Bulloch County
An act of the Georgia General Assembly created Bulloch County on February 8, 1796, and named it for Archibald Bulloch. The county is located in the Coastal Plain region, with Statesboro designated as its county seat. As the 33rd largest county in the state of Georgia, it spans an area of 689 square miles.
The six trial-level courts in Bulloch County include the Superior Court, State Court, Probate Court, Juvenile Court, Magistrate Court, and Municipal Courts. The Bulloch Superior Court is the highest trial court in the county and it is part of the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit. It has exclusive jurisdiction over all felony criminal cases, divorce cases, and equity cases. The Superior Court may correct errors made by other courts within the county.
The Bulloch State Court has authority over civil lawsuits seeking monetary damages with no limits on the amounts in controversy, traffic offenses within the county's unincorporated portions, and misdemeanor criminal offenses. The Juvenile Court is concerned with legal matters involving children under the age of 18. It presides over cases such as delinquency, status offenses, and special proceedings for obtaining consent to the marriage or employment of a child.
The Bulloch Magistrate Court has criminal jurisdiction over county ordinance violations, bad check citations, and preliminary hearings in felony cases. This court also handles a variety of civil matters, including evictions, garnishments, and civil claims in which the amount in controversy does not exceed $15,000. The original jurisdiction over the administration of the decedent's estates and probate of wills is designated to the Probate Court. It is also authorized to appoint legal guardians to oversee the affairs of minors and incapacitated individuals.
The Municipal Courts of Portal, Register, Brooklet, and Statesboro adjudicate local ordinance violations, traffic offenses, possession of marijuana cases, and misdemeanor shoplifting. They also issue arrest warrants and initial hearings in felony prosecutions.
Bulloch County court records are accessible to the general public unless there is a compelling reason to keep them confidential. Records about adoption and juvenile proceedings are withheld from public scrutiny to protect the identity of persons involved. However, the public can view publicly available court records in the office of the Clerk of Courts or online through the E-Access portal.
The E-Access portal redirects users to a website where they must create an account to look up court documents filed with the Bulloch State and Superior Courts. Alternatively, you may submit a written request including details such as case number, party name, and the book or page number by email to clerkinfo@bullochcounty.net. You can await a response to your request within 3-5 business days.
