certified copies, court filings, recorded deeds, vital certificates, or agency-held documents tied to a specific case, property, or event. Background check services can help with broad, name-based searches across many data points, but they may miss recent filings, sealed records, or county-only systems and do not replace the court clerk, recorder, or vital records office.
Many trial court records are public and retrievable from the county court that handled the case. Availability varies by county and case type. Certified copies are issued by the clerk that holds the file.
Locate the case with the County Clerk of Superior Court where the divorce was granted to get the decree. The state vital records office can provide a verification that a divorce occurred but not the certified decree.
Deeds are recorded with the County Clerk of Superior Court. Search by owner name, address, or book/page, then request a copy from the clerk. Certified copies are issued by the recording county.
Official criminal history is controlled by state law and may require specific procedures. For case details, search the county trial courts. Name-based background services are supplemental and do not replace official court or agency records.
Use the Georgia Department of Corrections for state prison inmates. For county jail custody or recent arrests, check the specific county sheriff’s office. Custody status can change frequently.
Start with statewide resources such as vital event verifications, business searches, or statewide deed indexes, then narrow by property address, residence history, or likely counties of filing.