Murray County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Murray County in 2026

Members of the public seeking publicly available information related to government activities, legal proceedings, and property transactions in Murray County, Georgia may access a range of official documents through county and state agencies. MurrayRecords.us aggregates publicly available data that may assist individuals in locating records associated with Murray County. The types of information that may be found through official channels include:

Court case filings and dispositions
Property deeds, liens, and tax assessments
Vital records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates
Business licenses and permits
Arrest logs and incident reports (where permitted by law)
Voter registration and election records
County commission meeting minutes and agendas

Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by state and county agencies.

Online Access: Members of the public may access certain Murray County records through the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority portal, which provides online search tools for real estate records, liens, and related filings. The Georgia Courts portal provides citizens and court professionals access to vital judicial services statewide. Registration may be required for certain databases.

In-Person Requests: Requests may be submitted in person at the Murray County Superior Court Clerk's Office, located at 121 North Fourth Avenue, Chatsworth, GA 30705. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests should be directed to the Murray County Superior Court Clerk's Office at 121 North Fourth Avenue, Chatsworth, GA 30705. Requests must include a description of the records sought, the requester's contact information, and any applicable fees. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, agencies are required to respond within three business days.

Phone/Email: The Murray County Superior Court Clerk's Office may be reached by phone at (706) 695-2932. Email contact information is available through the office directly upon inquiry.

What Are Public Records in Murray County?

Public records in Murray County are defined under Georgia law as all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, computer-based or generated information, or similar material prepared and maintained or received in the course of the operation of a public office or agency. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, the State of Georgia broadly defines public records to promote government transparency and accountability.

The following record types are maintained by Murray County agencies:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil and criminal court records	Superior Court Clerk
Probate and estate records	Probate Court
Property deeds, mortgages, liens	Superior Court Clerk
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	Probate Court / Georgia DPH
Business licenses and permits	Murray County Tax Commissioner
Property tax and assessment records	Tax Assessor's Office
Voting and election records	Murray County Board of Elections
Meeting minutes and agendas	County Commission Office
Budget and financial documents	County Finance Department
Arrest logs and incident reports	Murray County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	Planning and Zoning Department

Court case records may be searched through the e-access court records portal maintained by the Georgia Courts system, which redirects users to the appropriate provider's platform. An account may be required to conduct searches.

Is Murray County an Open Records County?

Murray County operates in full compliance with Georgia's open records laws, which mandate public access to government documents. Under the Georgia Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq., all state and local government agencies are required to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request.

As stated by the Georgia Attorney General's office, "The Open Records Act reflects the General Assembly's intent that public records be open to the public as a general rule, with specific and limited exceptions." This principle applies to all offices within Murray County, including the Superior Court Clerk, Tax Assessor, Sheriff's Office, and County Commission.

The Act requires that agencies acknowledge receipt of a request within three business days and either provide the records or notify the requester of any applicable exemptions. Murray County does not maintain a separate county-specific open records ordinance; the state statute governs all public records requests submitted to county offices. The Georgia Attorney General's Open Government resources provide additional guidance on the rights of requesters and the obligations of public agencies.

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

The current fee structure for public records in Murray County is governed by state law and the policies of individual county offices. Standard fees applicable to most requests include:

Inspection: No charge for in-person inspection of public records
Copies (paper): $0.10 per page for standard letter or legal-size documents
Certification: Fees for certified copies vary by record type; certified court documents are subject to clerk-established fees
Electronic format: Fees for electronic copies are assessed at the actual cost of production
Search fees: Agencies may charge for the time required to search and retrieve records if the search exceeds one hour, billed at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee capable of performing the search

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, agencies are prohibited from charging fees that exceed the actual cost of search, retrieval, and production. Accepted payment methods at Murray County offices include cash, check, and money order; individual offices should be contacted to confirm whether credit or debit card payments are accepted. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requesters or for requests determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the agency.

Does Murray County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at Murray County government offices during regular business hours. Under Georgia's Open Records Act, members of the public have the right to inspect records at no charge; fees apply only when copies are requested.

The following resources provide free access to certain Murray County records:

Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA): Provides free online access to certain real estate index data through its public portal at www.gsccca.org
Murray County Tax Assessor's Office: Offers free online access to property assessment records and parcel data through the county's official website
Georgia Courts Online Portal: The Georgia Courts system provides access to judicial services and case information; some features require account registration
Murray County Board of Elections: Voter registration records are available for public inspection at no charge

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

Who Can Request Public Records in Murray County?

Any person may request public records in Murray County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Georgia's Open Records Act does not restrict access to residents of the state, and requesters are not required to provide identification or explain the reason for their request as a condition of access to non-restricted records.

Key eligibility provisions include:

Residency: Not required; non-residents of Georgia retain full rights under the Act
Identification: Not required for most public records requests, though some offices may request contact information for follow-up purposes
Purpose: Requesters are not obligated to state the purpose of their request for records that are not subject to exemption
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking their own records, such as personal vital records or criminal history, may be required to provide identification and, in some cases, a signed authorization form
Restrictions by record type: Certain categories of records, such as juvenile court records or sealed case files, are subject to access restrictions regardless of the requester's identity

As the Georgia Attorney General's office notes, "Any person may inspect or copy public records." This broad entitlement reflects the state's commitment to open government and public accountability.

What Records Are Confidential in Murray County?

Certain records maintained by Murray County agencies are exempt from public disclosure under Georgia law. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 enumerates specific categories of records that agencies are not required — and in some cases are prohibited — to disclose. Exempt and confidential record categories include:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or dependency proceedings are confidential
Ongoing investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled in connection with active criminal investigations are exempt until the investigation is closed
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from disclosed records
Medical records: Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances
Child welfare and protective services records: Maintained as confidential by the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services
Personnel records: Employee records are exempt with limited exceptions, such as name, position, compensation, and dates of employment
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Submitted to government agencies under confidentiality protections
Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Exempt to protect public safety

When an agency withholds records under an exemption, it is required to notify the requester of the specific statutory basis for the denial.

Murray County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Murray County Superior Court Clerk's Office
121 North Fourth Avenue
Chatsworth, GA 30705
(706) 695-2932
Murray County Superior Court Clerk

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

Murray County Probate Court
121 North Fourth Avenue, Suite 105
Chatsworth, GA 30705
(706) 695-2203
Murray County Probate Court

Murray County Tax Assessor's Office
121 North Fourth Avenue
Chatsworth, GA 30705
(706) 695-2932
Murray County Tax Assessor

Murray County Tax Commissioner's Office
121 North Fourth Avenue
Chatsworth, GA 30705
(706) 695-2144
Murray County Tax Commissioner

Murray County Sheriff's Office
710 Old Dalton Ellijay Road
Chatsworth, GA 30705
(706) 695-4592
Murray County Sheriff's Office

Murray County Board of Elections
121 North Fourth Avenue
Chatsworth, GA 30705
(706) 517-1400
Murray County Board of Elections

Office Hours (all county offices unless otherwise noted):
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays