Madison County Public Records
How to Find Public Records in Madison County in 2026
MadisonCountyRecords.us aggregates publicly available information related to public records maintained by government agencies in Madison County, Georgia. Members of the public seeking court documents, property filings, vital records, or law enforcement data may find relevant record categories through official county and state channels. The information presented reflects what is available through government custodians; completeness and availability vary by record type and custodial office.
Record categories available through Madison County government offices 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 and arrest logs (where permitted)
- Land use and zoning records
Online Access: The Madison County Superior Court Clerk maintains online access to certain court filings. Property records are searchable through the Madison County Tax Assessor's online portal. Some records require registration or in-person verification before digital copies are released.
In-Person Requests: Members of the public may inspect records in person at the Madison County Courthouse, located at 91 Albany Avenue, Danielsville, GA 30633. The Superior Court Clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Requestors should present a written or verbal description of the records sought; staff will direct the request to the appropriate custodian.
Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted by mail to the relevant custodial office. Requests should include the requestor's name, contact information, a specific 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 of receiving a written request.
Phone/Email: The Madison County Courthouse main line is (706) 795-6310. Individual office contact information is available through the Madison County official website.
What Are Public Records in Madison County?
Public records in Madison 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 course of operation of a public office or agency. The following record types are currently maintained by county offices:
| Record Type | Custodial Office |
|---|---|
| Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family) | Superior Court Clerk |
| Property deeds, mortgages, liens | Clerk of Superior Court |
| Tax and assessment records | Tax Assessor / Tax Commissioner |
| Vital records (birth, death) | Georgia Department of Public Health |
| Marriage and divorce records | Superior Court Clerk |
| Business licenses and permits | County Clerk / Planning Department |
| Voting and election records | Board of Elections |
| Meeting minutes and agendas | County Clerk |
| Law enforcement records | Madison County Sheriff's Office |
| Land use and zoning records | Planning and Zoning Department |
The Madison County Superior Court Clerk serves as the primary custodian for court filings, real property instruments, and marriage licenses. Birth and death certificates are issued at the state level through the Georgia Department of Public Health's certified vital records ordering service.
Is Madison County an Open Records County?
Madison County operates in full compliance with Georgia's Open Records Act. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, all public records maintained by state and local government agencies in Georgia are presumed open and accessible to any member of the public unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The Act establishes that government transparency is the default standard, and the burden of justifying any denial of access rests with the agency.
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 shall be open for personal inspection and copying, unless otherwise provided by law." This principle applies to all offices within Madison County, including the Superior Court, the Sheriff's Office, the Tax Assessor, and the Board of Commissioners.
The Georgia Attorney General's Open Government resources provide additional guidance on how the Act is interpreted and enforced statewide. Madison County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; the state statute governs all access requests.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Madison County?
The current fee structure for public records in Madison County follows the schedule established under Georgia law. Fees vary by record type and the office maintaining the records.
| Fee Type | Standard Amount |
|---|---|
| Paper copies (letter/legal size) | $0.10 per page |
| Certification of documents | $2.50 per document |
| Search fee (staff time exceeding 15 minutes) | Actual cost of staff time |
| Electronic copies | Actual cost of reproduction |
| Vital record certified copies | $25.00 per certificate (state fee) |
Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, agencies may charge for the actual cost of search, retrieval, and copying, but may not impose fees for the first 15 minutes of staff search time. Inspection of records without copying is available at no charge. Accepted payment methods at the Madison County Courthouse include cash, check, and money order; individual offices may also accept credit or debit cards.
Fee waivers are not broadly mandated under Georgia law, though agencies retain discretion to reduce or waive fees in cases involving indigent requestors or matters of significant public interest.
Does Madison County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available to any member of the public at the offices of the relevant custodian during regular business hours. Georgia law does not require payment simply to view records; fees apply only when copies or certified documents are requested.
The following resources provide free access to certain Madison County records:
- Madison County Tax Assessor's online portal — property assessment data, parcel maps, and ownership information are searchable at no cost through the Madison County Tax Assessor page.
- Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority — the eCourts Georgia platform provides online access to certain court case information statewide, including Madison County filings.
- Georgia Sex Offender Registry — members of the public may search the statewide sex offender database at no charge; this registry is maintained as public information under the Georgia Open Records Act.
- In-person inspection — all public records held by Madison County offices may be inspected in person at no cost during regular business hours.
The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records carries no fee, obtaining paper or electronic copies is subject to the fee schedule described above.
Who Can Request Public Records in Madison County?
Any person may request public records in Madison County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Georgia's Open Records Act does not restrict access based on the requestor's identity or the reason for the request. As the Georgia Attorney General's office has noted, "Any person may inspect public records during regular office hours."
Specific eligibility considerations include:
- Residency: Non-residents of Georgia and Madison County retain full rights to request public records under state law.
- Identification: Agencies may not require requestors to provide identification as a condition of access to public records, except in limited circumstances involving records that contain sensitive personal information.
- Purpose: Requestors are not required to state a reason for their request for the majority of public records.
- Restrictions by record type: Certain records, such as those involving ongoing criminal investigations, juvenile proceedings, or sealed court files, are subject to access restrictions regardless of who is requesting them.
- Requesting personal records: Individuals seeking their own records, such as personal criminal history or vital records, may be required to provide proof of identity and, in some cases, a notarized authorization.
Members of the public seeking their own vital records may use the Georgia Department of Public Health's certified vital records ordering service to obtain certified copies of birth or death certificates.
What Records Are Confidential in Madison County?
Certain categories of records maintained by Madison County agencies are exempt from public disclosure under Georgia law. The Georgia Open Records Act enumerates specific exemptions, and agencies are required to cite the applicable statutory basis when denying access to any record.
Records currently exempt from public disclosure include:
- Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the public
- Juvenile records — records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or dependency proceedings
- Ongoing criminal investigation records — investigative files that, if disclosed, would compromise an active law enforcement investigation
- Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from otherwise public documents
- Medical and health records — protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only through court order
- 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 disciplinary records are exempt, with limited exceptions for final disciplinary actions
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to government agencies under confidentiality agreements
- Security plans and critical infrastructure details — exempt to protect public safety
Georgia's exemptions are codified throughout Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. Agencies denying access to records are required to provide written notification citing the specific statutory exemption. The Georgia Attorney General's Open Government page provides a comprehensive reference for applicable exemptions.
Madison County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
In Madison County, Georgia, real property records, court filings, and related instruments are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court rather than a separate recorder's office. The following offices serve as the principal custodians of public records in the county.
Madison County Clerk of Superior Court
91 Albany Avenue, Danielsville, GA 30633
(706) 795-6310
Madison County Superior Court Clerk
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays
Madison County Tax Assessor's Office
91 Albany Avenue, Suite 103, Danielsville, GA 30633
(706) 795-6355
Madison County Tax Assessor
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Madison County Tax Commissioner
91 Albany Avenue, Suite 105, Danielsville, GA 30633
(706) 795-6370
Madison County Tax Commissioner
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Madison County Sheriff's Office
238 Hwy 98 West, Danielsville, GA 30633
(706) 795-2121
Madison County Sheriff's Office
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (administrative); law enforcement operations are conducted 24 hours
Madison County Board of Elections
91 Albany Avenue, Danielsville, GA 30633
(706) 795-3353
Madison County Board of Elections
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM