- Arrest Records
- Judgments
- Bankruptcies
- DUIs & DWIs
- Felonies
- Warrants
- Jail Records
- Lien Records
- Sex Offenses
- Misdemeanors
- Criminal Records
- Federal Dockets
What are Georgia Court Records?
Georgia is home to over 11.1 million residents, making it the eighth most populous state in the country. The state court system comprises two appellate courts, seven trial courts, and a business court. The court system handles a substantial volume of cases yearly, including various civil and criminal cases.
Information about every court case handled in the state is maintained as court records by the court that handled the case. Court records include all documents submitted to or generated by a court during a proceeding. Common court records in Georgia include:
Docket Sheets
Dockets are chronological records listing the events, actions, documents, and parties involved in a case.
Judgment and Orders
These are official decisions made by the judge and jury. When the trial ends, the judge signs the final judgment. This judgment shows each party's punishments and responsibilities.
Transcripts
Transcripts are verbatim records of court proceedings that include the names of the speakers. They are used as evidence in motions and appeals.
Evidence
This includes physical and document-based materials recorded from police reports and introduced by any parties during legal proceedings.
Court Minutes
These are official records of courtroom proceedings from the beginning to the end of a trial. They include a summary of events such as recesses, testimonies, and official statements.
Pleadings
These are records of statements made by each party in a case describing the party's request to the court.
These details help explain court decisions and hold the justice system accountable through public records.
Types of Court Cases
Court cases in Georgia are broadly divided into civil and criminal cases. While both instances primarily involve determining who's at fault, they differ in method, procedures, burden of proof, and punishments.
Civil Cases
Civil cases seek to resolve non-criminal disputes between individuals and/or organizations. A civil case is initiated when an individual or organization (plaintiff) files a complaint against another (defendant) for different reasons, ranging from contract disputes to property issues and personal injury claims.
The complaint must detail the foundation of the plaintiff's claim against the defendant, provide the defendant's address, and cite the applicable state law about the claim. Once the complaint is filed and formally served, the defendant must submit a response.
Under the Georgia Rules of Magistrate Court, the parties involved in a civil matter are encouraged to meet in person to explore the possibility of settling the dispute amicably, thereby avoiding a trial. Should a settlement not be achieved, the case will advance to trial. Decisions in civil cases are primarily based on the standard of proof known as the "preponderance of evidence." This standard requires that a party establish that their interpretation of the facts is more likely accurate than not.
Criminal Cases
A criminal case is an action brought against an individual by a government representative for committing a crime.
These cases do not seek to resolve a dispute between individuals but to uphold the law and ensure justice. Criminal cases often result in much harsher punishments. A guilty verdict may lead to imprisonment or even the death penalty.
Before a jury decides on a criminal matter, the state representative who brought the action against the defendant must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime. This means a jury must unanimously decide that the individual committed the crime.
What Are the Different Courts in Georgia?
Georgia's court system has two appellate courts and a layered set of trial courts, and the Judicial Council of Georgia, which sets policy for the courts, received about $26.6 million in state appropriations for fiscal year 2026. Superior Courts hear the most serious cases, while state, magistrate, probate, juvenile and municipal courts handle limited matters.
| Court Level | Court Name | Jurisdiction | Key Functions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appellate | Supreme Court of Georgia | Statewide; nine justices | Decides constitutional questions, death penalty cases and petitions from the Court of Appeals |
| Appellate | Court of Appeals of Georgia | Statewide; 15 judges in three-judge panels | Reviews civil and criminal trial court decisions for legal error |
| General Jurisdiction | Superior Courts | One in each of Georgia's 159 counties | Hear all felonies, divorce and equity cases, and correct errors of lower courts |
| General Jurisdiction | State-wide Business Court | Statewide | Decides complex business and commercial disputes that meet statutory thresholds |
| Limited Jurisdiction | State Courts | 72 county-based courts | Hear misdemeanors, traffic cases and civil matters not reserved for Superior Courts |
| Limited Jurisdiction | Magistrate Courts | One per county | Handle minor civil claims, landlord-tenant disputes, warrants and preliminary hearings |
| Limited Jurisdiction | Probate Courts | One per county | Handle wills, estates, guardianships and, in some counties, traffic and minor offenses |
| Limited Jurisdiction | Juvenile Courts | County and multi-county courts | Hear delinquency, deprivation and other cases involving people under 18 |
| Limited Jurisdiction | Municipal Courts | Cities and towns | Hear traffic offenses, local ordinance violations and minor misdemeanors |
How Many Federal Courts Are in Georgia?
In Georgia, there are three federal district courts, including the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia.
At present, there are 18 sitting federal district court judges within the state, each nominated by the President of the United States and subsequently confirmed by the United States Senate. Federal courts possess jurisdiction over cases that involve challenges to federal law, disputes between parties from different states, and matters of bankruptcy. Decisions rendered in these courts are subject to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.
How Many Court Cases Are Filed Each Year in Georgia?
Georgia's state, superior, magistrate, probate and juvenile courts received about 2,240,000 filings in calendar year 2025, not counting municipal courts. Court totals are reported, the case-type splits for superior and magistrate courts are estimated, and clearance rates are estimated at about 100%.
| Case Type | Annual Filings | % of Total | Common Offense/Subtype | Clearance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic | 486,276 | 21.7% | Traffic offenses, DUI and serious traffic cases in State Courts | ~100% |
| Criminal | ~403,517 | ~18.0% | Misdemeanors, probation revocations and felonies in State and Superior Courts, plus magistrate criminal matters | ~99% |
| Civil | ~505,153 | ~22.6% | General civil cases in State and Superior Courts plus landlord-tenant and dispossessory cases | ~101% |
| Small Claims | ~347,600 | ~15.5% | Civil claims up to $15,000 in Magistrate Courts | ~100% |
| Domestic Relations | ~120,881 | ~5.4% | Divorce, custody and support cases in Superior Courts | ~100% |
| Juvenile | 49,381 | 2.2% | Delinquency, dependency and status offense cases | ~100% |
| Other | 326,784 | 14.6% | Probate matters such as wills, estates and guardianships | ~100% |
| Total | ~2,239,592 | 100% | — | ~100% |
How Do I Look Up Court Cases in Georgia?
In Georgia, court records are managed by the court that handled the case. You may visit the court that handled the case in person to access court records. Note that fees may be incurred to obtain a copy of the official court records and transcripts.
In Georgia, most court records are also available online. Anyone seeking remote access may use the statewide E-access portal. This portal is a repository of court records maintained by courts in different counties. Once an individual visits the portal, they can find records by clicking on the exact court location on the portal. This will redirect users to the official website of the exact court that handled the case record they seek. Users may need to register to search court records on the portal.
Number of Active Judges — State & Federal
Georgia has nine Supreme Court justices, 15 Court of Appeals judges, judges in five classes of trial courts, and 17 active federal district judges. Trial court counts include full-time and part-time judges, and municipal court judges are not included.
| Court | Jurisdiction | Active Judges | Selection Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supreme Court of Georgia | Statewide appeals | 9 | Elected in nonpartisan statewide elections to six-year terms |
| Court of Appeals of Georgia | Intermediate appeals | 15 | Elected in nonpartisan statewide elections to six-year terms |
| Superior Courts | Felonies, divorce, equity and major civil cases in 159 counties | 230 | Elected in nonpartisan circuit elections to four-year terms |
| State Courts | Misdemeanors, traffic and civil cases in 72 counties | 141 | Elected in nonpartisan county elections to four-year terms |
| Juvenile Courts | Delinquency and deprivation cases | 152 | Appointed by superior court judges, or elected in some counties, to four-year terms |
| Probate Courts | Wills, estates, guardianships and licenses in 159 counties | 206 | Elected in partisan county elections to four-year terms |
| Magistrate Courts | Small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, warrants and preliminary hearings | 528 | Chief magistrates elected in partisan elections to four-year terms; other magistrates appointed |
| U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia | Federal civil and criminal cases | 10 | Nominated by the President; confirmed by the Senate; life tenure |
| U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia | Federal civil and criminal cases | 4 | Nominated by the President; confirmed by the Senate; life tenure |
| U.S. District Court, Southern District of Georgia | Federal civil and criminal cases | 3 | Nominated by the President; confirmed by the Senate; life tenure |
| Total Active Judges | — | 1,298 | — |
What Court Records Are Not Available to the Public in Georgia?
Per the state's Open Records Act, most court records are public information, meaning anyone can request access to these records. However, there are limits on the type of court records that may be publicly accessible. As such, certain records are considered confidential and exempt from public disclosure. Some of these records include:
- Records of juvenile cases
- Records sealed by state statute
- Victims confidential information
- Medical records
- Trade or business secrets
- Records containing a pending investigation
Average Case Processing Time & Clearance Rates
Processing times in Georgia vary by court and case type: magistrate and traffic cases usually resolve in weeks, while contested superior court civil and felony cases take a year or more. Durations and clearance rates are estimates of typical handling.
| Case Type | Court Level | Average Processing Time | Description | Clearance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic & Parking | Limited Jurisdiction | ~30–60 days | Most citations are resolved by a guilty plea and fine or a short hearing in State, municipal or probate courts | ~100% |
| Small Claims | Limited Jurisdiction | ~1–3 months | Magistrate courts hear claims up to $15,000 within weeks of service; many end by default or settlement | ~100% |
| Misdemeanor Criminal | Limited Jurisdiction | ~3–6 months | State Court misdemeanors usually end in a plea or diversion; contested cases go to jury trial | ~99% |
| Civil Cases | General Jurisdiction | ~12–18 months | Superior and State Court civil cases move through a discovery period, then settle or are tried; dispossessory cases are much faster | ~101% |
| Domestic Relations | General Jurisdiction | ~6–12 months | Divorces require a waiting period after service and are decided on settlement or trial; contested custody cases take longer | ~100% |
| Felony Criminal | General Jurisdiction | ~9–15 months | Cases move through indictment, discovery and plea negotiations in superior court, and most end in a guilty plea | ~99% |