Jackson County
Jackson County was formed from portions of Franklin County in 1796. It covers an area of 343 square miles in northeastern Georgia and has a population of up to 75,000 residents. The City of Jefferson serves as the county seat. Within Jackson County, there are three rivers and four creeks.
Jackson County's judicial system is led by the Superior Court, which has the highest jurisdiction over cases not exclusively assigned to other courts. This court oversees adult felony trials, complex civil actions, family law cases, and property/land disputes. Working alongside the Superior Court, the State Court's jurisdiction extends over all misdemeanors except cases where the Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction. Civil actions involving any amount can also be filed and heard by the Jackson County State Court. The Probate Court is the main authority for handling matters involving estates, guardianships, vital records, and marriages, while the Juvenile Court focuses on cases involving minors. Some minors may commit traffic offenses or face delinquency charges. The Magistrate Court handles civil actions, preliminary hearings, ordinance violations, and criminal trials. Lastly, local Municipal Courts in Jackson County adjudicate city ordinance violations, traffic infractions, and misdemeanor cases.
In Jackson County, public court records are created during case proceedings at the county courthouses. They include documents filed throughout the case progress and case files maintained by the records custodians. The Jackson County Clerk of Courts handles all types of records generated in the county and makes them accessible online. Additionally, physical copies of public court records in Jackson County are stored at the courthouses.
Typically, the Jackson County Clerk maintains the following types of public court records:
- Superior Court Records
- State Court Records
- Juvenile Court Records
- Probate Court Records
- Court Records for Magistrate Civil and Criminal Filings
The Jackson County Clerk of Courts provides access to public court records online. Individuals can access the online records search portal to look up civil or criminal records using the party name, case number, and case type. While searching is free, users are required to create an account to print copies of the records. Inquirers may also reach the Clerk by phone at (706) 387-6262 to ask about obtaining court records that are unavailable online or for docket information.
