Franklin County Court Records

Franklin County court records consist of documents and other recording media that a local court creates or receives pursuant to law, an ordinance, or due to any of its judicial functions according to GA Code § 50-18-91(2). Examples of these records include complaints, affidavits, transcripts, summons, orders, and judgments.

Generally, Franklin court records serve as legal documentation of local court cases, offering insight into why a case was initiated, how it was handled, and its progression through the legal system. They also promote transparency in judicial proceedings and hold judicial officers accountable.

Are Court Records Public in Franklin County?

Yes. Under the Georgia Open Records Act, court records are considered part of Franklin County public records unless they are specifically exempted by law or a court order. As a result, anyone can query local courts to access public court records they maintain. Nonetheless, public access to confidential court records is restricted. These records are only available to eligible individuals and entities or pursuant to a court order. Examples of these confidential records include, but are not limited to:

• Jury list data
• Medical records
• Juvenile records
• Adoption records
• Mental health records
• Records subject to attorney-client privilege
• Court records connected to pending investigations or prosecutions
• Sensitive personal information of an individual, such as their Social Security Number (SSN)

Franklin County Court Records Search

Interested persons can conduct Franklin County court record searches through any of the following:

• The Clerk's Office of local courts
• Online resources provided by local courts
• Third-party online resources

Franklin County Courts

Franklin County has five (5) types of courts: Superior, Juvenile, Probate, Magistrate, and Municipal. The physical addresses and contact information of these courts are outlined below:

Franklin County Superior Court
9592 Lavonia Road,
P.O. Box 70,
Carnesville, GA 30521
Phone: (706) 384-2514

Franklin County Juvenile Court
9592 Lavonia Road,
P.O. Box 70,
Carnesville, GA 30521
Phone: (706) 384-2514

Franklin County Probate Court
7085 Highway 145,
Suite A,
Carnesville, GA 30521
Phone: (706) 384-2403
Fax: (706) 384-2636

Franklin County Magistrate Court
7085 Highway 145, Suite B,
Carnesville, GA 30521
Phone: (706) 384-7473
Fax: (706) 384-2296

Franklin County Municipal Courts
Municipal Court of Canon
5071 Highway 17, P.O. Box 159,
Canon, GA 30520
Phone: (706) 245-8155 6

Municipal Court of Franklin Springs
P.O. Box 207,
Franklin Springs, GA 30639
Phone: (706) 245-6957 7

Municipal Court of Lavonia
851 Grogan Street,
P.O. Box 564,
Lavonia, GA 30553
Phone: (706) 356-4848
Fax: (706) 356-5523 8

Municipal Court of Royston
830 Church Street,
Royston, GA 30662
Phone: (706) 245-6195

Franklin County Criminal and Civil Records

Interested individuals can obtain Franklin County criminal records by conducting background checks through the Franklin County Sheriff's Office to acquire copies of Georgia criminal history reports on themselves or another person. A Georgia criminal history report offers a lifetime overview of an individual's complete adult misdemeanor and felony criminal history, including Franklin County arrest records and convictions. However, misdemeanor histories are included only if the person requesting the Georgia criminal history report is the subject of the report.

Individuals can request copies of Georgia criminal history reports at the front lobby of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. They must present a valid Georgia photo ID to have the requested report notarized by Sheriff's Office personnel and pay a $25 request fee via cash or money order. If someone wishes to request another person's criminal history report, they must provide that person's full name, date of birth, and, if possible, their Social Security Number. The typical processing time for a request is two (2) business days, and requesters must visit the Sheriff's Office to pick up reports at:

Franklin County Sheriff's Office
21 James Little Street
Carnesville, GA 30521,

On the other hand, record seekers can obtain court records of criminal and civil cases handled by the Franklin County court system by querying the clerk's office of the specific court that handled the case. Depending on the case's specifics, different courts may have jurisdiction over it. The superior court has broad jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases, while the magistrate court can handle minor criminal offenses and civil claims valued at $15,000 or less.

For instance, individuals can query the Franklin County Clerk of Superior Court for court records of criminal or civil court cases handled by the Superior Court. Queries may be submitted online through the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority website. Note that individuals must register an account to access the website. Alternatively, queries can be made in person at:

9592 Lavonia Road
P.O. Box 70
Carnesville, GA 30521
Phone: (706) 384-2514

The Clerk of Superior Court also provides online access to court dockets for civil and criminal cases.

Franklin County Marriage Records

Franklin County marriage records are generated and maintained by the county's Probate Court. In addition to preserving these records, the Probate Court is also responsible for issuing marriage licenses. Therefore, individuals seeking Franklin County marriage records can access them through the County Probate Court.

Interested individuals can visit the Probate Court during its operating hours (between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM), Monday through Friday, to request marriage records in person. They must provide sufficient information to identify the marriage record they are seeking, such as the bride's or groom's full name and the marriage date. Furthermore, requesters may be charged a fee for copies of marriage documents that the court furnishes.

It is worth noting that specific Franklin County marriage certificates and verifications can be obtained through the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) Office of Vital Records. Generally, the DPH holds marriage certificates recorded between June 1952 and August 1996 and can verify marriages that took place on or after January 1, 2014. Individuals can request relevant marriage records from the DPH using the appropriate request form (Request for Search of Marriage Form or Marriage Verification Request Form). The request form must be completed and mailed with other required items to the DPH, such as a $10 search fee and a copy of the requester's acceptable forms of ID.

Franklin County Divorce Records

Franklin County Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over divorce proceedings. Consequently, the Clerk of the Superior Court maintains divorce records. These records are subject to the Georgia Open Records Act and are available to anyone requesting them.

Record seekers can visit the Clerk of the Superior Court during regular business hours (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) to request divorce records in person. Alternatively, they may access divorce records online through the Georgia SuperiorCourt Clerks' Cooperative Authority website.

Franklin County Birth and Death Records

The Probate Judge issues and maintains Franklin County vital records, such as birth and death certificates. Therefore, interested individuals can obtain these records through the County Probate Court. However, public access to these records is restricted under OCGA § 31-10-26. As a result, only certain eligible persons or entities may request and obtain certified copies of a Franklin County birth certificate or death certificate. These eligible persons and entities include, but are not limited to:

• The person named on the birth record (the registrant)
• The parent, guardian, or temporary guardian of the registrant or decedent (for death certificate)
• The living legal spouse, next of kin, or the legal representative of the registrant or decedent.
• Any state or federal governmental agency that requires the certificate for official purposes.
• An individual who possesses a court order or subpoena for the certificate.

Eligible individuals can request Franklin County birth or death records by visiting the County Probate Court in person. To facilitate their request, they must provide specific information about the record they seek for proper identification. Additionally, they may need to present a valid photo ID for identity verification and pay a request fee.

It is worth noting that Franklin County birth records and death records from 1919 to the present are also accessible through the DPH Office of Vital Records.

Franklin County Probate Court Records

Franklin County has a dedicated Probate Court with exclusive and original jurisdiction over probate matters that arise in the county, such as probate of wills and administration of estates. Thus, all requests for Franklin County probate court records should be directed to the Probate Court. Requests are primarily made in person at the Probate Court during regular business hours. Requesters must provide sufficient information to identify the desired record and are typically charged a nominal fee for copies of probate documents they request.

Franklin County Property Records

In Franklin County, one responsibility of the Clerk of Superior Court is deed and property recording. The Clerk also records plats, liens, and other encumbrances against properties. Therefore, individuals seeking property records in Franklin County can start their search by querying the Clerk of Superior Court. Record seekers can access property deeds online through the clerk's Kofile portal. Alternatively, they can order or request property records by visiting or contacting the Clerk of Superior Court during regular working hours at:

9592 Lavonia Road
P.O. Box 70
Carnesville, GA 30521
Phone: (706) 384-2514
Fax: (706) 918-3190

It is worth noting that the Franklin County Tax Assessor's Department also appraises properties within the county. Interested individuals can access a property's appraisal record to determine its fair market value by contacting or visiting the Tax Assessor's Department at:

1199 Hull Avenue
P.O. Box 10
Carnesville, GA 30521
Phone: (706) 384-4896
Fax: (706) 384-4333

Franklin County Court Records Online

Record seekers can utilize third-party online resources like Georgiacourtrecords.us to access Franklin County Court records online. These resources offer user-friendly features that allow users to simultaneously search for court records from various courts within the Georgia court system, including those in Franklin County. This improves the search process and enhances convenience. However, most third-party resources are generally not affiliated with government entities, and the records they supply may contain outdated or incomplete information.