Choose the Right Gwinnett Court Portal Before You Search a Name
Gwinnett County does not use one search screen for every court. Superior, State, Magistrate and Probate estate cases use the Gwinnett Courts Portal; purchasable documents for Superior, State and Magistrate cases may appear in re:SearchGA; traffic and county-code cases use a separate Recorder’s Court portal.
This guide helps you select the correct court, enter a party name in the format the portal expects, narrow duplicate results, confirm that the case belongs to the correct person, find a court date, and request a plain or certified document from the proper clerk.
Use the Portal That Matches the Record
The official Gwinnett case-search page presents three different routes. Choosing correctly is more important than entering more search terms.
Use this portal to search case information for Superior Court, State Court, Magistrate Court and Probate Court estate cases.
- Free account registration is required
- Use Smart Search for parties or case numbers
- Use Search Hearings for scheduled hearings
Use re:SearchGA when you need available court documents from Superior, State or Magistrate cases, not just the public docket.
- An account is required
- Document charges vary by clerk and page
- Review the displayed cost before purchasing
Use this separate portal for citations issued by Gwinnett County Police, the Sheriff, Georgia DDS, Georgia DOT and county code-enforcement departments.
- Search by name, case number or citation number
- At least two characters are required in name fields
- Traffic payments use a separate payment service
Which Gwinnett County Court Has the Case?
The same person can have cases in more than one Gwinnett court. Search by subject first, then confirm the court shown in the result.
Common records include felony criminal cases, divorce, custody, adoptions, appeals, garnishments and matters involving title to real property.
Common records include civil lawsuits, misdemeanor criminal matters and State Court trials or hearings.
Handles civil claims up to $15,000, landlord-tenant dispossessory actions, garnishments, warrants and preliminary criminal proceedings.
Handles wills, decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, marriage licenses and weapons-carry licensing.
Handles dependency, unruly and delinquency matters. Access is often restricted because juvenile records may be confidential.
Handles DUI and traffic citations routed to the county, plus Gwinnett County ordinance violations.
How to Search Gwinnett County Court Records by Name
The Gwinnett portal works best when the name is entered in the format expected by Smart Search. Begin broadly, then narrow by court and case type.
- Open the Gwinnett Courts Portal and sign in. The county portal requires users to register for a free account before searching.
- Choose Smart Search. Use Smart Search to locate a court case or a person connected with a court case.
-
Enter the party name as Last, First.
For example, enter
Smith, John. The county’s search guidance recommends including a space after the comma. - Start without unnecessary filters. Search the name first. Add a court location or search type only after seeing the initial results.
- Try known name variations. Search a former surname, middle initial, business-name variation or alternate spelling when the exact name returns nothing.
- Use an asterisk for a partial search. The county’s portal tips allow wildcard searching with an asterisk at the end of an incomplete name or case number.
- Filter by Location. Narrow the results to Superior, State, Magistrate or Probate when you know the correct court.
- Open the case and verify the details. Check the case number, court, party role, filing date, case status and docket before relying on the result.
Three searches that catch common name variations
Search Last, First with the correct spelling and punctuation.
Remove the middle name, suffix or business ending if the first search is too narrow.
Use at least one first-name letter and three last-name letters followed by *.
Smi* may return Smith, Smithson and other matching names. Use the court-location filter to reduce unrelated results.
Gwinnett Portal Search Tips That Save Time
| What you have | What to enter | Best search tool |
|---|---|---|
| Person’s name | Enter the party as Last, First. | Smart Search |
| Partial name | Use at least one first-name letter and three last-name letters followed by an asterisk. | Smart Search with wildcard |
| Case number | Enter the number with or without hyphens. | Smart Search |
| Partial case number | Use at least four case-number characters followed by an asterisk. | Smart Search with wildcard |
| Known court | Use Filter by Location to choose Superior, State, Magistrate or Probate. | Advanced filtering |
| Hearing information | Enter the case number, party or other available hearing detail. | Search Hearings |
Confirm That the Gwinnett Result Is the Correct Case
A case title is not enough. Use the details inside the record to rule out a same-name person and understand what actually happened.
Confirm whether the result is Superior, State, Magistrate, Probate or Recorder’s Court.
Check whether the person is the plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent or another party.
Compare the filing year with the dispute, arrest, citation, divorce or estate event.
Match the full number to a notice, citation, order, attorney letter or previous document.
Read later entries, amendments, dismissals and orders rather than relying on the first filing.
A charge or complaint is not a conviction or judgment. Look for the final outcome.
Use the site’s plain-English court records glossary when a docket term such as disposition, judgment, motion, continuance or nolle prosequi is unclear.
How to Find a Gwinnett County Court Date
- Read the official notice first. A summons, arraignment notice, citation or hearing notice should identify the court, building, date and time.
- Use Search Hearings in the Gwinnett Courts Portal. Search the case number or party and filter by the appropriate court.
- Use the Recorder’s Court portal for county traffic cases. Recorder’s Court citation information can also be requested by calling 1-877-794-0988.
- Confirm the date with the clerk when it affects an appearance. Online calendars can change and are not official until transmitted to the parties.
Find the Docket First, Then Look for the Document
The Gwinnett Courts Portal is primarily the case-information route. re:SearchGA is the better next step when you need an available filed document.
| Your goal | Best starting point | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Find whether a case exists | Gwinnett Courts Portal | Free registration is required. |
| Read the docket or case events | Gwinnett Courts Portal | The docket is not the complete text of every filing. |
| Open an available document | re:SearchGA | Account and document charges may apply. |
| Obtain a certified record | Clerk of the record-holding court | An online PDF is not automatically certified. |
| Find a Recorder’s Court citation | Recorder’s Court public portal | This portal is separate from Superior, State and Magistrate records. |
| Find a juvenile record | Juvenile Court Clerk | Many juvenile records are confidential or restricted. |
How to Get a Plain or Certified Gwinnett Court Copy
Choose the copy type based on how the document will be used. A downloaded docket is useful for research, but a government agency, bank, licensing office or another court may require certification.
Prepare this information before contacting the clerk
- Complete case number
- Court name: Superior, State, Magistrate, Probate, Juvenile or Recorder’s
- Names of the parties
- Exact document title or docket date
- Number of copies required
- Whether the copy must be plain or certified
- Your email, mailing address and telephone number
| Record type | Who to contact | Useful route |
|---|---|---|
| Superior, State or Magistrate case document | Gwinnett Clerk of Court | Search re:SearchGA first, then request certification if required. |
| Probate estate record | Gwinnett Probate Court | Search the estate case, then request copies from the Probate Court records office. |
| Recorder’s Court disposition | Recorder’s Court Clerk | Use the Recorder’s Court case portal or request a certified disposition. |
| Electronic certified court record | Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority | Use eCertification when the record and service are eligible. |
| Juvenile case record | Juvenile Court Clerk | Ask whether you are legally entitled to access the requested record. |
The site’s court record types guide explains the difference between a docket, calendar, disposition, judgment and certified copy.
What to Do When No Gwinnett Case Appears
The name format is wrong
Enter the party in Last, First order and include a space after the comma.
The case is in another court
Remove the location filter or search Superior, State, Magistrate and Probate separately.
The ticket belongs to Recorder’s Court
Use the separate Recorder’s Court portal instead of the main Gwinnett Courts Portal.
The citation belongs to a city court
Read the court name printed on the citation. Municipal court cases may not appear in the county portal.
The party name changed
Search a former surname, alias, middle initial, shortened first name or business-name variation.
The record is restricted
Juvenile, sealed, restricted or protected records may not be available to the general public.
Run this recovery sequence
- Clear the previous search completely.
- Enter the name as Last, First.
- Remove court and case-type filters.
- Try a wildcard name ending in an asterisk.
- Search the case number with and without hyphens.
- Check the Recorder’s Court portal.
- Read the citation for a municipal court name.
- Search re:SearchGA for an available document.
- Call the correct clerk’s office.
- Visit the courthouse when online access is insufficient.
Before You Pay: Avoid Jury and Court-Payment Scams
Gwinnett residents have reported calls claiming they missed jury duty and must immediately pay a fine to avoid a warrant. The Gwinnett Judicial Circuit, Clerk of Court and Sheriff’s Office do not handle juror communication this way.
- Verify juror status through the official Jury Division.
- Do not use a phone number supplied by the caller.
- Call 770-822-8567 to verify Gwinnett juror status.
- Report suspected jury scams to the Gwinnett tip line at 770-619-6655.
Where to Go for Gwinnett Court Records
Gwinnett court services are divided among different buildings. Use the location printed on the summons or hearing notice rather than assuming every matter is at 75 Langley Drive.
Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center
75 Langley Drive SW
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
General Clerk of Court phone: 770-822-8100
- Superior Court and Clerk’s Office
- State Court and Clerk’s Office
- Magistrate Court Civil Division
- Probate Court
- Jury Division and Law Library
- Deeds and Land Records
Gwinnett Traffic Court and Juvenile Justice Building
115 Stone Mountain Street SW
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
Recorder’s Court phone: 1-877-794-0988
- Recorder’s Court and Clerk’s Office
- Juvenile Court and Clerk’s Office
- County traffic and DUI matters
- County ordinance violations
Hours and arrival tips
- Most clerk offices operate Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding legal holidays.
- New-filing counters for Superior, State, Magistrate and Juvenile matters generally close at 4:30 PM.
- Probate Court and Deeds and Land Records also generally close filing services at 4:30 PM.
- Call 770-822-8000 when you are unsure which building houses the service.
- Bring the case number, photo identification and exact document request.
- Allow time for security screening.
Parking at the main courthouse
The public may use the main lot on Langley Drive, the parking deck behind the building near Constitution Boulevard and Nash Street, or the overflow lot on Nash Street. The parking deck connects directly to the building from level P4.
A County Open-Records Request Is Not the Same as a Court-Record Request
Gwinnett County operates an open-records portal for records held by county departments and offices. Official court case records are maintained by the appropriate clerk and should be requested through the court system.
| Record needed | Correct route |
|---|---|
| Court docket, complaint, order, judgment or disposition | Gwinnett Courts Portal, re:SearchGA or the appropriate court clerk. |
| Police department or county-department record | Gwinnett County open-records process or the specific department. |
| Deed or land record | Clerk of Superior Court Deeds and Land Records division. |
| Current jail custody or inmate information | Gwinnett County Sheriff or detention-center service. |
Use Gwinnett Court Information Carefully
A public court search can show allegations, dismissed matters, amended charges, duplicate names and incomplete documents. It should not be treated as a verified consumer background report.
- Do not assume a filed charge resulted in a conviction.
- Do not assume an open lawsuit ended in a judgment.
- Do not assume a same-name result belongs to the intended person.
- Do not treat an online document as certified unless the clerk certifies it.
- Do not use this website as a tenant, employment, credit or insurance screening service.
Read the site’s FCRA and consumer-reporting notice before using court information in any eligibility decision.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gwinnett County Court Records
Which website should I use to search Gwinnett County court records?
Use the Gwinnett Courts Portal for Superior, State, Magistrate and Probate estate cases. Use re:SearchGA when you need available documents from Superior, State or Magistrate cases. Use the separate Recorder’s Court portal for county traffic and ordinance citations.
Can I search Gwinnett court records by a person’s name?
Yes. Register for a free Gwinnett Courts Portal account, open Smart Search and enter the name in Last, First order. Use court-location filters only after reviewing the initial results.
How do I search when I only know part of the name?
Use an asterisk at the end of the partial name. Gwinnett’s portal instructions say to use at least one letter of the first name and at least three letters of the last name before the wildcard.
Why does my Gwinnett case search return no results?
The name may be formatted incorrectly, the court-location filter may be wrong, the citation may belong to Recorder’s or a municipal court, or the record may be confidential. Clear the search, use Last, First order, remove filters and check the separate portals.
Do I need an account to use the Gwinnett Courts Portal?
Yes. Gwinnett requires users to register for a free account before searching the Tyler court portal. The separate Recorder’s Court public portal can be searched without using the same Gwinnett Courts Portal account.
Are Gwinnett court documents free to download?
Not always. Basic case searching may be free, but documents available through re:SearchGA can have per-page charges and convenience fees. Review the displayed price before purchasing.
How do I get a certified Gwinnett County court record?
Identify the court and exact document, then contact the clerk holding the record. Eligible records may also be available through Georgia’s electronic-certification service. An ordinary portal download is not automatically certified.
How can I verify my Gwinnett court date?
Check the summons or hearing notice first, then use Search Hearings in the Gwinnett Courts Portal. For Recorder’s Court, use the citation portal or call 1-877-794-0988. Confirm important dates with the clerk because online calendars are not official until transmitted to the parties.
Are Gwinnett Juvenile Court records public?
Many juvenile records are confidential or have restricted access. Contact the Juvenile Court Clerk at 770-619-6300 and explain your relationship to the case and the specific record requested.
Should I use the Gwinnett County open-records portal for a court case?
No. Official court case records are maintained by the court clerk. Use the Gwinnett court portals or contact the appropriate clerk. The county open-records process is intended for records held by county departments and offices.
How This Gwinnett County Guide Was Verified
Portal routing, search formatting, court jurisdiction, document-access options, courthouse locations, clerk hours, court telephone numbers, parking and jury-scam information were checked against current Gwinnett County and Georgia court sources.
Court portals, fees, office hours and access rules can change. The current record-holding court or clerk source controls when it differs from this guide.