Dawson County
Dawson County was founded in 1857 from parts of Lumpkin and Gilmer Counties in northeastern Georgia. It was named after William Crosby Dawson, a former United States Senator from Georgia. The county covers about 211 square miles of land and has a population of over 27,000 residents. Its county seat and most populous city is Dawsonville.
Dawson County's trial courts include the Superior, Juvenile, Probate, and Magistrate Courts. The Superior Court, Dawson County's general jurisdiction court, handles all felonies, civil equity cases, and land title disputes. Domestic relations cases, including marriage dissolution, child custody/support, and parentage dispute, are also exclusive to the Superior Court's Family Division.
Meanwhile, the Dawson County Magistrate Court presides over minor criminal cases such as warrants, traffic violations, and bail. Small claims lawsuits and other financial disputes outside the jurisdiction of the Superior Court are handled by the county's magistrate. Dawson County also features a Juvenile Court responsible for juvenile cases like child dependency, truancy, and delinquency. The county's Probate Court rules on the authenticity of wills, conservatorships, guardianships, and distribution of deceased estates.
Dawson County public court records refer to recordings, books, documents, and other materials maintained by the Clerk of Court during court proceedings. Examples of details available on these records include testimonies, evidence, party names, attorney names, witness lists, and judgments. According to the Georgia Open Records Act, public access to court records promotes open and transparent judicial processes in Dawson County. As such, anyone can view and request the following court records:
- Criminal court records
- Civil records
- Land records
- Traffic records
- Probate records
- Family law records
However, court documents revealing sensitive and confidential information related to juvenile, mental health, and adoption cases are not publicly accessible. Only record owners, their attorneys, and other authorized persons can access confidential court records in Dawson County. To get copies of public court records or make inquiries, requesters can contact the clerk at:
Dawson County Clerk of Court
25 Justice Way, Suite 1302
Dawsonville, GA 30534
Phone: (706) 344-3510
Note that obtaining court records copies from the Clerk's Office may attract duplication or search fees. Interested persons can access Dawson County public court records online through the Georgia re:SearchGA portal.
