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Clayton County Court Records

Clayton County court records are a permanent record of all judicial proceedings that occurred in the county. They are necessary for judicial accountability, the preservation of judicial decisions, and also for historical research. At the trial level, the Chatham County Superior Court is the court of general jurisdiction with authority over most cases in the county.

Court records are created when a case is filed and are updated throughout the case until closure. These records are also closely related to other public records (e.g., birth records, death records, arrest records, and federal case files), even though distinct in purpose. Together, these public records give a holistic insight into government operations in the county.

Are Clayton County Court Records Public?

Yes. Court records in Clayton County and throughout Georgia are public, but not under the Georgia Open Records Act. Court record access is governed by judicial rules, precisely, the Georgia Superior Court Uniform Rules, Rule 21. The rule states that all court records in the state are open to public inspection, except those that the law limits. Members of the public may encounter this limitation when attempting to inspect court records involving juveniles, sealed filings, adoption records, and investigative records.

What Information is Available in Clayton County Court Records?

The contents of a court record are defined by the type of case the record covers. Information found in a criminal case may be absent from the files of a civil or probate case. However, the following fundamental details are usually found in court records, regardless of the type of case.

  • The names of the parties involved, including their attorneys
  • Case information, such as the case number, the court handling the case, the case status, and the filing date
  • Case activities and events
  • Documents submitted to the court
  • Court orders and judgments

Clayton County Court Records Search

Individuals may search and access Clayton court records through any of the following means.

Online Access

Online access to Clayton County court records is primarily provided by these three portals:

  • The Court Case Inquiry portal: This portal provides access to civil and criminal cases in the county and can be searched by name or case number. Information on adoptions, probate cases, Juvenile Court proceedings, and protective orders is not accessible through the portal.
  • The Estate Records portal: Individuals can search for probate court records on this portal. Records can be searched by name or filing date. Plain and certified copies of a record can be obtained from the portal for a fee.
  • The eCertification portal: This portal allows users to request physical copies of regular and certified court records from the Clerk of Superior Court without visiting the office’s physical location. Requesters must register an account to use the service.

In-Person Access

Individuals can obtain a court record in person by visiting the courthouse where the case was handled. For Superior, State, and Magistrate Court records, individuals may visit the Harold R. Banke Justice Center. Probate Court records may be accessed at the Annex 3 Building, and Juvenile Court records at the Clayton County Youth Development & Justice Center. Public terminals are also available for use at the Library Headquarters during operational hours; these computers provide access to the status and docket information of civil and criminal cases commenced in the county.

Mail and Phone Requests

Mail requests are another common way of requesting court records for individuals who may not be able to visit the court. To request a record by mail, requesters will need to put a request in writing, sufficiently describing the record being sought, and mail it to the appropriate office. It is advised to include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the record can be returned. If unsure of search procedures, inquirers may phone the custodian’s office; however, case information may not be disclosed over the phone.

Fees for Court Records in Clayton County

In-person and mail methods for obtaining court records in Clayton County usually require a fee. The court records fee schedule in the county is as follows.

The Clerk of Court’s Office

  • Assisted regular copies (to be mailed): $1 per page
  • Unassisted regular copies (in-person request): 50 cents per page
  • Computer printouts: $2.50 per page
  • Certified and exemplified copies: $2.50 for the first page and 50 cents for each extra page

The Estate Records Portal

  • Regular copies: $1 per page
  • Certified copies: $10 in addition to the per-page fee
  • Exemplified copies: $15 plus the per-page fee
  • Mailing costs: $2 in addition to postage costs (can be avoided by including a self-addressed stamped envelope)

Clayton County Courthouse Locations

The Clayton County court system consists of the Superior Court, the State Court, the Magistrate Court, the Probate Court, the Juvenile Court, and several Municipal Courts. The courthouse addresses are below.

Harold R. Banke Justice Center

9151 Tara Boulevard

Jonesboro, GA 30236

Magistrate Phone: (770) 477-3443

State Court Phone: (678) 479-5521

Superior Court Phone: (770) 477-4565

Youth Development and Justice Center

9163 Tara Boulevard

Jonesboro, GA 30236

Phone: (770) 477-3270

Annex Building 3

121 South McDonough Street

Jonesboro, GA 30236

Phone: (770) 477-3299

Forest Park Municipal Court

320 Cash Memorial Boulevard

Forest Park, GA 30297

Phone: (404) 366-4720

Jonesboro Municipal Court

1859 City Center Way

Jonesboro, GA 30236

Phone: (770) 478-7407

City of Lovejoy Municipal Court

2296 Talmadge Road

Lovejoy, GA 30250

Phone: (678) 610-9748

City of Morrow Municipal Court

1500 Morrow Road

Morrow, GA 30260

Phone: (770) 961-4002

Fax: (678) 422-5031

Lake City Municipal Court

5455 Jonesboro Road

Lake City, GA 30260

Phone: (404) 366-8037

Criminal Records Access in Clayton County

Criminal records in Clayton County are categorized as court-specific records or criminal history reports. Court case records track specific prosecution details for a case filed in court, while criminal history reports are comprehensive records of arrests and convictions statewide.

Court record access is furnished by the Superior Court, State Court, Magistrate Court, and Municipal Courts. Individuals may access a record by visiting the relevant clerk’s office or by searching for it through the Court Case Inquiry Portal.

Individuals can visit the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office to obtain criminal history record information. A name search or a fingerprint-based search can be performed depending on the requester’s needs.

Clayton County Probate Records

Clayton County probate records are documents that detail how a decedent’s estate was managed. Probate records in the county cover guardianships, conservatorships, estate administration, involuntary hospitalization of incapacitated persons, and the determination of heirship. The Clayton County Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction over these matters and also issues marriage licenses within the county.

Probate records in Clayton County are subject to the Georgia Superior Court Uniform Rules and are generally public with certain exceptions. Exceptions to public access include wills filed for safekeeping, mental health records, and guardianship and conservatorship records.

Individuals can request a Clayton County probate record in person at the Probate Clerk’s Office. Obtaining a copy might cost a fee. Requests made in written form can also be mailed to the office. Alternatively, researchers may use the Estate Records Portal to look up probate records online.

Clayton County Family Court Records

Clayton County family court records center around cases involving family issues, such as divorce, adoption, child support, spousal support, paternity, and alimony. The general presumption of public access to court records also applies to family court records; however, some domestic-related records remain confidential.

Family cases are under the purview of the Superior Court, although the Juvenile and Probate Court also handles certain family-related cases. Interested persons may visit the Superior Court Clerk’s Office, the Juvenile Court, or the Probate Court to inspect or obtain a copy of a family court record, depending on which court handled the case. Family court records may also be found online using the Clayton County Court Case Inquiry Portal.

Federal Court Records in Clayton County

Federal cases originating in Clayton County fall under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The court serves Clayton County through its Atlanta Division.

Federal cases primarily involve matters beyond the jurisdiction of counties or states. Individuals can obtain a federal court record from the courthouse where the case was handled; however, there is no federal courthouse located in the county. Therefore, county residents can use the federal Case Locator (PACER) to search and find these records online. Users will need to register for an account and may pay fees to access federal case information.

Clayton County Court