Athens Phone Directory

The Athens phone directory covers all departments in the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government. Athens and Clarke County merged in 1991, so city and county services run under one government. The main number is 706-613-3330, and offices are at 301 College Avenue, Athens, GA 30601. This page lists the key phone numbers, addresses, and online tools for reaching public offices, courts, police records, and voter services in Athens.

Athens Phone Directory for Open Records

Open records requests in Athens go through the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government. Each department handles its own records, so the first step is to find the right office. You can call the main line at 706-613-3330 and ask to be sent to the right place. Or you can use the online portal to file a request from home. The process follows the Georgia Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, which gives any person the right to inspect and copy public records held by a government agency.

The Athens-Clarke County Open Records page explains how to file a request and lists the steps for getting records from any department.

From this page you can submit a request through the online portal. You pick the department or entity you need records from, fill in the details, and wait for a response. Staff must reply within three business days under Georgia law. Fees depend on the work involved. Simple requests are often free, but large document pulls may carry a per-page charge for copies.

Athens Phone Directory Government Contacts

Because Athens and Clarke County share a single government, there is no separate county office to call. Everything runs through one system. The main address for city hall is 301 College Avenue, Athens, GA 30601. Most departments keep hours from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. Some offices close for lunch. Call ahead if you plan to visit in person.

Police records in Athens have a separate process. You email Police_Orr@accgov.com or call 762-400-7129 to ask for incident reports, accident reports, or other law enforcement documents. The police department reviews each request and may redact certain details that fall under exemptions in the Open Records Act. Most police reports come back in a few business days unless the case is still active.

The Athens-Clarke County Clerk of Courts handles court records, civil filings, and criminal case files. You can search the statewide GSCCCA database at gsccca.org/search to look up deed records, liens, and UCC filings tied to Clarke County. This is the same database that covers all 159 counties in Georgia. Basic name searches are free, though viewing full documents may cost a small fee.

Athens Phone Directory for Voter Services

The Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections is at 706-613-3150. They handle voter registration, absentee ballots, and early voting. Georgia law says you must update your address at least 30 days before an election if you move. You can do that online, by mail, or in person at the elections office. Early voting starts on the fourth Monday before election day in Athens.

The Georgia My Voter Page lets you check your registration status, find your polling place, and see what is on your ballot. It is run by the Secretary of State. You just need your name, county, and date of birth to pull up your record. The Georgia Secretary of State website also has info on statewide elections, business filings, and professional licensing that may tie into your Athens search.

This site covers state-level resources that apply to Athens residents. Use it for business name lookups, notary searches, or to verify professional licenses held by people or firms in Athens-Clarke County.

Athens Phone Directory Request Process

Filing an open records request in Athens is not hard. You start by going to the online portal on the Athens-Clarke County website. Pick the department that has the records you want. Fill out the form with a clear description of what you need. The more detail you give, the faster staff can find it. You do not need to say why you want the records. Georgia law does not ask for a reason.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, the agency must respond within three business days. They can give you the records, tell you when the records will be ready, or explain why the records are exempt from disclosure. If they deny your request, they must cite the specific statute that allows the denial. You can appeal a denial to the court if you think the agency got it wrong.

Fees for open records in Athens vary by department. Most offices charge for copies at a per-page rate. Some charge for staff time if the search takes more than a quarter hour. Electronic copies sent by email are often cheaper than paper. Ask about the cost before the office starts work so you know what to expect. Payments are usually due when you pick up or receive the records.

Athens Phone Directory for Court Records

Court records in Athens-Clarke County are held by the Clerk of Superior Court. This includes civil cases, criminal cases, domestic matters, and real estate filings. The clerk office is in the Clarke County Courthouse on Washington Street in downtown Athens. You can visit during business hours to search records in person. Staff at the front counter can help you look up a case by name or case number.

For online searches, the GSCCCA portal at gsccca.org/search covers real property records, liens, and other filings in Clarke County. Some records go back several decades. The database is useful when you need to verify a deed, check for liens on a property, or look into past court filings. Under the Georgia Open Records Act, most court records are public and available to anyone who asks.

If you need a certified copy of a court document, call the clerk office first. Fees for certified copies run higher than plain copies. The clerk can tell you the exact cost and what forms of payment they take. Some offices accept cash only. Others take checks or cards. It is best to ask before you go so you have the right payment ready when you get there.

Athens Phone Directory and State Law

Georgia's Open Records Act applies to every government office in Athens-Clarke County. The law at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 says that public records belong to the people of Georgia. Government offices hold those records as custodians. They must make them available for inspection and copying unless a specific exemption applies. The exemptions are listed at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 and cover things like active criminal investigations, certain medical records, and personnel evaluations.

Athens is a consolidated government, which means a single entity holds records that would be split between city and county offices in other parts of the state. That can make things simpler. You call one number and deal with one system. But it also means the volume of requests is high, so response times can vary depending on the office and the complexity of your ask.

If an office in Athens denies your request, you have the right to challenge it in court. The law says the losing party may have to pay the other side's legal fees. This gives agencies a strong reason to follow the rules. Most requests in Athens are handled without any issues. Simple document requests often come back the same week.

Nearby Cities

Athens sits in the northeast part of Georgia. Several other cities in the region also have their own phone directory pages with contact numbers and public records information. If you need to reach an office outside Athens-Clarke County, try one of these nearby cities.