Chatham County Court Records: Find the Right Court and Official Search
Looking for a civil case, criminal docket, divorce order, small-claims filing, probate estate or traffic matter in Chatham County, Georgia? Start with the court that handled the case—not a general name-search result.
Which Chatham County Court Has Your Record?
The county does not use one court for every type of case. A name search in the wrong court may return nothing even though a case exists in another clerk’s records.
Felony, divorce and major civil matters
Begin with the Superior Court Clerk for felony criminal filings, divorce proceedings, domestic-relations cases and civil matters assigned to Superior Court. Real-estate recording is also a separate function of this clerk.
Superior Court Clerk ↗State Court civil and criminal records
The State Court Clerk maintains the court’s civil and criminal proceedings, including matters handled through its traffic-related administrative functions. Check the case’s assigned court before requesting copies.
State Court Clerk ↗Small claims, dispossessory and garnishment
Use Magistrate Court for appropriate civil claims, landlord-tenant dispossessory matters, garnishments and proceedings handled by the magistrate judges. The clerk provides civil and criminal docket assistance.
Magistrate Court Clerk ↗Estates, wills, guardianships and marriage records
Probate Court has its own records service. Its record room assists with estate, marriage and other probate documents, including certified or exemplified copies when available.
Probate Record Room ↗Traffic citations and local offenses
Check Recorder’s Court for matters assigned to that court, including relevant traffic cases. Its contact, ticket-payment and service routes are separate from Superior and State Court.
Recorder’s Court ↗Federal civil, criminal and bankruptcy cases
A case in the U.S. District Court or U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Georgia is not a Chatham County trial-court record. Use the federal PACER system instead.
Federal PACER Search ↗How to Search Chatham County Court Records in 7 Steps
Use this process when searching by name, case number or filing information. It avoids the most common problem: checking a portal that does not cover the court responsible for the case.
Identify the court
Determine whether the matter belongs to Superior, State, Magistrate, Probate, Recorder’s or federal court. Use the court finder above when you only know the case type.
Open the official source
Visit the Chatham County Court System or the appropriate clerk’s website. Follow its current case-lookup or record-access links rather than an unverified commercial directory.
Prepare search details
Have the case number if available. Otherwise, prepare the party’s legal name, possible name variations, approximate filing year and known case type. Avoid relying on a name alone to identify a person.
Search the correct portal
For supported civil and criminal proceedings, follow the official re:Search GA route. Probate records use the Probate Court’s linked search. Where the system requires registration or permission, complete the official account process.
Match the actual case
Compare the court, case number, filing date, case classification and party names. Similar names are common; one matching name does not establish identity.
Check the docket and documents
Read the available case entries and determine whether the specific pleading, order or disposition is viewable. An online docket entry does not guarantee the underlying document is available for download.
Request official copies if necessary
If you need a court-issued copy or the document is unavailable online, contact the clerk responsible for that case. Confirm the document, delivery method, fee and any certification requirements before paying.
Official online case-record access
The Chatham County court system links to re:Search GA for public access to supported case records and e-filed documents. The Superior Court Clerk also identifies re:Search as a route for civil and criminal records.
Open re:Search GA ↗A provider account or authorization may be required. Check the platform’s current document-viewing and purchase terms before ordering.
Chatham County Superior Court Records
The Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court is responsible for Superior Court records and also maintains real-estate records. Its civil and criminal divisions have separate instructions, and the clerk offers online and office-based document access.
Superior Court civil and family cases
For a divorce decree, civil judgment, family case order, name-change proceeding or other Superior Court civil record, begin with the Civil Division.
The clerk explains that re:Search GA users may register for access and purchase copies. Its published civil instructions indicate a $0.50 printing charge in the described online workflow. Final costs should be checked during the request because certification and delivery may be priced separately.
To request civil or family records by mail, use the clerk’s records request process and identify the case and requested documents. If seeking a final order, specify that you need the final signed order rather than only the docket history.
Superior Court criminal records
The Criminal Division handles filings and records requests relating to indicted criminal cases. It identifies re:Search GA as an online viewing route and provides in-person and mailed copy-request procedures.
For a criminal record request, include enough information for the clerk to locate the correct file, such as the case number, named defendant and document type. The division states that the cost is communicated after receiving a mailed request.
Transcripts and recorded proceedings
A hearing transcript is not the same as a docket sheet. The Superior Court Clerk maintains a separate criminal transcript request process. Its instructions describe an email confirmation and a response concerning estimated production and applicable costs.
Real-estate records are a different record category
Deeds, liens, plats and other recorded property instruments are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk’s Real Estate Division, but they are not necessarily court-case documents. A search for a lawsuit judgment should not be substituted with a property-record search.
Chatham County State Court Case Records
The State Court Clerk is the official repository for State Court documents, proceedings and related administrative records. The clerk’s published description includes civil and criminal proceedings and Traffic Violations Bureau functions.
If a case is identified as a State Court matter, use the court system’s official case-lookup link and confirm the docket belongs to State Court rather than Superior or Recorder’s Court.
State Court Clerk information
Office: 400 W. Oglethorpe Avenue, Suite 127, Savannah, GA 31401.
Telephone: (912) 652-7224.
Official page: State Court Clerk / Court Administrator.
For a civil judgment or final disposition, request the exact document needed. If the docket indicates a transfer or an appeal, identify the court where that later proceeding was filed.
State Court filing fees are published separately from copying or certified-record charges. Do not assume the price to initiate a lawsuit is the cost of retrieving an existing document.
Magistrate Court Records: Small Claims and Evictions
Chatham County Magistrate Court is an important starting point for small civil disputes, dispossessory proceedings, garnishments and other matters assigned to the court.
The Magistrate Court’s official e-filing resource page includes a tutorial on looking up existing cases in re:Search GA. That tutorial covers hearing dates, filed documents and printing records.
Searching a landlord-tenant or small-claims record
Use the parties’ names or case number when supported by the search system. Verify that the docket shows Magistrate Court and the relevant case type. If a landlord-tenant matter was followed by an appeal or other proceeding, a separate record may exist at another court level.
The Magistrate Court Clerk publishes docket and office contact information for records that require clarification.
Chatham County Probate Court Records
Chatham County Probate Court maintains a separate records and research process for estates, wills, guardianships, marriage documents and other probate matters. Its online case-access resources are linked from the county court system and official Probate Court pages.
The Probate Court Record Room is in Room 509 at 133 Montgomery Street, Savannah. Research requests may be made by mail or by appointment, subject to the court’s procedures.
Probate research and copy fees
| Service | Published Probate Court Fee |
|---|---|
| Assisted research | $10 research fee when applicable |
| Uncertified copies | $1 per page |
| Certified single-page copy | $10 |
| Certified multipage copy | $10 certification/process charge, plus $1 per page under the court’s stated schedule |
| Exemplified copy | $15 process charge plus $1 per page |
| Online marriage-certificate order | $18 plus the stated 5% convenience charge |
These figures come from the Probate Court’s published research and copy instructions. They should not be applied to Superior, State or Magistrate Court documents. Confirm the total before submitting payment.
Requesting estate documents
The Probate Court makes an estate research/copy request form available. Provide the estate name, estate number if known, the requested record and return information. Mailed requests require the applicable payment and supporting mailing materials described in the official instructions.
The Record Room states that mail payments must be made by money order or cashier’s check. Personal checks are not accepted for its research or copy services. For on-site requests, additional payment methods are available, and credit/debit card transactions carry the published convenience charge.
Requesting marriage documents
Chatham County provides online and mail-based processes for certified marriage documents. If a certified marriage certificate is required for an administrative or legal purpose, make sure the requested document matches the receiving institution’s requirements.
Official Probate information is available at Chatham County Probate Court.
Recorder’s Court Traffic and Local Case Records
Recorder’s Court handles matters assigned to that local court. Chatham County’s official court website separately identifies Recorder’s Court and provides ticket-payment access.
If you have a traffic citation, review the citation for the named court before searching. Do not automatically assume the ticket belongs in State Court.
Recorder’s Court contact
Phone: (912) 652-7425
Email: recorderscourt@savannahga.gov
Published office hours: 8:15 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; cashier windows 8:15 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Confirm operating days and holiday closures before visiting.
Payment confirmation and the official court disposition are different records. If you need evidence of the outcome of a case, ask the court for the appropriate record rather than relying only on a payment receipt.
How Much Do Chatham County Court Records Cost?
The amount depends on which court holds the record and whether you are searching, printing, ordering a certified copy, requesting research or paying to file a new proceeding.
| Record or service | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Online case search | Availability and account requirements depend on the official court/provider portal. |
| Superior Court civil copies | The clerk describes $0.50 printing in its online purchase process; its civil fee schedule also lists ordinary copy charges. |
| Superior Court certified copies | Electronic certification and clerk-assisted requests are available. Confirm document-specific pricing. |
| Probate uncertified copies | $1 per page under the published Probate Record Room schedule. |
| Probate assisted research | $10 where the court’s research charge applies. |
| State or Magistrate copies | Ask the appropriate clerk to confirm applicable copying and certification fees. |
| Federal PACER records | Federal fees and exemptions are governed by PACER’s current schedule, not Chatham County’s copy rules. |
What information should a copy request include?
- The correct court and case number, if known.
- The party names and approximate filing year.
- The exact document requested, such as a final judgment, divorce decree, docket sheet or order.
- Whether certification or exemplification is needed.
- Your contact and delivery information.
- The requested payment method and any required request form.
For Superior Court civil requests, start with the Civil Division. For criminal records use the Criminal Division. Probate has its own Record Room instructions.
Why a Chatham County Court Records Search May Show No Results
A missing online case does not establish that no case exists. First check whether the court or portal is correct. Then use the following recovery options.
| Problem | Practical next step |
|---|---|
| No match for a name | Check name spelling, alternate names and available date filters; try the case number if known. |
| Wrong court selected | Check Superior, State, Magistrate, Probate or Recorder’s Court according to the case type. |
| Recently submitted document missing | Check whether the clerk has accepted and processed the filing before assuming the portal is complete. |
| Docket visible but document unavailable | Check access permissions and ask the clerk whether a copy can be ordered. |
| Older case not online | Ask about physical files, archive storage or the Garden City Records Center. |
| Record restricted | Ask the court about lawful access procedures. Do not attempt to bypass sealing or confidentiality restrictions. |
| Case transferred or appealed | Use the transfer/appeal information to identify the receiving court and any separate case number. |
Older files and historical court records
The Superior Court Clerk identifies a Garden City Records Center at 4225 Augusta Road, Suite C, Garden City, GA 31408. It provides access to older criminal, civil and domestic records, as well as historical recorded materials.
The clerk states that an appointment is required to view older physical records. Verify appointment requirements and available collections through the official records information page before visiting.
The Superior Court Criminal Division also advises allowing time for retrieval when requested files are stored off-site.
Chatham County Court Clerk Offices and Addresses
Chatham County court offices operate in more than one building. Confirm your court and destination before traveling to downtown Savannah.
Superior Court Clerk
400 W. Oglethorpe AvenueSuite 178
Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: (912) 434-8920
Email: supctclk@chathamcounty.org
State Court Clerk
400 W. Oglethorpe AvenueSuite 127
Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: (912) 652-7224
Official State Court contact ↗Magistrate Court Clerk
Coleman Courthouse133 Montgomery Street
Room 303
Savannah, GA 31401
General information: (912) 652-7181
Official Magistrate contact ↗Probate Court Record Room
133 Montgomery StreetRoom 509
Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: (912) 652-7264, option 1 for records information.
Official Probate Record Room ↗Additional Superior Court Clerk locations
Southside Office: 1117 Eisenhower Drive, Suite A, Savannah, GA 31406. The clerk lists record-copy services and public-access computers at this location.
Garden City Records Center: 4225 Augusta Road, Suite C, Garden City, GA 31408. This location offers access to historical and older files, with appointments required for older physical records.
Public Access, Privacy and Record Limitations
Many court records are publicly accessible, but not every case document is available to every person online. Confidential records, sealed documents, certain juvenile matters and protected personal information may be restricted.
Online access is not the entire court file
A portal may contain case summaries or documents without reproducing all materials maintained by the court. Some filings may require clerk review, and some physical or older records may be available only through an office request.
Understand what a case entry proves
A civil complaint is not a judgment. A criminal charge is not a conviction. A hearing entry is not a final disposition. An identical party name is not enough to verify that the record belongs to a particular person.
Use the official judgment, order or certified record when you need reliable proof of what the court decided.
Protect personal information
A court filing can contain information about individuals and families. Avoid redistributing sensitive data unnecessarily. If a public filing appears to reveal information that should be protected, contact the responsible clerk about its official correction or redaction process.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chatham County Court Records
Can I search Chatham County GA court records by name?
Yes, supported court-record systems allow searches using available party information. Start with the correct court and its official lookup route. Some systems require registration. Verify any matching case using more than the person’s name.
Are Chatham County court records free to search?
Some official case information is publicly accessible, but provider registration, printing, copies, certification and clerk-assisted research may involve charges. Fees depend on the court and service.
Where can I get a Chatham County divorce decree?
For a divorce handled by Chatham County Superior Court, start with the Superior Court Clerk’s Civil Division. Request the final decree or order and specify whether you need a certified copy.
How do I find a Chatham County criminal case?
Identify the court where the criminal case is or was pending. Superior Court’s Criminal Division provides a re:Search GA route and records-request instructions. State and Recorder’s Court matters should be checked separately.
Can I find Chatham County eviction records online?
Many dispossessory matters are handled through Magistrate Court. Check the official Magistrate Court lookup resources and verify the case’s status. A filing alone does not prove that an eviction occurred.
How do I obtain a certified Chatham County court record?
Contact the clerk maintaining the record. Superior Court offers electronic certification and records-request services. Probate Court has its own certification fees and procedures. State whether the receiving organization requires certification or exemplification.
What if an old Chatham County case does not appear online?
Contact the relevant clerk about archived and physical files. For older Superior Court materials, ask about the Garden City Records Center and its appointment requirements.
Are Chatham County probate and marriage records searched through Superior Court?
No. Probate Court maintains its own records process, including estate research, marriage-document requests and its Record Room. Use the Probate Court’s official resources.
Does Chatham County’s search include federal bankruptcy cases?
No. Federal bankruptcy records belong to the federal court system. Use PACER and the appropriate U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Georgia.
Official Sources and Verification
The following government and official court-provider resources support the record-search routes, copy procedures, fees and contact information described above. Court procedures and charges can change, so confirm critical details with the responsible office before a visit or payment.
- Chatham County Court System — court directory, case access and e-services.
- Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court — civil, criminal, real estate and certified-record services.
- Superior Court Civil Division — online, mail and office copy requests.
- Superior Court Criminal Division — criminal records and off-site file requests.
- State Court Clerk — official office and court-record responsibilities.
- Magistrate Court Search and E-Filing Resources — lookup instructions and tutorials.
- Probate Court Record Room — records, copies, fees and appointments.
- Recorder’s Court — traffic and Recorder’s Court assistance.
- Georgia Judicial Branch E-Access — statewide participating-court access guidance.
- PACER — official federal court electronic records.