Chatham County Court Records

Court records in Chatham County, Georgia are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. ChathamCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Chatham County. You can also search records through the Chatham County Court System website, the Clerk of Superior Court's office, and statewide portals such as Georgia Courts E-Access.

Chatham Court System Overview

Chatham County is part of Georgia's Eastern Judicial Circuit, which serves Chatham County exclusively. The county seat is Savannah, and the courthouse complex is located in downtown Savannah. Georgia's court system is unified under the Judicial Council, with trial-level courts including the Superior Court, State Court, Magistrate Court, Probate Court, and Juvenile Court. The Superior Court has general jurisdiction over all cases, while the State Court handles misdemeanors and certain civil matters. The Magistrate Court processes minor civil disputes, county ordinance violations, and preliminary hearings. The Clerk of Superior Court, currently Tammie Mosley, serves as the official keeper of court records.

Courts Serving Chatham

What Types of Cases Chatham Courts Hear

Chatham County courts handle a wide range of case types across multiple divisions:

• Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, traffic violations, DUI
• Civil: General civil litigation, contract disputes, personal injury, small claims
• Family law: Divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, protective orders
• Probate: Decedent estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships
• Juvenile: Delinquency, deprivation (child protective), truancy, adoption
• Traffic and ordinance violations: Handled by Magistrate Court, State Court, or municipal courts

Each court level has specific jurisdictional boundaries. The sections below explain which court handles which matters.

District Court Cases in Chatham

In Georgia, the Superior Court functions as the court of general jurisdiction — equivalent to a district court in many other states. In Chatham County, the Superior Court of the Eastern Judicial Circuit hears all felony criminal cases, civil cases without a dollar limit, equity cases, divorce and domestic relations matters, and appeals from lower courts. Felony cases typically arrive at Superior Court after indictment by a grand jury or, in some instances, after a preliminary hearing in Magistrate Court. Cases are assigned to judges of the Eastern Judicial Circuit. The Criminal Division maintains official records for all criminal matters addressed in the court.

Magistrate Court Cases in Chatham

Chatham County Magistrate Court handles a variety of matters at the entry level of the court system:

• Civil claims up to $15,000 (the current jurisdictional limit under Georgia law)
• Small claims — generally disputes under $15,000 with simplified procedures
• County ordinance violations
• Preliminary hearings in felony cases
• Arrest and search warrants
• Landlord-tenant disputes, including dispossessory proceedings
• Bad check hearings

Magistrate Court does not conduct jury trials. If a party requests a jury trial in a civil case, the matter is transferred to State Court or Superior Court. Traffic violations within unincorporated Chatham County may also be heard in Magistrate Court, while violations within Savannah city limits are typically handled by the Savannah Municipal Court.

Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Chatham

Family Law

Divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and civil protection order cases are heard in Chatham County Superior Court. Temporary protective orders may be issued through Magistrate Court or Superior Court depending on the circumstances. All domestic relations filings go through the Clerk of Superior Court.

Probate

The Chatham County Probate Court handles decedent estates, wills, guardianships of minors and incapacitated adults, conservatorships, and involuntary commitment hearings. The Probate Court also issues marriage licenses and certified copies of birth and death certificates for events that occurred in Georgia. You can search Probate Court records online through the court system's website.

Juvenile

Chatham County Juvenile Court addresses delinquency cases, deprivation (child protective) proceedings, truancy, and certain adoption matters. Juvenile records are confidential under Georgia law and are not available through public search tools. Contact the Juvenile Court directly for information about specific proceedings.

How Cases Move Through the Chatham Court System

1. Filing / Initiation: Criminal cases begin with an arrest, citation, or grand jury indictment. Civil cases start when a plaintiff files a complaint with the clerk. Family and probate matters are initiated by petition.
2. Assignment: Cases are assigned to a judge within the appropriate court division. In Superior Court, cases are distributed among the judges of the Eastern Judicial Circuit.
3. Initial Hearings: Criminal defendants appear for arraignment. Civil parties attend a scheduling conference or case management hearing.
4. Pre-trial Phase: This includes motions, discovery, plea negotiations in criminal cases, and mediation or settlement conferences in civil cases.
5. Trial or Resolution: Cases resolve by plea, jury or bench trial verdict, settlement, default judgment, or dismissal.
6. Post-Judgment: Criminal cases may proceed to sentencing and appeals. Civil judgments may involve enforcement actions, liens, or appellate review.

Appeals from Magistrate Court and State Court generally go to Superior Court. Appeals from Superior Court go to the Georgia Court of Appeals or, in certain cases, the Georgia Supreme Court.

Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Chatham

The courts of the Eastern Judicial Circuit are administered by the judges of the circuit, with day-to-day operations supported by a trial court administrator. The Chatham County Court System website provides information about court operations, local rules, and judicial orders.

Public Access to Records

Under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.), most court records are generally open to the public. The Clerk of Superior Court's office makes documents available electronically — all documents recorded and filed are scanned and can be accessed through the clerk's website. Public access to view cases and eFiled documents is also available per O.C.G.A. §§ 15-6-11 and 15-7-5. Certain records — including juvenile proceedings, adoption files, and sealed cases — are restricted.

Attending Hearings

Most hearings in Chatham County courts are open to the public. Some proceedings may be conducted remotely by video or telephone. Check the court system website or contact the clerk's office for current hearing procedures.

Open Records Requests

For police and law enforcement records, the Chatham County Police Department Records Unit handles requests under the Georgia Open Records Act. You can submit a records request online. For City of Savannah records, see the Savannah Open Records Information page.

Court Records and Related Court Resources in Chatham

• Court case search (re:Search): The Chatham County Court System offers the re:Search tool for public access to case information and eFiled documents.
• Statewide court records: Georgia Courts E-Access allows you to search court records across participating Georgia courts.
• Clerk of Superior Court: The Clerk's office maintains civil, criminal, and real estate records. All recorded documents are scanned and available electronically.
• Real estate records: Deeds, liens, plats, and related documents are available through the Superior Court Clerk's real estate section.
• Criminal history and background checks: The Criminal History & Fingerprint Unit at the Chatham County Sheriff's Office processes GCIC background checks.
• Jail bookings: The Chatham County Sheriff's Office publishes recent booking information online.
• Vital records: Georgia birth and death certificates can be ordered through the state's ROVER system. Marriage licenses are issued by the Chatham County Probate Court.
• Property records: The Chatham County Board of Assessors handles property valuations, and the Tax Commissioner's office provides online property tax tools.
• Maps and property search: SAGIS provides mapping and property search tools for the greater Savannah–Chatham County area.
• Georgia Courts portal: The Georgia Courts website offers access to statewide court services, forms, and resources for both citizens and court professionals.