Stephens County GA

Lookup Public Records in Stephens County, Georgia. Including Vital Birth and Death Records, Deeds, Probate, Property Records, Mortgages, Liens, Judgments, Marriage Licenses, Voter Registrar, Payroll, Military Discharges.

Stephens County, Georgia Overview

Stephens County is located in the state of Georgia. The county was formed in August 18, 1905 and named after Alexander Stephens. The county seat is Toccoa. As of 2010, the county has a population of 26,175. The county has a total area of 184 square miles, 179 square miles of which is land, and 5.1 square miles is water. The county consists of 4 ZIP codes, with ZIP code 30577 recorded as the one with the largest population. Stephens County borders the following counties: Oconee County, South Carolina to the north; Franklin County, Georgia to the south; Habersham County, Georgia to the west, and; Banks County, Georgia to the southwest.

Stephens County Clerk Information

County Clerk, Beth Rider provides administrative support to the Board of Commissioners and serves as part of the county’s administrative team. She works with the County Administrator/Finance Director to coordinate county administrative issues. She assists the Commissioners in administering day-to-day operations. The Board of Commissioners appointed Ms. Rider as the Open Records Officer and as Legislative Coordinator for Stephens County. Mrs. Rider is a native of Stephens County and a graduate of Stephens County High School and North Georgia Technical College. Ms. Rider is a Certified County Clerk; a member of the Georgia Clerk’s Association and the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, and has completed the ACCG County Commissioners Certification. Mrs. Rider has completed the Georgia Academy Regional Economic & Leadership Development Program; serves as an Ambassador for the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce; and is a 2012 graduate of the Toccoa-Stephens County Leadership Class.

Stephens County Clerk

Under the Georgia Open Records Act, all public records are available for inspection and copying unless they are specifically exempted from disclosure under the law. If a government agency or custodian of public records withholds a public document from production under an Open Records Request, they must cite to the provision of Georgia law that exempts the record from being produced.

A request to inspect or copy records may be made either orally or in writing. For purposes of documenting and clarifying the scope and timing of the request, it is a better practice to make the request in writing using the downloadable form below.

This form is not required to request routinely available records such as agendas, minutes, plats, ordinances, and resolutions. Although Open Records Requests are not required to be submitted in writing, use of this form will aid considerably in ensuring that each request is fulfilled as accurately as possible.

Stephens Open Records Request

Below is the physical address of the County Clerk:

Beth Rider, County Clerk
37 W. Tugalo St.
Toccoa GA 30577
Phone: 706-886-9491 Ext. 302
Fax: 706-886-2185

Stephens Clerk of Superior Court Information

Tim Quick is Clerk of Superior Court. The office of the Clerk of Superior Court was established by the first Constitution of the State of Georgia in 1778 as one of the four constitutional officers in each county. The other constitutional officers are the sheriff, the tax commissioner and the probate judge.

The Clerk is an elected position in each county, providing personal service directly to the public on a daily basis either personally or through his deputy clerks. The duties of the office are spelled out in the Official Code of Georgia in literally hundreds of statutes created by the state legislature. In addition, the clerk has an obligation to follow the court rules for each court served.

Essentially, the Clerk runs the business arm of the local court system and answers first and foremost to the public, ensuring the public’s interests and convenience come first. He provides some of the most important checks-and-balances within county government and the judicial system. He is an impartial, independent county officer and is not an employee or appointee of any county or state commission or the judiciary.

Stephens Clerk of Superior Court

Below is the physical address of the Clerk of Superior Court:

Tim Quick, Clerk of Superior Court
70 N. Alexander St. Suite 202
Toccoa, GA 30577
Phone: 706-886-3598
Fax: 706-886-5710
Email: [email protected]

Stephens Tax Assessor Information

The Board of Tax Assessors (BTA), which was created by the Georgia General Assembly, is appointed by the Board of County Commissioners for staggered four year terms, have specific responsibilities, and employ the Chief Appraiser who is responsible for the operation and functioning of the county property appraisal staff as per the Official Coda of Georgia (OCGA) 48-5-290, 264, and 299. The Chief Appraiser, along with their staff, determines all property values in the county for tax purposes, maintains county tax records and maps, compiles building costs, prepares annual assessments, adheres to policies set forth by the Georgia Department of Revenue, assists the Board of Tax Assessors and the Board of Equalization.

Stephens Tax Assessor

Below is the physical address of the Tax Assessor:

Christen Collier
Stephens County Tax Assessors Office
70 N. Alexander St. Suite 101 Toccoa, GA 30577
P.O. Box 189
Toccoa, GA 30577
Phone: 706-886-7435
Fax: 706-886-0574