Union County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Union County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in Union County, Georgia, may access publicly available information through UnionGARecords.us, which aggregates data related to public records maintained by county and state agencies. Records that may be found through official channels include court filings, property documents, vital records, tax assessments, business licenses, and meeting minutes. Access to specific records depends on the record type, the custodial office, and applicable state law exemptions.

Records in Union County may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools.

Online Access:

The Union County Government open records portal allows members of the public to identify the appropriate office for submitting an open records request. Various county offices process their own requests independently.
Court case records may be searched through the Georgia Courts e-access system, which redirects users to a provider's website where account registration is required.
Property and real estate documents recorded by the Clerk of Superior Court are accessible through the clerk's office and associated online tools.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Union County Clerk of Superior Court to inspect real estate records, court filings, and related documents. The office is located at 114 Courthouse Street, Blairsville, GA 30512. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests should include the requester's name, a description of the records sought, and preferred format for delivery. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, agencies must respond to open records requests within three business days of receipt.

Phone/Email: The Union County Clerk of Superior Court may be reached by phone at (706) 439-6022. The Union County Government main line is (706) 439-6000.

What Are Public Records in Union County?

Public records in Union 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 following record types are maintained by county offices:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family law filings maintained by the Union County Superior Court clerk
Property records — deeds, plats, mortgages, and liens recorded by the Clerk of Superior Court
Vital records — birth and death certificates maintained by the Georgia Department of Public Health; marriage and divorce records held by the Superior Court Clerk
Business records — licenses and permits issued through county and municipal offices
Tax records — property tax and assessment records maintained by the Union County Tax Assessor's Office
Voting and election records — maintained by the Union County Board of Elections
Meeting minutes and agendas — county commission and board records available through the Union County Government website
Budget and financial documents — maintained by the Union County Finance Department
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports available through the Union County Sheriff's Office, subject to applicable exemptions
Land use and zoning records — maintained by the Union County Planning and Zoning Department

Is Union County an Open Records County?

Union County operates in full compliance with Georgia's statewide open records framework. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, all public records in Georgia are presumed to be open and accessible to any member of the public unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The Georgia Open Records Act establishes that government transparency is the default standard for all public agencies, including county governments.

As stated in the Georgia Attorney General's guidance on open records: "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."

The Union County Government open records request process designates individual offices as custodians of their own records, meaning requesters must direct inquiries to the specific department that maintains the records sought. The county does not maintain a single centralized records repository; instead, each department processes its own open records requests in accordance with state law.

Georgia's Sunshine Law provisions further require that meetings of public bodies be open to the public, and that notice of such meetings be provided in advance, reinforcing the county's commitment to governmental transparency.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Union County?

The fee structure for public records in Union County is governed by state law and varies by record type and custodial office. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(c), agencies may charge for the actual cost of search, retrieval, and production of records, but may not charge for inspection of records alone.

Fee Type	Standard Amount
Paper copies (letter/legal size)	$0.10 per page (standard rate)
Certification of documents	Varies by office
Electronic copies	Actual cost of production
Search and retrieval	Actual labor cost if search exceeds one hour
Inspection only	No charge

Fees for certified copies of real estate documents and court records are set by the Clerk of Superior Court and may differ from standard copy fees.
Vital records certified copies carry fees established by the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Payment methods accepted at county offices include cash, check, and money order; individual offices may also accept credit or debit cards.
Fee waivers may be available for indigent requesters or for records requests made in the public interest, at the discretion of the custodial agency.

Does Union County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Union County. Georgia law prohibits agencies from charging members of the public solely for the act of inspecting records that are open under the Open Records Act. The following resources provide free access to public records:

In-person inspection at the Union County Clerk of Superior Court allows members of the public to review court filings, real estate documents, and related records at no cost during regular business hours.
Online court record searches are available through the Georgia Courts e-access portal, though account registration with the provider may be required for full access.
The Union County Government website provides access to meeting agendas, minutes, budgets, and other administrative documents at no charge.
Property tax and assessment records may be reviewed at the Union County Tax Assessor's Office without a fee for inspection.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while inspection carries no charge, obtaining physical or electronic copies of records is subject to the fee schedule described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Union County?

Any person may request public records in Union County, Georgia. The Georgia Open Records Act does not restrict access based on residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Requesters are not required to be Georgia residents, and agencies may not demand that a requester explain the reason for the request as a condition of access.

Identification: Agencies may ask for a requester's name and contact information for processing purposes, but proof of identity is not a prerequisite for accessing most public records.
Purpose: Requesters are not required to state the purpose of their request for records that are open under state law.
Non-residents: Non-residents of Union County and Georgia retain full rights to request public records under the Open Records Act.
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records about themselves follow the same process as any other requester, though certain records (such as criminal history) may require additional verification steps through the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Restrictions for specific record types: Some records, such as adoption files, juvenile court records, and sealed court documents, are restricted regardless of who is requesting them.

What Records Are Confidential in Union County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under Georgia law. The Georgia Open Records Act and related statutes identify specific exemptions that agencies must apply when responding to records requests. The following records are currently withheld from public access:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records — records pertaining to minors in delinquency or dependency proceedings
Ongoing criminal investigation records — law enforcement records compiled for prosecution purposes while an investigation is active
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from disclosed records
Medical records — protected under both state law and federal HIPAA regulations
Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only under specific court orders
Child welfare and protective services records — maintained as confidential by the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services
Personnel records — employee performance evaluations and certain personnel files, with exceptions for records of public officials
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to government agencies under confidentiality protections
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — exempt to protect public safety

Georgia law, specifically O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, enumerates the categories of records exempt from mandatory disclosure. Agencies applying exemptions are required to notify the requester of the specific statutory basis for any denial and, where possible, to provide access to non-exempt portions of a requested record.

Union County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Clerk of Superior Court serves as the primary recorder of official documents in Union County, maintaining real estate records, court filings, and related instruments.

Union County Clerk of Superior Court
114 Courthouse Street, Suite 3
Blairsville, GA 30512
(706) 439-6022
Clerk of Superior Court

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays

As noted on the county's official website, the Clerk of Superior Court "serves as the official recorder of real-estate documents for the County maintaining records of deeds, plats, etc." and also provides jury pool administration and other court support functions.

Additional Offices:

Union County Government – Open Records Requests
65 Courthouse Street
Blairsville, GA 30512
(706) 439-6000
Union County Open Records Request

Union County Superior Court
114 Courthouse Street
Blairsville, GA 30512
(706) 439-6022
Union County Courts

The Union County court system includes Superior Court, which conducts jury and non-jury hearings in civil and criminal matters, as well as a Magistrate Court presided over by an elected Magistrate Judge. Each court maintains its own docket and case records, accessible through the clerk's office or the Georgia Courts e-access system.

Georgia Department of Public Health – Vital Records
2600 Skyland Drive NE
Atlanta, GA 30319
(404) 679-4702
Georgia Vital Records