Harris County
Harris County is situated in the west-central portion of It was created on December 14, 1827, and named for Charles Harris, a judge and an attorney. Harris County is the sixth wealthiest county per capita income in Georgia. Its county seat is Hamilton, and its largest city is Pine Mountain (Georgia's largest state park). It shares a boundary with the state of Alabama to the west, and this border is created by the Chattahoochee River.
A Superior, Probate, Juvenile, Magistrate, and four Municipal Courts are located in Harris County as courts of various jurisdictions. Some have higher jurisdictions and others with lower jurisdictions. The Superior Court is the highest, and it presides over serious criminal issues, contracts, property damages, and family-related disputes. It also records real estate transactions, including liens and deeds. The Probate Court settles disputes arising from the distribution of estates. It appoints guardians, hears misdemeanor traffic cases that occur in the unincorporated area of the county, and issues marriage licenses. The Juvenile Court presides over certain adoption cases involving minors and instances where minors commit crimes. It also provides child protective services to children who are abused and neglected.
The Magistrate Court conducts initial hearings for those arrested for crimes; it issues search warrants. It also handles garnishment, foreclosures, and civil disputes involving amounts up to $15,000. The Municipal Courts are in Hamilton, Waverly Hall, Pine Mountain, and Shiloh. They conduct preliminary hearings and issue criminal warrants. The Municipal Courts also hear ordinance violations such as shoplifting and illegal marijuana possession cases.
The Superior Court Clerk ensures the authenticity and integrity of court records. Court records refer to records that are submitted to or generated in court in a particular case. These records are required by law to be kept by a court of record. They may be digitized or preserved over time in paper-based forms. Certain court records are considered open to the public, attorneys, and law enforcement agencies for future reference. They are:
- Civil Court Records
- Land Court Records
- Criminal Court Records
- Court records relating to property tax liens
If you need assistance in finding court records, you can do so at the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court at
102 College Street
PO Box 528
Hamilton, GA 31811
Phone: 706 (628)-4944
Fax: 706 (628)-7038
