DeKalb County Court Records

Court records in DeKalb County are official documentation of court proceedings in the county courts. Such records may include administrative data compiled by court officials. County court records may also exist as notes, digital or physical paper files, audio or video recordings, or photographs. Depending on the case, court records may feature different data, such as the following general information:

• Judicial Officer’s name
• Case filing date
• Case status
• Events and hearings
• The case party’s name

Note: All Georgia court records play a crucial role in legal issues. Both legal and public members can use these records as evidence or legal precedent in subsequent court cases.

Are Court Records Public in DeKalb County?

Most court records are generally public documents under state laws. Georgia's Open Record Act empowers public members to request and access court documents in Dekalb County. However, the law also restricts certain court case information from public access.

As a general rule, record custodians will redact or withhold information that violates the record subject’s right to safety or privacy. Per GA Code § 50-18-72, exempt court records in Dekalb County include the following:

• The contents of juvenile court records, except for situations listed under O.C.G.A. § 15-11-708
• Probation records pertaining to the supervision of parolees and probationers
• Court documents that are classified as confidential through court orders and state or federal laws
• Clinical records of concerned parties in court documents
• Personal identifying data on juries
• Employment-related information pertaining to the hiring process of court officials

DeKalb County Court Records Search

All searches for DeKalb County court records must start with the agency holding the records. County court clerks are responsible for keeping records of court cases filed at their courthouses. Some clerks may allow online or offline searches for DeKalb court records. To access the records online, requesters may use an online search tool or send requests via email. In contrast, requesters may need to provide a request letter for offline access to court records.

DeKalb County Court Records Search by Name

Name-based searches for court records may involve online search tools or visiting the court’s physical location. For example, DeKalb County’s clerk of the superior court allows name-based searches for court records via an online search tool. Thus, you only need to input the case party’s name to find the record.

Note: Name searches are less accurate ways of getting court records. Case identifiers, such as case numbers, may produce more accurate search results. The clerk of courts may charge fees for producing copies of court records. However, you may view online court records for free.

DeKalb County District Court Records

There are no district courts in Dekalb County. However, the county courts share jurisdiction over cases that are normally under the purview of the district court.

For example, the superior court oversees all felonies and civil cases, such as civil equity and complex commercial cases. It also shares jurisdiction over certain cases with other county courts. DeKalb’s other county courts may oversee the following cases:

• The county magistrate court hears civil claims worth more or less than $15,000.
• The municipal court oversees minor infractions and traffic court cases.

Interested parties can access the court records via these options:

Access DeKalb County court records online.

The clerk of the county superior court maintains an online search portal for court records in its custody. Also, the magistrate court allows online access to court docket information. Record seekers may also get certified copies of court records via the superior court’s eCertification Portal.

Access DeKalb County court records via mail or in person. Court records created before 2012 are obtainable via mail-in requests to:

Clerk of Superior Court
Attn: Archives/Records
556 North McDonough Street
Decatur, GA 30030

The mail request must contain these documents:

• Court record request form
• Applicable fees: the superior court charges $20 for civil court records prior to 1990. In contrast, criminal court records are $1 and $2.5 per page for plain and certified copies, respectively. Send the documents in a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

You can also book appointments to view court records in person.

DeKalb County Criminal Records

The Dekalb County Police Department is the designated custodian for criminal records or criminal background histories. The department allows access to these records via mail or in-person request options.

To access DeKalb criminal records via mail, record seekers must send a request to CriminalHistoryCheck@dekalbcountyga.gov. The police department will provide the estimated fees and a form. Upon receiving these documents, requesters must complete the form. Next, they must send it along with the payment and a valid ID via mail to:

DeKalb Police Department
1960 West Exchange Place
Tucker, GA 30084
Email: dkpdprecords@dekalbcountyga.gov

Also, you may access the records in person by visiting the department during these timeframes:

• Tuesdays: 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Wednesdays: 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations also provides information on DeKalb's criminal records. You must make an in-person appointment by calling (404) 244-2639 before visiting the bureau at:

Georgia Crime Information Center
CCH/Identification
P.O. Box 370808
Decatur, Georgia 30037

DeKalb County arrest records are also obtainable via the county sheriff's office. The county sheriff maintains an Open Request Center for Dekalb arrest records. Requesters must sign-up on the platform and input the detainee's name, birth date, or booking number.

DeKalb County Criminal Court Case Lookup

In DeKalb County, the clerk of the superior court holds records of all criminal cases filed at the courthouse. Interested parties can look up criminal case information via the clerk’s online search portal. You only need to input the case party’s name or case number to view the records. You may also access criminal records via mail or online requests to the clerk’s office.

To get criminal records via mail, record seekers must provide these documents:

• A request letter that contains these details:
  • Defendant’s name
  • Birth date
  • Case number
  • The requester’s contact details
  • Charges when arrested
• A search fee for the desired copies. It costs $1 and $2.5 per page for plain and certified copies of DeKalb criminal court records, respectively.

Send the required information in a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk
Ground Floor
Attn: Criminal Filing
556 N. McDonough Street
Decatur, GA 30030

DeKalb County criminal records are also accessible via an e-certification request portal. Create an account on the portal and fill out the required search details. The clerk’s office will review the provided details and send the documents via the portal.

You may also book appointments with the clerk’s office to view the criminal court records in-person.

Get DeKalb County Civil Court Records

In DeKalb County, civil court records generally contain data on civil lawsuits or disputes between case parties. Furthermore, you will find the records under the control of the county superior court’s clerk.

The clerk allows access to civil court records via these options:

• Odyssey search portal
• In-person appointment
• eCertification request portal
• Mail-based requests

You can view DeKalb County civil court records by using the Odyssey search portal. In addition, the clerk’s office allows in-person viewing of records via public access terminals situated at the courthouse. Note that you have to schedule an appointment to use the terminal.

You may send a mail request to the archive section for pre-2012 civil court records. The mail request must contain the following:

• A request form
• A $20 search fee as a money order or check to Clerk of Superior Court

Send the self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

DeKalb County Courthouse
556 North McDonough Street
Ground Floor, Room 210
Decatur, Georgia 30030

DeKalb County Family Court Records

Family court case records provide information on court cases such as adoption, divorce, child custody and visitation, divorce, termination of parental rights, and paternity. The Dekalb County Superior Court has jurisdiction over most family court records. The county superior court clerk keeps records of all family court cases filed at the courthouse.

Requesters may access family court records through the clerk's office via online or offline request options. For example, you may search and view online records via the Odyssey search portal. In contrast, you may sign up for the eCertification Request Portal to receive record copies.

Record seekers may also view family records in person at the public access terminal at the clerk’s office. Note that you must schedule an appointment to use this option.

Note: Not all family court records are public documents in DeKalb County. Since the records contain confidential data, the record custodian may redact or outrightly deny requests for the record. Only the record subject and legally eligible requesters may view the confidential data.

DeKalb Dissolution of Marriage Records

Record seekers can obtain DeKalb marriage records by following these outlines:

1. Find the record custodian holding the record.
2. Choose your preferred mode of getting the record
3. Provide the required search fee and other necessary documents

The clerk of the superior court keeps records of marriage dissolutions at the county level.

DeKalb County Marriage and Divorce Records

Dekalb County marriage records are obtainable through the county’s probate court. The court allows requesters to search these marriage records:

• DeKalb marriage certificate search
• Marriage license search
• Marriage application search

Besides viewing marriage records, requesters may also obtain certified copies of the records on these search sites. It costs $10 to obtain a certified copy of the marriage record on the platforms. Additional costs include a 2.75% charge on all transactions performed using credit cards.

DeKalb County’s clerk of the superior court is the custodian of divorce records. Furthermore, it provides access to divorce records through different request options. For example, requesters may view copies of divorce records using the Odyssey search portal or the public access terminals situated at this address:

Clerk of Superior Court
Criminal Division
556 North McDonough Street
Ground Floor
Decatur, GA 30030

Note: You must schedule an appointment before visiting the public access terminals.

The eCertification Request Portal is an alternative option for accessing DeKalb County divorce records.

It costs $2.5 and $5 to obtain a copy of a plain or certified divorce record, respectively. Requesters will also pay $1 per page for additional copies.

DeKalb Birth and Death Records

The Dekalb County Department of Health keeps records of birth and death events in the county. The agency also issues copies of the record to eligible requesters. As part of DeKalb County vital records, birth, and death certificates are accessible to the record subject, close family relatives, and legal representatives.

DeKalb County birth certificates are accessible via online, mail, or in-person requests to the county health department.

To access the documents via mail or in person, requesters must provide these documents:

• Completed and signed request form for birth or death certificates.
• Valid government-issued photo ID
• A $25 search fee as a certified money order or check (for mail-based requests) payable to DeKalb County Vital Records Office. The clerk’s office accepts all payment options for in-person requests. Additional copies of the same requested record is $5.

Submit the documents in person from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to the address below:

Vital Records
Suite 191
Richardson Health Center
445 Winn Way
Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: (404) 294-3700

Mail requests must be sent to:

DeKalb County Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 639
Decatur, GA 30031

You can also use the online request form to order online copies of death or birth records.

DeKalb County Probate Court Records

DeKalb County probate courts oversee all probate cases filed in the county. Probate cases under the court’s jurisdiction include wills and estates, minor guardianships, adult guardianships, and auditing-related cases.

That said, the clerk of the county probate court records all probate cases. Interested parties may access the records in person by scheduling an appointment. Contact the clerk’s office at (404) 371-2701 or shharrison@dekalbcountyga.gov.

DeKalb County Property Records

Property records in DeKalb County provide information on the following:

• Parcel ID
• Property owner’s name
• Parcel information, such as status, address, and land use code)
• Property tax information
• Notices of assessment
• Mailing address

DeKalb County’s Property Appraisal & Assessment Department maintains all property-related records. In addition, the county’s tax commissioner keeps records of all property taxes on personal or commercial properties.

Both county agencies maintain searchable portals for property records. For example, the Property Appraisal Office provides access to property records via these search portals:

• Real estate search
• Personal property search
• Property sales search
• Map search

You will also find real estate and property search options on the tax commissioner’s website. To access property records via these options, you must provide at least one of these details:

• The property owner’s name
• PIN
• Parcel ID number
• Address

DeKalb County Court Records Online

Third-party sites like courtrecords.us are also repositories for online court records in DeKalb County. These sites may cover one or more types of court records. That said, requesters may opt for third-party sites due to the ease and convenience of accessing DeKalb County public records. For instance, it allows out-of-state users to access information that would have been impossible to get through government-owned sites. Nevertheless, third-party sites should not be used as a substitute for official court records sites. Official sites generally feature more updated and accurate DeKalb court records.

DeKalb County Courts

Dekalb County is home to a superior court, probate court, state courts, magistrate courts, and municipal courts. The courts’ addresses and contact information are provided below:

DeKalb County Superior Courts
DeKalb County Superior Court
556 North McDonough Street
Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: (404) 371-2836
Fax: (404) 371-4492

DeKalb County State Courts
State Court of DeKalb County
556 North McDonough Street
Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: (404) 371-2261

State Court of DeKalb County - Traffic Division
Camp Circle Complex
3630 Camp Circle
Decatur, GA 30032
Phone: (404) 294-2099

DeKalb County Juvenile Courts
DeKalb County Juvenile Court
4309 Memorial Drive
Decatur, GA 30032
Phone: (404) 294-2700
Fax: (404) 294-2702

DeKalb County Probate Courts
Probate Court of DeKalb County
DeKalb County Courthouse
556 North McDonough Street
Room 1100
Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: (404) 687-3563
Fax: (404) 371-7055

DeKalb County Magistrate Courts
DeKalb County Magistrate Court
556 North McDonough Street
Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: (404) 371-2261 (Civil)
Phone: (404) 294-2150 (Criminal)
Fax: (404) 294-2145 (Criminal)

DeKalb County Municipal Courts
Municipal Court of Avondale Estates
21 North Avondale Plaza
Avondale Estates, GA 30002
Phone: (404) 294-0531
Fax: (404) 299-8137

Municipal Court of Brookhaven
2665 Buford Highway
Atlanta, GA 30324
Phone: (404) 637-0660

Municipal Court of Chamblee
3518 Broad Street, Chamblee, GA 30341
Phone: (770) 986-5004
Fax: (770) 986-5017

Municipal Court of Clarkston
3921 Church Street
Clarkston, GA 30021
Phone: (404) 292-9465
Fax: (404) 298-1522

Municipal Court of Decatur
120 West Trinity Place
Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: (678) 553-6655
Fax: (678) 553-6660

Municipal Court of Doraville
3765 Park Avenue
Doraville, GA 30340
Phone: (770) 455-1001

Municipal Court of Dunwoody
41 Perimeter Center East
Suite 103
Dunwoody, GA 30346
Phone: (678) 382-6973
Fax: (770) 396-4717

Municipal Court of Lithonia
6920 Main Street
Lithonia, GA 30058
Phone: (770) 482-8947 ext. 112
Fax: (678) 526-0267

Municipal Court of Pine Lake
459 Pine Drive
P.O. Box 1325
Pine Lake, GA 30072
Phone: (404) 292-4250

Municipal Court of Stone Mountain
875 Main Street
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Phone: (770) 879-4981