Oconee County
Named after the Oconee River, Oconee County was formed in 1875 from the southwestern part of Clarke County. The county is home to more than 40,000 people and covers 184.34 square miles. Its county seat and largest town is Watkinsville.
Oconee County's trial court system consists of a Superior Court, a Juvenile Court, a Probate Court, a Magistrate Court, and a Municipal Court. The Superior Court generally handles all civil and criminal cases, including cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts. It presides over cases such as felonies, contract disputes, equity, child custody and support, title to land, divorces, and domestic relations cases. The Juvenile Court has exclusive jurisdiction over cases involving juvenile delinquency, minors alleged to be unruly, and mental health cases. The Probate Court hears matters relating to wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and adoptions.
The Magistrate Court has limited authority over civil and criminal cases, including preliminary hearings, minor criminal offenses, landlord-tenant disputes, and general civil claims involving $15,000 or less. The Municipal Court, located in Watkinsville, handles traffic offenses and violations of municipal ordinances.
Oconee County public court records are official documents and information relating to court cases in the county. These include dockets, transcripts, pleadings, indexes, judgments, and orders. The Oconee County Clerk of Courts is responsible for storing and preserving case files of the Superior, Magistrate, and Juvenile Courts. Similarly, the Probate and Municipal Courts also have their own clerks.
Court clerks in Oconee County maintain numerous case records, such as:
- Felony records
- Misdemeanor records
- Civil records
- Domestic relations records
- Juvenile records
- Probate records
Public court records may be accessed by anyone in Oconee County, provided that such records are not declared confidential by law or court order. Some examples of such confidential records include adoption records, juvenile records, and mental health records.
Record seekers may search for Oconee County court records through PeachCourt or re:SearchGA portals that provide access to various case records. The Clerk of Courts also offers a Superior and Magistrate Court Docket Search, which allows online access to docket information. To obtain physical copies of court records, requesters may contact the clerk's office at the courthouse where the case was heard.
