Dougherty County Court Records

Dougherty County court records are official documents containing and detailing the proceedings, filings, rulings, and decisions in court cases. These records reflect all legal matters handled within the jurisdiction, including civil, criminal, probate, juvenile, and familial issues. Like all Georgia court records, Dougherty County court records are generally open and available for public inspection. The courts keep them open and accessible to the public to ensure transparency and accountability in judicial proceedings. These records also guide future decisions and outcomes of cases in court. The Clerk of the Dougherty Superior Court maintains court records in the county.

Are Court Records Public in Dougherty County?

Under the Georgia Open Records Act, the public generally has the right to access and inspect public records, including court records. However, there are some important exceptions and limitations to this rule-records that, by order of a court or by law, are specifically exempted from disclosure. Here are some exemptions under the Georgia Open Records Act:

• Records required by federal statute or regulation to be kept confidential.
• Medical or veterinary records and similar files, where disclosure would invade personal privacy.
• Records compiled for law enforcement or prosecution purposes that could reveal the identity of a confidential source, endanger someone's safety, or disclose a confidential investigation or surveillance.
• Records of law enforcement, prosecution, or regulatory agencies related to pending investigations or prosecutions are exempt from disclosure until the final investigation or trial.
• Individual accident reports are restricted, with access typically limited to those directly involved or having a stated need.
• Records reveal personal information about public employees, such as home addresses, telephone numbers, and social security numbers.

Dougherty County Court Records Search

To search for court records in Dougherty County, Georgia, interested parties have several options, including in-person visits, online searches, third-party services, and mail or email requests, depending on the type of records a requesting party is seeking and their preferred method of access.

Dougherty County Court Records Search by Name

To perform a name-based search for court records in Dougherty County, interested persons may access the Georgia Judicial Gateway's eAccess, which provides records for the Dougherty Superior and State Courts. The website displays different courts from which users can choose. The service also requires interested persons to create an account to search court records. The search may require a fee depending on the court and access record. Requesters can search using names, case numbers, hearing dates, charge details, etc.

Dougherty County Courts

There are six trial courts in Dougherty County. They include the Dougherty County Superior Court, the Dougherty County State Court, the Dougherty County Juvenile Court, the Dougherty County Probate Court, the Dougherty County Magistrate Court, and the Dougherty County Municipal Court. The Superior Court is the highest-level trial court, with exclusive jurisdiction over felony cases, land title disputes, divorce cases, and equity cases. Meanwhile, the State Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanors and concurrent jurisdiction with the Superior Court over other civil cases. The Juvenile Court has exclusive original jurisdiction over juvenile matters and is the only court to hear any action against any child under 17 years old.

The Probate Court has jurisdiction over probate matters. The Magistrate Court has the authority to issue warrants for all criminal offenses, hold committal hearings, issue citations for bad checks and violations of zoning ordinances, and issue good behavior bonds. Finally, the Municipal Court hears misdemeanor cases involving city ordinance violations and state traffic offenses. Interested parties can find Dougherty County courts at the following addresses:

Dougherty County Superior Court
225 Pine Avenue
Room 126
P.O. Box 1827
Albany, GA 31702
Phone: (229) 431-2198
Fax: (229) 431-2850

State Court of Dougherty County
225 Pine Avenue
Room 126
P.O. Box 1827
Albany, GA 31702
Phone: (229) 431-2198
Fax: (229) 431-2850

Dougherty County Juvenile Court
225 Pine Avenue
P.O. Box 1827
Albany, GA 31702
Phone: (229) 431-2162
Fax: (229) 431-2665

Probate Court of Dougherty County
225 Pine Avenue
Suite 123
P.O. Box 1827
Albany, GA 31702
Phone: (229) 431-2102
Fax: (229) 434-2694

Dougherty County Magistrate Court
P.O. Box 1827
Albany, GA 31702
Phone: (229) 431-3216
Fax: (229) 446-2752

Municipal Court of Albany
225 Pine Avenue
Room 202
P.O. Box 447
Albany, GA 31702
Phone: (229) 431-2865
Fax: (229) 432-8193

Dougherty County Superior Court Records

The Dougherty County Superior Court is the highest-level trial court, with exclusive jurisdiction over felony cases, land title disputes, divorce cases, and equity cases. Interested parties can get Dougherty County District Court records at the Clerk of Dougherty Superior Court’s office or via the Georgia Judicial Gateway's eAccess website.

The Clerk of Dougherty Superior Court’s Office
225 Pine Ave., Ste. 126, Albany, GA 31701
P.O. Box 1827, Albany, Georgia 31702
Office: (229) 431-2198
Fax: (229) 878-3165
Email: dococlerks@dougherty.ga.us

Dougherty County Criminal Records

In Dougherty County, criminal records are mainly accessible to the public, primarily through the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office. For more comprehensive information, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Georgia Crime Investigation Center (GCIC) offers more detailed criminal history records. These records encompass Dougherty County arrest records biodata, arrest information, court dispositions, and other related data. Felony conviction records are available to the public and third-party requesters without consent. Other criminal history records, however, require third-party requesters to obtain signed consent to be accessed. Record seekers can access felony conviction records from the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Georgia Crime Investigation Center (GCIC), or through the Georgia Felon Search.

Dougherty County Sheriff's Office
Judicial Building
225 Pine Avenue
Albany, GA 31701
Phone: (229) 431-3259

Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Georgia Crime Investigation Center (GCIC)
3121 Panthersville Road
Decatur, GA 30034
Phone: (404) 244-2600

Dougherty County Criminal Court Case Lookup

The Dougherty County Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over felony cases, while the Dougherty County State Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanors. To search for Dougherty County criminal court records, interested parties may visit the court clerks in person or conduct online searches using the Georgia Judicial Gateway's eAccess, which provides records for the Dougherty Superior and State Courts.

Get Dougherty County Civil Court Records

The Dougherty County Superior Court exclusively handles cases about land title disputes, divorce, and equity cases. The Dougherty County Superior Court and the Dougherty County State Court share concurrent jurisdiction for other civil matters. To search for Dougherty County civil court records, interested parties may visit the court clerks in person or conduct online searches using the Georgia Judicial Gateway's eAccess, which provides records for the Dougherty Superior and State Courts. If the Superior Court does not have exclusive jurisdiction, the Dougherty County Magistrate Court also has civil jurisdiction over small claims and cases involving up to $15,000. Interested parties can obtain records in person at the clerk’s office.

These civil case records contain:

• Claims against the defendant and the relief sought.
• Pleadings, motions, affidavits, exhibits, and replies filed by parties.
• Court Orders and Judgments.
• Records of court proceedings.

Dougherty County Family Court Records

There is no special court in Dougherty County for family cases. The Superior Court presides over divorce cases and other equity matters. Meanwhile, the Superior and State Courts share concurrent jurisdiction over other civil matters not reserved exclusively for the Superior Court. Hence, both courts have jurisdiction over family matters, and records of such issues are kept and accessible by the court clerks. To search for Dougherty County family court records, interested parties may visit the court clerks in person or conduct online searches using the Georgia Judicial Gateway's success,

Dougherty County Marriage and Divorce Records

Dougherty County vital records are accessible at the State Office of Vital Records (SOVR). The SOVR provides information about critical events from 1919 to the present. These include Doherty County marriage and divorce records. Requesting parties may mail requests to the SOVR or make in-person requests. Requesting parties must:

• Fill out the application form (Request for Search of Marriage Record Form, the Marriage Verification Request Form, or the Divorce Verification Request Form)
• Include a copy of a valid photo ID.
• Enclose a payment of $10 by money order or check made payable to the State Office of Vital Records.

Requesters can mail a request to:

State Office of Vital Records
1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30349

Interested parties can also visit the Probate Court physically:

Dougherty County Probate Court
225 Pine Avenue
Albany, GA 31702

Dougherty Birth and Death Records

Dougherty County birth and divorce records are available only to the individuals named in the records, their immediate family members of legal age, those who have been given signed consent by the involved parties, or through a court order. These records are accessible at the State Office of Vital Records (SOVR). Requesting parties must:

• Fill out the application form (Request for Search of Birth Record Form or the Request for Search of Death Record Form)
• Include a copy of a valid photo ID.
• Enclose a payment of $25 by money order or check made payable to the State Office of Vital Records. Each additional copy paid for at the same time is $5.

Requesters can mail a request to:

State Office of Vital Records
1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30349

Record seekers can also visit the Probate Court physically:

Dougherty County Probate Court
225 Pine Avenue
Albany, GA 31702

Dougherty County Probate Court Records

The Probate Court handles the management of estates for deceased individuals, appoints guardians and conservators for minors and adults who are incapacitated, and issues birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, weapons carry licenses, and some specialized permits.

Records from the Dougherty Probate Court can be accessed in person at:

Probate Court of Dougherty County
225 Pine Avenue
Suite 123
P.O. Box 1827
Albany, GA 31702
Phone: (229) 431-2102
Fax: (229) 434-2694

Dougherty County Property Records

The Dougherty County Tax Assessor's Office is responsible for maintaining property records. This includes ownership, map records of real estate, and personal property information for businesses. Interested parties can use the property records search portal to find property records. For those interested in completing a search in person, the office is located at:

Dougherty County Tax Assessor's Office
240 Pine Ave Suite 100
Albany, GA 31702
P.O. Box 1827
Albany, Georgia 31702

Dougherty County Court Records Online

To perform a name-based search for court records in Dougherty County, interested persons may access the Georgia Judicial Gateway's eAccess. Alternatively, third-party online resources, such as GeorgiaCourtRecords.us, may provide a convenient way to access public court records for Dougherty County. The platform offers an easy-to-use interface and allows parties to search by entering details like case numbers, party names, and dates. They often enable users to view and download court documents directly from their website, saving time and effort. However, since these platforms operate independently of government agencies, their information may need to be more accurate or updated.