Fulton County Courts

Fulton County, with a population exceeding 1 million residents, is the most populous county in Georgia. Atlanta, the capital city, is its county seat and largest city. The county's court system is the busiest in the state, handling tens of thousands of cases annually. Fulton County courts, including Superior, State, Juvenile, Probate, Magistrate, Municipal, and Federal Courts, serve the judicial needs of the county's residents. These courts handle different types of cases depending on their jurisdiction:

• Fulton County Superior Court has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases, but typically handles felonies, equity, real estate matters, domestic relations issues, divorces, annulments, legal separations, domestic violence protection orders, and appeals from lower county courts.
• The State Court of Fulton County typically handles misdemeanors, traffic offenses, criminal trespass, medical malpractice, wrongful death, breach of contract, legal malpractice, significant personal injury, and product liability.
• Fulton County Juvenile Court typically hears truancy, juvenile delinquency, dependency, juvenile traffic offenses, termination of parental rights, and emancipation.
• Fulton County Magistrate Court typically hears warrant applications, first criminal appearance hearings, child abandonment warrant applications, preliminary felony hearings, landlord/tenant disputes, motor vehicle abandonment, garnishments, foreclosures, small claims, and civil cases with claims under $15,000.
• Fulton County ProbateCourt generally handles admission of wills of decedents, appointment and removal of conservatorships and guardianships, commitment of persons affected by mental illness, substance, and alcohol abuse, and management of estates and trusts.

Also, there are 14 municipal courts in the county serving various municipalities, including Alpharetta, Atlanta, College Park, Chattahoochee Hills, East Point, Fairburn, Johns Creek, Hapeville, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, Palmetto, Sandy Springs, and Union City. These courts handle preliminary felony hearings, traffic offenses, and municipal ordinance violations.

According to the Judiciary Council of Georgia Administrative Office of Courts, the Fulton County Superior Court handles about 12,000 criminal cases, 11,500 family and domestic relations cases, and 8,000 general civil cases yearly. Also, the Fulton County Magistrate Court hears approximately 70,000 cases annually, out of which about 1,000 are criminal cases and over 68,000 are civil cases. Similarly, the county's municipal courts handle over 200,000 cases each year.

How To Access Fulton County Court Records

Fulton County court records are generally accessible to the public. Georgia's Open Records Act gives the public the right to view and request copies of court records in the county, unless such records are made confidential by law or court order. Restricted court records in the county typically include juvenile records, adoption records, expunged or sealed court records, medical and mental health records, child protection orders, and sexual abuse records. Court records containing confidential information, including financial accounts, Social Security numbers, and trade secrets, may have those portions redacted.

Generally, case numbers may be needed to find court records in the county, but parties' names and dates of birth may also be used. Also, a record seeker's valid photo ID may be required to obtain copies of the county's court records. Fulton County court records may be accessed using the following methods:

Online

Fulton County court records may be accessed through dedicated online databases maintained by relevant courts with jurisdiction over cases. The Fulton County Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts offers a Records Search Center platform that may be used to access court records from the Superior and Magistrate Courts. Additionally, record seekers may access Superior and State Courts records through re:SearchGA. They may search by name or case number.

Requesters may also search Fulton County court records through CourtCaseFinder. The website provides current and accurate court records from the county. It compiles public court records from every county in the United States.

Furthermore, record seekers may access public court records of federal cases heard in Fulton County through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service. Individuals interested in using PACER to access the county's court records must register for a free account on the platform.

In-Person

Anyone may access Fulton County court records in person by visiting the clerk of the relevant court. They may contact the clerk's office to inquire about the requirements for in-person access to court records and applicable fees before visiting. Some courts in the county may accept written requests, while others prefer form applications. Record seekers may also use the public-access terminals in some courthouses to access the county's court records.

Old and Archived Court Records

The Fulton County Superior Court Archive Center maintains old court records from the Superior Court. Record seekers may access old records online or visit the clerk of the Superior Court for in-person access. They may also access the county's old court records at the Atlanta History Center's Kenan Research Center. The Center holds a collection of old court records from the county and makes them available to the public. Record seekers may visit the Center (by appointment only) to access the records.

In addition, the Georgia Archives maintains old and historic court records from Fulton County that may not be available in the county's courts. Record seekers may contact the state archives at:

Georgia Archives

How To File a Case in Fulton County

To file a case in Fulton County, an individual must first ascertain which court has jurisdiction over the case. They may check the Fulton County Court and Justice Agencies website to determine the appropriate court or contact a court clerk to inquire which court can handle the case they intend to file. Before filing a case in the county, it is important to confirm that the case falls within the applicable statute of limitations. Also, a case may only be filed in Fulton County if at least one of the defendants resides in the county.

Once the court and statute of limitations have been determined, a plaintiff may file a case by mail, in person, or electronically through eFileGA. Plaintiffs may use the public terminals in the courthouse to electronically file their cases.

The plaintiff may need to prepare the complaint detailing the circumstances that led to the case, the parties involved, and the relief the plaintiff is seeking from the court. Depending on the court, they may need to prepare other documents or fill out necessary forms. The requirements for courts and cases vary; the plaintiff may first contact the court clerk to ascertain the documents required for successfully filing a case. If the case is a small claims case and filed at the Magistrate Court, the plaintiff may use the Statement of Claim form to do the filing.

The plaintiff may then submit all required documents and evidence to the appropriate clerk's office. Generally, filing a case in Fulton County attracts certain filing fees depending on the court and case type. The Superior and Magistrate Court Clerk provides a Fees Schedule to guide litigants on appropriate filing fees for the Superior and Magistrate Courts, while the State Court Filing Fee Schedule is also available on the court's website. Persons unable to pay the filing fees may apply for a fee waiver.

To get a fee waiver, an individual must complete and file the Affidavit of Indigency (Poverty Affidavit) form and supporting documents with the relevant court. The clerk of the court then submits the completed poverty affidavit form to the judge for review. The court will grant the fee waiver if the applicant is eligible and will notify them of its decision.

After filing the case, the plaintiff may serve the defendant through the Fulton County Marshal's Department or by private Process Servers. However, it is advisable for individuals to get legal counsel when filing cases in Fulton County, and those with low incomes may seek pro bono legal assistance from the county's legal aid groups.

To file a case in Fulton County, you typically need to do the following:

• Determine the case type and the Court that has jurisdiction. Ensure the case is within the statute of limitations.
• Prepare the required documents, providing details of the events that necessitated the lawsuit and the parties involved in the case. Attach relevant exhibits, evidence, and documents to support the case.
• Pay the stipulated filing fees or apply for fee waivers, if eligible.
• File the complaint with the relevant court and serve the defendants.

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

County court systems across the United States play a crucial role in ensuring access to justice. Legal assistance and self-help resources are foundational to this access, especially for self-represented or indigent litigants. These resources typically include online portals, legal aid groups, self-help centers, and court-affiliated assistance programs.

In Fulton County, persons who cannot afford the services of an attorney may be able to obtain legal assistance from pro bono panels and local legal aid organizations. These organizations usually assist in personal court cases, including probate, housing, domestic relations, sexual and domestic violence, public benefits, sex trafficking, elderly citizens, landlord/tenant relations, veterans' matters, and healthcare access. It is important to note that court officials cannot give legal advice or serve as personal attorneys. The following self-help and legal aid resources are commonly available to indigent litigants in the county:

• Free Legal Representation for Low-income Persons
• Georgia Justice Project
• Atlanta Legal Aid Society
• Georgia Legal Aid
• Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
• Atlanta Legal Aid Pro Bono
• Georgia Legal Services Program
• Georgia Law Center for the Homeless
• Private Lawyer Referral Services
• American Bar Association Program
• Atlanta Bar Association Referral Service

Other self-help resources and legal aid services available to county residents include the following:

• Georgia State University Veterans Legal Assistance Program
• Housing Court Assistance Center (HCAC)
• Georgia Lawyers for the Arts
• Georgia State University Center for Access to Justice

Types of Courts in Fulton County, Georgia

Residents of Fulton County are served by several courts, including superior, state, probate, juvenile, magistrate, municipal, and federal courts. Below is a list of each court's jurisdiction and contact details:

Fulton County Superior Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard: Felonies, equity, real property titles, alimony, divorces, annulments, legal separation, paternity, and domestic violence protection orders.

Fulton County Superior Court

Address and Contact Information

Fulton County Superior Court - North Service Center

Address and Contact Information

Fulton County Superior Court - South Service Center

Address and Contact Information

State Courts in Fulton County

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard: Misdemeanors, traffic violations, and civil cases.

State Court of Fulton County - Criminal Division

Address and Contact Information

State Court of Fulton County - Civil Division

Address and Contact Information

State Court of Fulton County - North Service Center

Address and Contact Information

State Court of Fulton County - South Service Center

Address and Contact Information

Fulton County Juvenile Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard: Juvenile delinquency, dependency, truancy, juvenile traffic offenses, termination of parental rights, paternity, emancipation, child support, child custody, and cases involving judicial consent for juveniles.
• Address and Contact Information

Fulton County Probate Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard: Admission of wills, management of estates and trusts, involuntary mental health commitments, commitment of persons affected by substance and alcohol abuse, and appointment of guardianships and conservatorships.
• Address and Contact Information

Fulton County Magistrate Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard: Preliminary felony hearings, first criminal appearance hearings, county ordinance violations, landlord-tenant disputes, civil cases with claims under $15,000, and temporary domestic violence protective orders.

Fulton County Magistrate Court

Address and Contact Information

Fulton County Magistrate Court - Fulton County Jail

Address and Contact Information

Fulton County Magistrate Court - North Service Center

Address and Contact Information

Fulton County Magistrate Court - South Service Center

Address and Contact Information

Fulton County Municipal Courts

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard: Municipal ordinance violations, traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings for some criminal cases.

Municipal Court of Atlanta

Address and Contact Information

Municipal Court of Alpharetta

Address and Contact Information

Municipal Court of Chattahoochee Hills

Address and Contact Information

Municipal Court of East Point

Address and Contact Information

Municipal Court of College Park

Address and Contact Information

Municipal Court of Fairburn

Address and Contact Information

Municipal Court of Johns Creek

Address and Contact Information

Municipal Court of Hapeville

Address and Contact Information

Municipal Court of Milton

Address and Contact Information

Municipal Court of Palmetto

Address and Contact Information

Municipal Court of Mountain Park

Address and Contact Information

Municipal Court of Roswell

Address and Contact Information

Municipal Court of Union City

Address and Contact Information

Municipal Court of Sandy Springs

Address and Contact Information

Federal Courts in Fulton County

The following are the federal courts in the county:

United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Criminal and civil cases about the U.S. Government, federal laws, and the United States Constitution.
• Address and Contact Information -

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Bankruptcy cases.
• Address and Contact Information -

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Fulton County Courts

Provided below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Fulton County courts: