Court records in Fulton County, Georgia are maintained by the Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. FultonCourt.us can help find publicly available court record information for Fulton County. Additional access points include the Clerk's eServices portal, the Superior Court of Fulton County website, the Georgia Courts e-access system, and the clerk's office in person at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta.
Fulton Court System Overview
Fulton County is part of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit, which serves Fulton County exclusively. The Superior Courts of Georgia are courts of general jurisdiction, and the Superior Court of Fulton County handles both civil and criminal matters at the highest trial-court level in the county. Below the Superior Court, the State Court of Fulton County and the Magistrate Court handle lower-level criminal and civil cases. The Fulton County Probate Court and Juvenile Court round out the trial-level structure. The Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts maintains case records, processes filings, and prepares appellate records for the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court.
Courts Serving Fulton
Several state and federal courts serve Fulton County residents:
Superior Court of Fulton County
State Court of Fulton County
Magistrate Court of Fulton County
Probate Court of Fulton County
Juvenile Court of Fulton County
United States District Court — Northern District of Georgia (Atlanta Division)
United States Bankruptcy Court — Northern District of Georgia (Atlanta Division)
Municipal Courts
- City of Atlanta Municipal Court — 150 Garnett Street, S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303 — Phone: 404-658-6940
- City of South Fulton Municipal Court — 5440 Fulton Industrial Blvd., S.W., Atlanta, GA 30336 — Phone: 470-809-7800
- City of Roswell Municipal Court — 38 Hill Street, Suite 120, Roswell, GA 30075 — Phone: 770-641-3760
- City of Alpharetta Municipal Court — 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, GA 30009 — Phone: 678-297-6260
What Types of Cases Fulton Courts Hear
Fulton County's courts collectively handle a wide range of case types:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, traffic violations, DUI
- Civil: General civil litigation, contract disputes, personal injury, small claims
- Family law: Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, civil protection orders, termination of parental rights
- Probate: Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, wills
- Juvenile: Delinquency, deprivation (child protective), unruly child proceedings
- Traffic and ordinance violations: Handled by State Court, Magistrate Court, and municipal courts
District Court Cases in Fulton
In Georgia's court structure, the Superior Court functions as the court of general jurisdiction — comparable to what many states call a "district court." The Superior Court of Fulton County has exclusive jurisdiction over felony criminal trials, divorce, equity cases, and title-to-land disputes. It also hears civil cases without a cap on the amount in controversy and handles appeals from lower courts.
Felony cases typically begin with an arrest or indictment by a Fulton County grand jury. The Fulton County District Attorney's Office prosecutes criminal cases in Superior Court. Cases are assigned to individual judges within the Atlanta Judicial Circuit. Civil cases are initiated by filing a complaint with the Clerk of Superior Court, and assignment follows internal court procedures. Post-conviction motions and habeas corpus petitions are also heard at this level.
Magistrate Court Cases in Fulton
The Magistrate Court of Fulton County handles several categories of cases:
- County ordinance violations
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
- Civil claims up to $15,000 (the statutory limit under O.C.G.A. § 15-10-2)
- Dispossessory (eviction) proceedings
- Warrant applications — arrest warrants and search warrants
- Bad check hearings
Small claims in Georgia are processed through the Magistrate Court, with a simplified procedure for claims of $15,000 or less. Parties may represent themselves without an attorney. The Magistrate Court does not conduct jury trials; cases are decided by a magistrate judge. Given Fulton County's high volume, magistrate judges may be assigned to specific dockets such as dispossessory, warrant, or civil claims calendars.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Fulton
Family Law
Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, civil protection orders, and termination of parental rights are handled by the Superior Court. The Family Division of the Superior Court of Fulton County is staffed by four Superior Court judges with dedicated jurisdiction over divorce, separation, annulment, custody, and visitation matters.
Probate
The Probate Court of Fulton County handles decedent estates, wills, guardianships of minors and incapacitated adults, conservatorships, and involuntary commitment hearings. The Probate Court also issues marriage licenses and firearms carry permits. Contact the Probate Court directly at 404-613-4401 for filing requirements.
Juvenile
The Juvenile Court of Fulton County handles delinquency cases, deprivation (child protective) proceedings, and unruly child cases. Juvenile records are confidential under Georgia law and are not available to the general public. The court is located at 395 Pryor Street, S.W., Atlanta, GA 30312, and can be reached at 404-224-4400.
How Cases Move Through the Fulton Court System
- Filing / Initiation: Criminal cases begin with an arrest, accusation, or grand jury indictment. Civil cases start with the filing of a complaint or petition with the appropriate clerk's office.
- Case Assignment: Cases are assigned to a judge through the court's internal assignment system.
- Initial Hearing: In criminal cases, the defendant is arraigned and enters a plea. In civil cases, a scheduling or status conference is typically set.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Parties engage in discovery, file motions, and may participate in mediation or plea negotiations.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to a bench or jury trial, or are resolved through a plea agreement, settlement, dismissal, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: In criminal cases, sentencing follows a guilty verdict or plea. In civil cases, judgment enforcement or appeal may follow. Appeals from Superior Court go to the Georgia Court of Appeals or the Georgia Supreme Court.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Fulton
The Superior Court of Fulton County is administered under the Atlanta Judicial Circuit. Local rules governing practice and procedure in the Atlanta Judicial Circuit are available through the Superior Court's website and the Georgia Courts portal.
Under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.), most court records are public. Exceptions include sealed records, juvenile records, adoption records, and certain mental health proceedings. To submit an open records request to Fulton County government offices, use the Fulton County Open Records Request Center. The Sheriff's Office also accepts open records requests separately for law enforcement records, and may charge fees for search and copying pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(c).
Hearings at the Fulton County Courthouse are generally open to the public. Some proceedings may be conducted by video conference — check with the specific court division for current remote hearing availability. For questions about court administration, contact the Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts at 404-612-4000.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Fulton
- Court record search and e-filing: The Clerk's eServices platform allows users to file and search real estate and judicial records online.
- Statewide court case search: The Georgia Courts e-access portal provides links to search court cases across Georgia. An account may be required.
- District Attorney case information: The Fulton County District Attorney's public record access page allows searching case information and court documents across 25 Georgia counties.
- Inmate search: The Fulton County Sheriff's Office inmate search provides current jail population information.
- Georgia Department of Corrections offender query: Use the GDC offender search to look up individuals in state prison or on probation.
- Georgia sex offender registry: The Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains the state sex offender registry at gbi.georgia.gov.
- Property and land records: The Plats and Land Records office at 136 Pryor Street, S.W., Ground Floor, handles recorded deeds, liens, and plat maps.
- Property tax and assessment information: The Fulton County Tax Commissioner and the Board of Assessors provide property tax and assessment data online.
- Sheriff's Office: The Fulton County Sheriff's Office handles courthouse security, jail operations, and the service of warrants and civil process.
- Police reports: The Fulton County Police Department provides information on obtaining police reports and other public safety services.