Athens - Clarke County
Clarke County was established in 1801 and named in honor of Elijah Clarke, a former Georgia legislator. In 1990, Clarke County merged with Athens, its government seat, to form a unified county-city government. As of 2022, The county has a population of 128,864 residents. It is also the smallest county in Georgia, spanning about 119.3 square miles. The Clarke County court system comprises the superior, state, juvenile, probate, magistrate, and municipal courts.
The Superior Court is Clarke County's general jurisdiction court. As such, it can hear all civil and criminal cases outside the purview of other county courts. All felony cases, real estate disputes, family law matters, including divorce, child custody, cases involving domestic violence, and appeals from lesser courts in Clarke County are exclusive to the Superior Court. The State Court has limited jurisdiction over most misdemeanors, traffic violations, and civil cases where the amount in dispute is up to $25,000. It also hears family violence offenses and appeals from Magistrate Court's decisions. Legal proceedings involving minors are tried at the Clarke County Juvenile Court. This includes cases concerning child protection and other juvenile issues such as delinquency and truancy. Meanwhile, the Magistrate Court resolves small claims disputes for $15,000 or less, minor criminal offenses, and preliminary hearings. It also issues warrants. On the other hand, the Probate Court oversees the administration of estates, name changes, wills, lifetime trusts, and conservatorships. The court also handles mental health cases involving guardianship and commitment. Clarke County's Municipal Courts in Athens and Winterville typically hear city ordinances and traffic violations that occur within city limits.
Clarke County court records are official documentation of court filings, dockets, orders, judgments, and information on other judicial activities generated during court trials within the county. They serve as evidence in appeals and are important for monitoring legal proceedings. The Clerk of Superior and State Courts in Clarke County maintains and makes public court records accessible. However, confidential records such as personal identifiers, records on mental health cases, or those included as part of an active or pending investigation are protected under Georgia's Open Records Act (GORA). Individuals can request court records by visiting the clerk's office at:
325 East Washington Street, Room 450
Athens, GA 30601
Phone: (706) 613-3190
They can also sign up for Georgia's E-Access or Georgia's re:SearchGA portal, to find Clarke County court records online with nominal fees for document printing.
