Fulton County
Fulton County was created in 1853 from the western half of Dekalb County by the Georgia General Assembly. The county was named in honor of Robert Fulton and encompasses 90% of the City of Atlanta. As of the 2020 decennial census, Fulton County had a population of 1,066,710.
The Fulton County justice system consists of five courts: superior, state, probate, juvenile, and magistrate. The Superior Court of Fulton County has general jurisdiction over both criminal and civil cases including felonies, family and domestic relations issues, real estate matters, civil disputes, and lower courts appeals. The superior court also handles pretrial and jury proceedings, as well as complex commercial and business cases.
All cases that are not within the exclusive jurisdiction of the superior court are handled by the Fulton County State Court. This court carries out its responsibilities through divisions. The Civil Division offers solutions to civil disputes including garnishment, actions against tenants, foreclosure, and attachment. On the other hand, the Criminal Division oversees the prosecution of misdemeanors including theft, DUI, traffic infractions, and the violation of county ordinances.
The main role of the Probate Court is to ensure that guardianship and estates are administered in compliance with law. Additionally, this court has authority to appoint conservators for minors, probate wills, issue marriage and weapon carry licenses, and handle mentally health commitments. The Fulton County Juvenile Court hears all cases involving allegations of delinquency, dependency, juvenile traffic offenses, emancipation, and termination of permanent guardianship or parental rights. The criminal division of the Magistrate Court handles preliminary and first appearance hearings, search and arrest warrants, and deposit account frauds, while the civil division hears cases involving small claims not more than $15,000, trover, garnishment, and personal property foreclosure.
Fulton County court records are kept and maintained by the Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts. To view court records, you can make an in-person visit to the Clerk's Office at regular business hours.
Fulton County court records are also remotely accessible, however, you will need to create an account on the re:SearchGA platform. Registered users can access the following types of court records:
- Death penalty
- Felony
- Damages
- Foreclosure
- Divorce
- Child custody
- Tort
- Trust
You can acquire digital certified copies of court records maintained by the Superior and Magistrate Courts Clerk. To request copies of a juvenile court record, send its file number, date of birth, party name, and record type via email to FCJC.RecordRequests@fultoncounty.ga.gov.
