Union County Court Records

Union County court records are legal materials generated or received by local courts in the course of their judicial functions. According to GA Code § 50-18-91(2), these records are maintained in various formats, including documents, papers, letters, maps, books, microfilm, magnetic tape, and other materials.

Generally, Union court records serve as legal documentation of different aspects of the judicial functions of local courts, such as the adjudication of legal cases and the court's administrative processes.

Are Court Records Public in Union County?

Yes, Per the Georgia Open Records Act, most records maintained by public entities or government agencies, including local courts, are considered public unless specifically exempted by law or protected by a court order. Therefore, court records are presumed to be part of Union County public records. Thus, anyone can submit requests to access or obtain copies of public court records from Union County courts. Some examples of court records that are statutorily exempt from public access under the Georgia Open Records Act and other applicable laws include, but are not limited to:

• Jury list data
• Medical records
• Adoption records
• Juvenile court records
• Privilege Attorney-client information
• Court records of pending investigations or prosecutions
• Sensitive personal information of an individual, such as their Social Security Number (SSN)

Union County Court Records Search

Record seekers can search for Union County court records through any of the following:

• A local courthouse clerk's office
• Online resources provided by local courts
• Third-party aggregate website

Union County Courts

The Union County court system consists of five (5) types of trial courts: Superior, juvenile, probate, magistrate, and municipal courts. The addresses and contact information of these courts are as follows:

Union County Superior Court
65 Courthouse Street,
Suite 2
Blairsville, GA 30512
Phone: (706) 439-6100
Fax: (706) 439-6099

Union County Juvenile Court
65 Courthouse Street,
Suite 5,
Blairsville, GA 30512
Phone: (706) 439-6022
Fax: (706) 439-6026

Union County Probate Court
65 Courthouse Street
Suite 8,
Blairsville, GA 30512
Phone: (706) 439-6006
Fax: (706) 439-6009

Union County Magistrate Court
65 Courthouse Street
Suite 10,
Blairsville, GA 30512
Phone: (706) 439-6008
Fax: (706) 439-6104

Blairsville Municipal Court
62 Blue Ridge Street,
P.O. Box 307,
Blairsville, GA 30512
Phone: (706) 835-1692
Fax: (706) 781-3848

Union County Criminal and Civil Records

Union County criminal records, also known as criminal history records, are compiled and maintained by local law enforcement agencies, such as the Union County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments. A criminal history record details an individual's interaction with the local criminal justice system. It typically contains the following information relating to the subject:

• Personal information (name, date of birth, social security number, sex, race, height, weight, etc.)
• Union County Arrest records/data (arresting agency, date of arrest, and charges)
• Final disposition data of arrest(s) and criminal case(s)
• Incarceration details, if any.

Interested persons may obtain criminal history records in Union County by submitting background check requests to local law enforcement agencies. Requesters are usually required to present a valid government-issued ID and complete a consent form when making the request. They may obtain the consent form from the custodial agency. It is worth noting that the cost of a criminal history report typically varies by agency. For instance, the Union City Police Department charges $30.00, while the Union County Sheriff's Office charges $15.00 per request.

On the other hand, record seekers may access civil and criminal case records by querying the clerk's office of the specific court that handled the case whose record they seek. Depending on its specifics, it may fall under the jurisdiction of different courts, such as the Union County Superior Court or the Magistrate Court. The Superior Court has broad jurisdiction over both civil and criminal cases. Meanwhile, the Magistrate Court can hear minor criminal offenses and civil claims involving disputes of $15,000 or less. For instance, public court records of civil and criminal cases heard by the Union County Superior Court are accessible by contacting the Clerk of Superior Court at:

65 Courthouse Street
Blairsville, GA 30512
Phone: (706) 439-6022

Union County Marriage Records

The Probate Court is responsible for issuing and maintaining marriage licenses in Union County. Therefore, interested persons may query the Probate Court to obtain Union County marriage records. Fortunately, there are no prerequisites for requesting marriage records from the Probate Court. Record seekers can order a certified copy of a marriage license by completing the Marriage License Request form and submitting it in person to the Probate Court. Requesters are typically charged $10.00 for each certified copy of a marriage license they request.

Alternatively, Union County marriage records are available online through the Georgia Probate Records Search portal. On the portal, users can search for recorded marriage licenses issued in various Georgia counties, including Union County. Searches may be conducted by applicant name, date issued, recorded date, or marriage date.

In addition to the Union County Probate Court, Union County marriage certificates and applications are also available through the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) Office of Vital Records. However, the DPH only maintains marriage records from June 1952 to August 1996. To search for and request marriage records from the DPH, interested persons can complete Form 3913 and submit it along with a valid copy of their picture ID and the required fee payment to the DPH.

Union County Divorce Records

In Union County, the Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over divorces. Hence, all queries for divorce records should be directed to the Superior Court Clerk's Office. Divorce records are subject to the provisions of the Georgia Open Records Act. Consequently, there are no restrictions on who can access divorce records.

The primary way to access or obtain copies of Union County divorce records is by making an in-person request to the Superior Court Clerk's Office. Record seekers may visit the Clerk's Office during regular office hours to request divorce records in person. Requesters must provide details about the specific divorce record to identify it appropriately. These details include the divorcees' names and the date of its issuance. Interested individuals may also contact the clerk's office at (706) 439-6022 to inquire about other options and procedures for requesting divorce records.

Union County Birth Records

The Probate Court is the primary custodian of Union County vital records, which include birth records. According to OCGA § 31-10-26, these records are considered confidential and only accessible to certain eligible persons with a direct and tangible interest in them. These include, but are not limited to:

• The individual named on the record (the registrant)
• The registrant's parent, grandparent, or legal guardian
• The registrant's adult child or sibling
• The registrant's spouse or next of kin
• The registrant or their immediate family member's attorney
• An authorized representative of a Federal, State, or County government agency that requires the record to conduct their official duties.

The Union County Probate Court accepts in-person and mail-in requests for birth records and offers a dedicated request form to facilitate the process. Furthermore, eligible persons are required to provide a copy of their valid photo ID, details about the sought-after birth record, and the applicable fee when requesting birth records from the court.

Requesters are charged $25 for the first copy of a birth record and an additional $5 for each extra copy. Acceptable forms of payment include cashier's checks or money orders for mail-in requests, while requesters can pay with cash, local checks, or credit cards for in-person requests.

It is worth noting that Union County birth certificates recorded from 1919 to the present are also obtainable through the Georgia State Office of Vital Records.

Union County Death Records

Like birth records, Union County death records are maintained by the County Probate Court. These records are also subject to the access limitations specified in OCGA § 31-10-26. Consequently, only eligible individuals are permitted unrestricted access to Union County death records. These include the decedent's parent, legal guardian, spouse, personal representative, next of kin, or others with a direct and tangible interest in the record.

Eligible persons can request Union County death records using the Death Records Request Form. Requesters should complete the form accurately and submit it to the Union County Probate Court along with a copy of their valid photo ID and the required fee, either in person or by mail.

The Georgia State Office of VitalRecords also maintains certain Union County death records (those recorded from 1919 to the present). Therefore, eligible individuals can also query the Georgia State Office of Vital Records to obtain relevant death records.

Union County Probate Court Records

The Union County Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction over administering estates, probating wills, appointing guardians for minors and adults, and involuntarily hospitalizing incapacitated individuals. The court also maintains various vital records (e.g., birth, death, marriage, and divorce records) and is responsible for issuing marriage and firearm licenses in Union County.

Interested persons may obtain records held by the Union County Probate Court by visiting the courthouse during regular working hours and requesting the desired record in person. Some probate court records are also available online through the Georgia Probate Record Search portal.

Union County Property Records

Union County property records are maintained across different local government offices, specifically the County Superior Court Clerk's Office and the Tax Assessor's Office. The former serves as the official recorder of real estate documents in the County and is responsible for preserving records of deeds, plats, subdivisions, liens, and similar documents. Meanwhile, the latter maintains property assessment records.

Most Union County property records are public and available to everyone who requests them. Hence, anyone can query the County Superior Court Clerk's Office and the Tax Assessor's Office to access records they maintain. Queries can be made in person at the respective offices during regular business hours. Alternatively, record seekers may use online resources provided by these public offices, such as the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority search portal and the Tax Assessor Record Search portal, to search for and access property records.

Union County Court Records Online

Besides traditional channels relevant government entities provide, third-party aggregate websites like Georgiacourtrecords.us offer an alternative means of accessing Union County court records online. They feature easy-to-use interfaces that allow users to search for records by party name or case numbers. Although individuals can conduct extensive searches for court records on these websites, there are some downsides to using them. Most notably, the completeness and accuracy of the records they provide are not guaranteed.