Bartow County Public Records?
Bartow County public records include documents, data, data fields, and other miscellaneous items generated, maintained, or received by governmental agencies in the fulfillment of their public service duties and obligations, as defined by Georgia’s Open Records Act. In addition, Bartow County Records include documents that have been transferred to private persons or entities for storage or the government’s future use. Papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, computer-generated data, and other publicly derived information are all included in Bartow County public records.
Bartow County public records do not include reports, summaries, or compilations of documents that did not exist when an open records request was submitted. In other words, only existing public documents derived by Bartow’s agencies or contracted private organizations can be classified as public records. Reports and other document compilations created by a public official in response to an open records request are not public records in Bartow County. The following are also not included in Bartow County public records:
- Insurance and medical information for personnel;
- Information on an active or pending investigation;
- Social security numbers;
- Credit card details; and
- Bank account information.
Most of the records itemized above have to be redacted before being made available in the public domain.
In addition to government agencies, some public records may also be accessible from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for extensive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search such as:
- The name of the subject involved in the record (subject must be older than 18 or not juvenile)
- The address of the requestor
- A case number or file number (if known)
- The location of the document or person involved
- The last known or current address of the registrant
Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Bartow County Crime Statistics
The Crime Information Center of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is the primary repository for crime statistics on various criminal acts and arrests recorded by law enforcement agencies throughout the United States, including those in Bartow County. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GIB) crime database, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson are the most common types of crime in Bartow County. Violent crimes such as aggravated assault, robbery, rape, and murder are included alongside these. Larceny accounted for 64.12% of crimes reported between 2015 and 2019, followed by burglary at 16.92%, aggravated assault at 8.39%, and motor vehicle theft at 7.84%. Robbery, rape, and arson accounted for 1.33%, 1.21%, and 0.13%, respectively, while murder accounted for 0.06%.
Are Bartow County Criminal Records Public?
Bartow County criminal records are public records under the Georgia Open Records Act, However, selected records may be restricted from dissemination due their sensitivity. As a result, any member of the public has a legal right to view the documents kept by the agency responsible for such data unless court rules restrict access to certain materials. Access to these records is frequently restricted for security reasons. Additionally, the court may seal or delete criminal records. Such documents are not accessible to the general public.
How to Obtain Bartow County Police Reports and Arrest Records
Bartow County police reports and arrest records are generally available at the Bartow County Sheriff's Office. The following is the contact information for the Bartow County Sheriff's Office:
Bartow County Sheriff’s Office
104 Zena Drive
Cartersville, GA 30121
Phone: (770) 382-5050
Fax: (678) 721-3206
Residents of Bartow County and other members of the general public may obtain copies of Bartow County police reports and arrest records under the Open Records Act. Police records in Bartow County include police reports, county bookings, and mugshots. Requestors of Bartow County police reports and arrest records must complete a request form, which can then be mailed or emailed to the County Sheriff's Office Records Custodian. Once the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office receives the request, the requestor will be notified about the requested documents within three (3) business days. Individuals interested in viewing the County Sheriff's Office's police reports and arrest records may also visit the Sheriff's Office in person. Typically, arrest records in Bartow County include the following:
- The arrestee’s details, such as their name, birth date, and gender.
- Date and location of the arrest.
- The arresting officer’s name.
- The location of the jail or prison where the arrestee was held.
- The individual who issued the arrest warrant's name.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Bartow County
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is the central repository for accurate and up-to-date information on sexual offenders. County residents can obtain sex offender information using a known first and last name. Searches can also be filtered by city, offender type and zip code.
How to Find Bartow County Inmate Records
Entities interested in acquiring information about an inmate currently incarcerated at Bartow County Jail are advised to use the online Bartow County jail inmate search. An online search might require that users provide a:
- Name
- Age
- Sex
- Date of birth
- Inmate ID
Alternatively, interested parties can call the County jail at the following address:
Bartow County Jail
104 Zena Drive, Cartersville, GA 30121
Phone: (770) 382-5050
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Bartow County Jail?
Individuals interested in visiting inmates at the Bartow County jail must register and schedule an appointment. Visitors should arrive 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment to check in with the visitation staff. To plan a video visit with an inmate, interested parties must register on the inmate video conference system's website and obtain login credentials. Following that, the prospective visitor can access the system and schedule a meeting. All individuals wishing to participate in a video visit must make an appointment 24 hours before the visit. Otherwise, unscheduled visitors may be denied access to the visit. Visitors to the Bartow County Jail have the following options when it comes to visiting inmates:
- Use the visitation kiosk located in the jail lobby.
- Visit the inmate video conferencing system website to register.
- Call (888) 649-9437
- Download inmate video conferencing app for android phones from the Google Play Store.
Bartow County Court Records
A court record is a type of public record generated exclusively by the courts and courthouses in the US legal system. In Bartow County, the court system comprises the Superior Court, Juvenile Court, Probate Court, Magistrate Court, and Municipal Courts. Requestors of Bartow County court records may file for various documents through specific courts with jurisdiction on matters or issues of interest. Sequel to the provision of requisite documents and fulfillment of laid down guidelines, qualified requestors of Bartow County court records may submit their applications via the addresses and contact information of the courthouses below:
Bartow County Superior Court
135 West Cherokee Avenue,
Suite 233,
Cartersville, GA 30120
Phone: (770) 385-5025
Bartow County Juvenile Court
135 West Cherokee Avenue 333,
Cartersville, GA 30120
Phone: (770) 387-5039
Fax: (770) 387-5044
Bartow County Probate Court
135 West Cherokee Avenue,
Suite 243A,
Cartersville, GA 30120
Phone: (770) 387-5075
Fax: (770) 387-5074
Bartow County Magistrate Court
112 West Cherokee Avenue, Suite 101,
Cartersville, GA 30120
Phone: (770) 387-5070
Fax: (770) 387-50743
Municipal Court of Adairsville
116 Public Square,
Adairsville, GA 30103
Phone: (770) 773-3451 ext. 102
Fax: (770) 387-5074
Municipal Court of Emerson
700 Highway 293,
P.O. Box 300,
Emerson, GA 30103,
Phone: (770) 386-8366
Fax: (770) 386-6697
Municipal Court of Euharlee
30 Burge’s Main Street,
Euharlee, Cartersville
GA 30145,
Phone: (770) 386-1542 ext. 2009
Municipal Court of Kingston
30 West Main Street,
P.O. Box 309,
Kingston, GA 30145,
Phone: (770) 336-5906
Municipal Court of White
29 West Rocky Street,
GA 30184,
Phone: (770) 382-5466
Are Bartow County Court Records Public?
Bartow county court records are primarily available to the public. However, depending on the sensitivity of the information included in these court documents, they may be sealed, deleted, or made public through the court’s records classification system. Bartow County court records may be classified if the details of the case constitute a threat or liability to government agencies, companies, or individuals involved in a legal proceeding. For example, juvenile records in a court case are usually unavailable until the perpetrator becomes an adult. While some of Bartow County’s court records are available online, interested parties may need to visit the courthouses with jurisdiction over the documents in question or the Office of the Court Clerks to obtain or study court records.
How to Obtain Bartow County Civil Court Case Records
Interested parties can obtain Bartow County civil court case records from the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court. The Clerk’s Office, which operates between the hours of 8.00 am and 5.00 pm on weekdays, is located at the following address:
135 West Cherokee Avenue
Cartersville, GA 30120
Phone: (770) 387-5025
Civil Division Fax: (770) 606-2389
Alternatively, requestors may create an account and obtain login credentials with one of the online third-party service providers contracted by Bartow County to provide records of civil court cases within its jurisdiction. Interested parties can also submit a request for records of civil court cases by sending an email to the Clerk’s Office.
How to Obtain Bartow County Criminal Court Records
Criminal court records in Bartow County can be accessed by submitting a criminal court records request in person at the Clerk of the Superior Court. Additionally, requesters can submit requests by email to the Clerk's Office or through third-party criminal records databases that the County has approved. However, interested persons can only access these records after fulfilling the requirements for accessing such records. Furthermore, electronic access to Bartow County criminal records can be obtained through the Judicial Council of Georgia’s website
What are Bartow County Vital Records?
Bartow County vital records are official records about vital events that occurred within the county’s jurisdiction. The Bartow County Probate Court is charged with the responsibility of registering, preserving, amending, and certifying all vital events occurring in Bartow County. Bartow County vital records include the following:
Bartow County vital records include the following:
- Birth
- Death
- Marriage
- Fetal deaths (stillbirths)
- Induced Termination of Pregnancy (ITOP).
The County’s vital records comprise of vital events records from 1919 to the present. As of 2007, Bartow County’s vital records office could access birth and death certificates for the entire state of Georgia. Also, the County’s record office provides informational and certified copies for other counties.
Where and How to Obtain Bartow County Divorce Records
Bartow County divorce records are maintained by the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court in Bartow County. A certified copy of the divorce decree or any other document from the divorce proceedings can only be received from the Clerk of the Superior Court. In Bartow County, a divorce decree is a comprehensive document that specifies all the divorce conditions and judgments, including custody information, property distribution, spousal payments such as child support and alimony amounts, and scheduling.
The decree is signed by a Bartow County Superior Court Judge and must include a court case number for reference purposes. The Court typically provides the divorce decree and is only made available to the parties participating in the divorce procedures and their attorneys. On the other hand, a verification letter is a document that offers evidence that the two parties in a divorce proceeding are no longer married.
Divorce verifications provide the name of each party and the location where the divorce was approved. The Clerk of the Superior Court in Bartow County can only search for and confirm divorces prior to June 1952 and after August 1996. Between August 1952 and June 1996, the Georgia State Office of Vital Records was responsible for verifying divorce requests. After downloading these forms from the courthouse or the court’s website, divorce requests can be verified in person or via mail. There is a non-refundable $10 fee for verifying Bartow County divorce documents under GA Code 10 of the Official Code of Georgia.
If the verification request is to be mailed, the requestor must include a completed verification request form and the correct amount in the form of a US Money Order or certified check. The money order or certified check must be made payable to the Clerk of the Superior Court or the States Vital Records Division, depending on the time frame for which records are being requested. Requestors must enclose a copy of a valid photo ID with their verification of divorce request, and they are recommended not to send money by mail.
Depending on the timeline of the divorce records being requested, interested parties can mail completed request forms to the following addresses:
Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court
135 W Cherokee Ave
Suite 233
Cartersville, GA 30120
(770) 387-5025
Georgia Office of Vital Records
1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30349.
Where and How to Get Public Bartow County Marriage Records
Bartow County marriage records before June 1952 and after August 1996 are available at Bartow County Probate Court. Licenses granted in Bartow County between June 1952 and August 1996 are strictly managed by the Georgia Department of Public Health through the Vital Records Division. Although Bartow County marriage records are considered public records, records of marriages deemed confidential by the spouses involved are only available to authorized requestors. Entities interested in accessing specific marriage records in Bartow County but are unsure if the wedding certificate was issued in the county may fill out and submit a marriage verification request form.
However, Bartow County marriages after January 1, 2014, can be sought and verified through Georgia’s Office of Vital Records website. Qualified requestors who seek to access certified copies of Bartow County marriage records can attend the County’s Probate Court with the basic information and required documents. For the verification of marriages that happened after January 1, 2014, interested individuals can mail a marriage verification request form to the following address:
State Office of Vital Records
1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30349
The State’s Vital Records Office charges $10 for the first certified copy of marriage certificates and $5 for each additional copy of the duplicate records requested at the same time.
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Bartow County
All marriage records in Bartow County are generally considered public records. Nonetheless, concerning couples may choose to keep their marriage documents private, making them accessible only to authorized requestors. Individuals authorized to view and obtain sealed marriage records include the couples themselves, law enforcement officers, some family law divisions, and parties subject to court orders or subpoenas. Additionally, sensitive data such as social security numbers, financial account numbers, passwords, and other relevant information are considered confidential and must be redacted before being made public.
Where and How to Find Bartow County Birth Records
The Bartow County Probate County administers Bartow County birth records. These records are accessible online, in-person via the walk-in services, or via mail by filing a request for a search of birth form. A person authorized to access specific birth records may receive certified copies of a birth certificate for a price of $25 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy requested concurrently for the same person. Georgia law defines the following family relations as those that can obtain a birth certificate for another person:
- Parent;
- Child;
- Spouse;
- Grandparent; and
- siblings.
Where and How to Find Bartow County Death Records
The Bartow County Probate Court manages the county’s death records. Bartow County death records can be obtained in three ways:
- Online;
- in-person, through the walk-in service;
- or by mail.
For a fee of $25 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy ordered at the same time for a single person, interested parties may obtain certified copies of death certificates. On the other hand, Georgia law restricts access to death records to those who have a direct tangible interest in the deceased person. This group of individuals consists of primary family members or family legal representatives. Those interested in obtaining death certificates must complete and mail the search for death request form (Form 3912). When completing the form, the requestor must include the county in which the death happened. Only the State Office of Vital Records may issue a certificate of Birth Resulting in a Stillbirth in the event of a stillbirth (CBRS). A CBRS may be administered in the event of an unexpected intrauterine fetal demise. Additionally, parents may get a Certificate of Fetal Death.
