White County Public Records
How to Find Public Records in White County in 2026
Members of the public seeking publicly available information related to White County, Georgia may access a range of government documents through official county and state channels. The directory at WhiteGARecords.us aggregates publicly available data that may assist individuals in locating relevant record categories. White County maintains records across multiple departments, and the availability of specific documents depends on the record type, the custodial office, and applicable state law.
Record categories that members of the public may find through official sources include:
- Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
- Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
- Tax and assessment records
- Business licenses and permits
- Voting and election records
- County commission meeting minutes and agendas
- Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted)
- Land use and zoning records
Online Access: Members of the public may search certain White County records through the White County, Georgia official website. Property and tax records are accessible through the White County Tax Assessor's online portal. Court case information may be searched through the Georgia Courts e-access portal, which requires account registration for full access. Vital records are not available online but may be requested through the Georgia Department of Public Health.
In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the White County Clerk of Superior Court to inspect or request court records. The office is located at 59 South Main Street, Suite 102, Cleveland, Georgia 30528. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Requestors should present a written or verbal request identifying the record sought.
Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted to the relevant custodial office by mail. Requests should include the requestor's name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, agencies are required to respond within three business days.
Phone/Email:
- White County Clerk of Superior Court: (706) 865-2613
- White County Tax Assessor: (706) 865-5328
- White County Board of Commissioners: (706) 865-2235
What Are Public Records in White County?
Public records in White County are defined under Georgia's Open Records Act as all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, computer-based or generated information, or similar material prepared and maintained or received in the performance of a service or function by or on behalf of a public agency. The primary governing statute is O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.
The following record types are maintained by White County offices:
| Record Type | Custodial Office |
|---|---|
| Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family) | Clerk of Superior Court |
| Property deeds, mortgages, liens | Clerk of Superior Court |
| Tax and assessment records | Tax Assessor / Tax Commissioner |
| Vital records (birth, death, marriage) | Georgia Dept. of Public Health |
| Business licenses and permits | White County Board of Commissioners |
| Voting and election records | White County Board of Elections |
| Meeting minutes and agendas | White County Board of Commissioners |
| Law enforcement records | White County Sheriff's Office |
| Land use and zoning records | White County Planning & Zoning |
The White County Clerk of Superior Court serves as the primary custodian for land records, court filings, and related documents. The Georgia judicial services portal provides access to statewide court information and case lookup tools.
Is White County an Open Records County?
White County operates in full compliance with Georgia's Open Records Act, which mandates public access to government records. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, all public agencies in Georgia are required to make records available for public inspection and copying within three business days of a request, unless a specific statutory exemption applies.
The Georgia Attorney General's office states: "The Open Records Act reflects the General Assembly's intent that public records be open to the public as a general rule, with specific exceptions narrowly construed." This principle applies to all county-level agencies in White County, including the Board of Commissioners, Sheriff's Office, Tax Assessor, and Clerk of Superior Court.
White County does not maintain a separate county-specific open records ordinance beyond the requirements established by state law. All departments are bound by the provisions of the Georgia Open Records Act, and requests submitted to any county office are processed in accordance with that statute. The Georgia Attorney General's Open Government resources provide additional guidance on the rights of requestors and the obligations of public agencies.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in White County?
The fee structure for public records in White County is governed by state law and varies by record type and custodial office. Under the Georgia Open Records Act, agencies may charge reasonable fees for search, retrieval, redaction, and copying of records.
Standard Fee Schedule:
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Paper copies (letter/legal size) | $0.10 per page |
| Certification of records | $2.50 per document |
| Electronic copies (CD/DVD) | Actual cost of media |
| Search and retrieval (clerical) | Actual cost after first 15 minutes |
| Certified copies of deeds | $2.50 per page |
- Inspection of records at a public counter is available at no charge.
- Fees for certified vital records (birth, death, marriage) are set by the Georgia Department of Public Health and are currently $25.00 per certified copy.
- Payment methods accepted at the Clerk of Superior Court include cash, check, and money order. Credit card acceptance varies by office.
- Fee waivers are not broadly available under Georgia law, though agencies retain discretion to waive fees in limited circumstances.
The Georgia Open Records Act permits agencies to charge for the "actual cost" of search and retrieval when the request requires more than 15 minutes of staff time, as outlined in the statute governing public records fees.
Does White County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available in White County. Members of the public may inspect records at the custodial office without charge, provided the records are not exempt from disclosure. The right to free inspection is established under Georgia's Open Records Act, which requires agencies to make records available for on-site review.
Free access to certain records is available through the following official sources:
- White County Tax Assessor's Office: Property assessment records and parcel data are available for free inspection online through the county's official portal.
- White County Board of Elections: Voter registration data and election results are available for public inspection at no cost.
- White County Board of Commissioners: Meeting minutes, agendas, and budget documents are posted on the White County official website at no charge.
- Georgia Courts Portal: Basic case information may be searched through the Georgia Courts e-access system with a registered account; some information is available without a fee.
The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while on-site inspection carries no charge, obtaining physical or electronic copies is subject to the fee schedule described above.
Who Can Request Public Records in White County?
Any person may request public records in White County, Georgia. Under the Georgia Open Records Act, there is no residency requirement, and requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request for most record types. Non-residents of Georgia retain the same rights to access public records as residents.
Key eligibility provisions include:
- Identification: Requestors are not required to provide identification to inspect public records, though identification may be required for certain certified copies or records involving personal information.
- Purpose: Agencies may not condition access to public records on the requestor's stated purpose, except in limited circumstances involving specific exemptions.
- Requesting your own records: Individuals requesting records about themselves may be required to provide identification to verify identity, particularly for vital records or records containing sensitive personal information.
- Restrictions by record type: Certain records, such as juvenile court records, adoption records, and sealed court files, are restricted regardless of who is requesting them.
Members of the public who believe a request has been improperly denied may seek review through the Georgia Attorney General's office or pursue legal remedies under the Open Records Act.
What Records Are Confidential in White County?
Not all government records in White County are subject to public disclosure. Georgia law establishes specific categories of exempt records that agencies are not required to release. The primary exemptions are codified in O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, which enumerates the following categories of confidential or restricted records:
- Sealed court records and expunged criminal history
- Juvenile court records
- Records pertaining to ongoing law enforcement investigations
- Personal identifying information, including Social Security numbers and financial account data
- Medical records protected under HIPAA
- Adoption records
- Child welfare and protective services records
- Personnel records (with limited exceptions for public employees)
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information submitted to government agencies
- Security plans, infrastructure vulnerability assessments, and emergency response protocols
As the Georgia Attorney General's office notes: "The exceptions to the Open Records Act are to be narrowly construed, and the burden of showing that a record is exempt rests with the agency seeking to withhold it." Agencies in White County are required to identify the specific statutory basis for any denial of a records request.
When a record contains both disclosable and exempt information, the custodial office is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder of the document.
White County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
White County Clerk of Superior Court
59 South Main Street, Suite 102
Cleveland, GA 30528
(706) 865-2613
White County Clerk of Superior Court
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays
White County Tax Assessor's Office
1241 Helen Highway, Suite 180
Cleveland, GA 30528
(706) 865-5328
White County Tax Assessor
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
White County Tax Commissioner's Office
1241 Helen Highway, Suite 210
Cleveland, GA 30528
(706) 865-2225
White County Tax Commissioner
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
White County Board of Commissioners
1241 Helen Highway, Suite 300
Cleveland, GA 30528
(706) 865-2235
White County Board of Commissioners
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
White County Sheriff's Office
462 Industrial Boulevard
Cleveland, GA 30528
(706) 865-5177
White County Sheriff's Office
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (administrative); dispatch operates 24 hours
White County Board of Elections and Registration
1241 Helen Highway, Suite 165
Cleveland, GA 30528
(706) 865-2832
White County Board of Elections
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM