Henry County Court Records

The Georgia legislature, O.C.G.A § 50-18-91, describes a "court record" as any document, paper, microfilm, letter, book, magnetic tape, or similar material made or maintained in connection with a court's adjudicative role. These records include pleadings, complaints, decrees, judgments, summonses, exhibits, transcripts, and dockets.

Court files maintained in Henry County form part of the broader Georgia court records. They are integral to a court's effective functioning and for promoting public trust and confidence in the justice system. Moreover, court records preserve legal precedents that can affect or influence judicial decisions.

Are Court Records Public in Henry County?

Yes. The Georgia Open Records Act (ORA) secures the public's right to access records in a government agency's custody, so long as the documents pertain to the transaction of public business. Accordingly, Henry County court records are open to members of the society.

However, some court records are restricted from public release to protect the privacy of those involved in cases and safeguard sensitive information. Examples include:

• Jury list data
• Personally identifying information (SSNs, debit/credit card information, financial data)
• Expunged records
• Protective orders
• Juvenile delinquency files
• Records prohibited from release by a federal or state statute

Henry County Court Records Search

To find court records in Henry County, a person may:

• Visit the courthouse where the case was filed or heard.
• Send a document request to the clerk of the court's office.
• Access case management tools provided on the Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts website or a local court's website.
• Access online databases provided by independent companies.

Henry County Court Records Search by Name

Individuals can perform a Henry County court records search by name through a presiding court (where a case was filed/heard). At the courthouse, one can provide a defendant or plaintiff's first and last name to the clerk's office to facilitate record retrieval. If other information about a case is known, such as the case number or filing date, the requester may also give that to staff to expedite the search.

Another way to conduct a Henry court records name search is to access a case management system featured on a local court's website. For instance, the Henry County Magistrate Court Docket Search is available to look up magistrate court cases by name or case number. After answering the security check question and accepting a disclaimer, the user can select the "Party Name" option and input at least a last name into the designated search field. The system is free to access, but users can only view a basic case index; no actual case documents can be printed or downloaded from the site. This limitation generally applies regardless of the official court database employed to search for a case.

Members of the public can also explore the case search tools highlighted by the Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts to look up cases by name in certain Henry courts (mainly superior and state). Note, however, that user registration is mandatory, and fees may be charged for document access.

Henry County Courts

Henry County has six kinds of trial-level courts: superior, state, magistrate, probate, juvenile, and municipal courts. Their addresses and contact information are listed below.

Henry County Superior Court

1 Courthouse Square
1st Floor
McDonough, GA 30253-3220
Phone: (770) 288-8022
Fax: (770) 898-7573

Henry County State Court

1 Judicial Center
Suite 120
McDonough, GA 30253
Phone: (770) 288-7800
Fax: (770) 288-7776

Henry County Magistrate Court

44 John Frank Ward Boulevard
Suite 260
McDonough, GA 30253
Phone: (770) 288-7700
Fax: (770) 288-7722

Henry County Probate Court

99 Sims Street
McDonough, GA 30253
Phone: (770) 288-7600
Probate Fax: (770) 288-7616
Vital Records Fax: (770) 288-7562

Henry County Juvenile Court

44 John Frank Ward Boulevard
McDonough, GA 30253
Phone: (770) 288-6866

Municipal Courts in Henry County

Hampton Municipal Court

4 McDonough Street
Hampton, GA 30228
Phone: (470) 610-4907
(The above is the court clerk's office location. Court sessions are held at Glenn Mitchell Community Building (Train Depot), 20 East Main Street South, Hampton, GA 30228.)

Locust Grove Municipal Court

3640 Highway 42
Locust Grove, GA 30248
Phone: (770) 957-7055

McDonough Municipal Court

40 Lawrenceville Street
McDonough, GA 30253
Phone: (770) 954-2872
Fax: (770) 898-4973

Stockbridge Municipal Court

4602 North Henry Boulevard
Stockbridge, GA 30281
Phone: (770) 389-7906

Henry County Superior Court Case Search

The Henry County Superior Court is a broad trial jurisdiction court. It hears all civil actions and appeals from the lower courts. Additionally, the court has exclusive jurisdiction over all felony, divorce, title to land, and equity cases.

Members of the public who want to review cases heard by the court can access the Henry County Superior Court Docket Search portal (located at the bottom half of the court's website under "Quick Links"). Cases from 1998 to the present date are available. Individuals can also submit a search request to the Superior Court Clerk's office at 1 Courthouse Square.

Whether requesting records online or in person, an inquirer must furnish specific information about the case. This may be the name of a party involved in the case, the case number, or a filing date range. The clerk's office can be reached at (770) 288-8022 for case search inquiries.

Henry County District Court Records

Courts designated as "district" courts are usually limited jurisdiction courts, constrained by a state's constitution or legislature to address certain legal matters. While Henry County does not have a "district" court by name, the region has multiple limited jurisdiction courts. These courts include the state, magistrate, probate, juvenile, and municipal courts.

The state court hears misdemeanors, traffic cases, felony preliminaries, and civil law actions (excluding civil cases reserved exclusively for the superior court). The magistrate court oversees civil claims of up to $15,000, minor criminal offenses, and issues warrants. The probate court exercises exclusive, original jurisdiction over matters of probate. The juvenile court handles all cases involving individuals below 18 years of age. Lastly, the municipal courts maintain jurisdiction over ordinance violations, traffic, and criminal preliminaries in their respective municipalities. Some municipal courts also hear criminal trespass, misdemeanor shoplifting, and possession of marijuana cases.

Individuals seeking records from Henry's limited jurisdiction courts are advised to stop by or contact the court that heard or resolved the matter. To expedite a search, a person must have at least a case party's name or case number. Further, online portals may be available to individuals on official court websites to retrieve limited case information.

Henry County Criminal Records

Different law enforcement agencies in Henry County have jurisdiction to make arrests when they reasonably suspect someone of committing a crime. These agencies maintain records related to criminal incidents, which interested members of the public can request under the Georgia Open Records Act.

Local police agencies typically require a name, case number, or incident date to furnish pre-trial Henry County arrest records to the public, and a requester may be liable for fees in response to a duplication request. Some agencies provide online forms that can be completed and hand-delivered, mailed, faxed, or emailed to their records divisions. However, it should be noted that Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34) restricts who can obtain cumulative Henry arrest records and other criminal history information collated by criminal justice agencies on a particular individual. Authorized parties generally include the subject of a record, parties with the subject's signed consent, and public agencies requiring the records to perform an official function.

Individuals seeking their criminal records can request fingerprinting services from the Henry County Police Department. The results cover not only Henry County criminal records but also all Georgia and federal criminal history record information. Depending on the reason for the fingerprinting, fees may be charged for the records.

It is worth noting that while the general public cannot see a person's comprehensive Georgia criminal history information, O.C.G.A § 35-3-34 (d.2) allows them to view in-state felony conviction records, including those from Henry County. The Georgia Technology Authority maintains a Felon Search website to look up such records. However, a transaction fee applies.

More information about Georgia fingerprint-based checks is available on the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's FAQs website.

Henry County Criminal Court Case Lookup

To look up a criminal court case in Henry County, one can visit the courthouse where the case was filed or heard. Depending on the presiding court, online access may also be available. For example, the Henry County Superior Court has a fee-based eCertification portal for obtaining copies of court documents without going to the courthouse. Meanwhile, individuals can access the Henry County State Court Docket Search with a name or case number to view basic criminal case information from the local state court for free.

Get Henry County Civil Court Records

Civil court files contain information and documents related to a civil proceeding held in a court of law. In Henry County, these records are preserved by the courts that hear civil matters, which include the state, superior, and magistrate courts. Individuals who know or identify the presiding court can visit the court's physical location to inspect or copy records at the clerk's office. Some courts also provide remote electronic access to their civil court records. An example is the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) eCertification portal, which provides subscribers with copies of civil court documents from the Henry Superior Court for a fee.

Henry County Family Court Records

Family court cases are legal actions or proceedings pertaining to a domestic relations issue, such as child support, termination of parental rights, divorce, domestic violence, and alimony.

The Superior Court in Henry County has exclusive jurisdiction over family cases. To access family court records, individuals can stop by the Superior Court Clerk's Office during regular business hours or utilize the clerk's eCertification portal for remote access. It should be noted that certain records may be withheld from public disclosure to secure sensitive information often generated or featured in domestic relations proceedings.

Henry Dissolution of Marriage Records

Dissolution of marriage (divorce) records are available through the Henry County Superior Court, which has jurisdiction to hear such matters. One can stop by 1 Courthouse Square, McDonough, to obtain a dissolution of marriage record or access the Superior Court Clerk's eCertification portal for copies. The clerk's office can also be contacted at (770) 288-8022 for inquiries.

Henry County Marriage and Divorce Records

Individuals seeking Henry County divorce records can submit oral or written requests to the Henry County Superior Court Clerk's office, as outlined above. However, Henry County marriage records are obtainable from the probate court.

The following methods can be used to request a certified copy of a Henry County marriage certificate from the probate court. Anyone can order these copies as long as the marriage license was issued in Henry County.

• In Person: An appointment must be scheduled to obtain a Henry marriage certificate at the Probate Court's physical location. Visitors must be able to provide a spouse's full name at the time of marriage and the marriage date.
• By Mail: Individuals can fill out the Marriage Certificate Request Form and send it to the address below:

Henry County Probate Court
Attn: Vital Records
99 Sims Street
McDonough GA 30253

A self-addressed envelope and fee must be included. If requesting a copy of a marriage application, the applicant must also furnish a photocopy of their ID.

• Online: Individuals can find a link to the Henry County Probate Court's ordering site on the department's website. Subsequently, they can complete a marriage certificate order by providing a marriage date and spouse's name (first and last) and paying the associated fee.

Each certified copy of a Henry County marriage certificate costs $10, regardless of the application method used.

Members of the public can also order certified copies of marriage applications, verifications, and certificates from the Georgia State Vital Records Office. However, the office only provides marriage applications and certificates from June 1952 through August 1996—and marriage applications are only available to spouses. People uncertain of the county where a marriage occurred can request a marriage verification from the State Vital Records. Admittedly, the office can only verify marriages occurring on or after January 1, 2014.

Henry Birth and Death Records

Birth, death, and marriage records comprise the Henry County vital records. The procedures for ordering marriage records are outlined above, generally including requesting from the local probate court and Georgia Vital Records Office. Those seeking Henry County birth or death records can also inquire at the probate court or State Vital Records Office. However, the fees and application processes are different.

To obtain a certified copy of a Henry County birth certificate, an individual can mail a completed Birth Certificate Form to the probate court, along with a photocopy of their valid ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a money order for the appropriate fee.

One can also request Henry County birth records online through the probate court's ordering site, or they may schedule an appointment to retrieve a birth certificate in person during regular business hours. The links to the court's online ordering and appointment scheduling websites are available on the Vital Records page. However, only the following parties can obtain a certified copy of a Henry County birth certificate:

• The subject of the record
• Spouse
• Child
• Parent
• Grandparent
• Adult brother or sister
• Legal guardian
• Legal representative

A certified copy of a birth certificate costs $25. However, a $5 fee applies for each additional copy ordered from the probate court simultaneously. People can also request a birth record from the Georgia Vital Records Office for $25 for a certified copy and $10 for each additional copy. The Georgia Vital Records Office has birth records from January 1919 to the present.

On the other hand, to obtain a certified copy of a Henry County death certificate from the Henry probate court, an individual can follow the steps to request Henry County birth records (same retrieval fees apply). The court's Vital Records Request Form can be used to request copies of death certificates. However, only these parties can obtain death records in Henry County:

• Adult child
• Parent
• Legal living spouse
• Adult sibling
• Next of kin
• Legal guardian
• Legal representative

A valid ID and proper documentation are required to obtain a death certificate. Eligible parties can also request death records from the Georgia Vital Records Office.

In Henry County, birth and death records serve various legal purposes. Birth records are essential for tax purposes, school admissions, driver's license applications, and establishing identities. Meanwhile, death records are helpful for settling estates, claiming pensions, and genealogical research.

Henry County Probate Court Records

The Henry County Probate Court exercises jurisdiction over wills, estates administration guardianships, conservatorships, involuntary hospitalizations, marriage licenses, involuntary treatments for drug and alcohol abuse, vital records, and issuance of gun permits.

To locate probate court records, individuals can stop by the Probate Court Records Room at 99 Sims Street or contact the court at (770) 288-7600. A $1 per page fee applies to make copies at the courthouse.

Individuals can also utilize online search tools provided on the probate court's website to research and obtain copies of court documents.

Henry County Property Records

Henry County property (land) records are an extensive collection of documents and information pertaining to real estate. The Henry County Superior Court Clerk's office is the primary custodian of Henry property records—another integral component of the Henry County public records. The following methods can be utilized to search for and retrieve property records from the Clerk's Real Estate Division:

• Go to 1 Courthouse Square, McDonough, GA 30253, to request physical copies. It is crucial to have a grantee's name (buyer), grantor's name (seller), or transaction date to find real estate records. Requesters are subject to fees to retrieve copies of documents.
• Access the GSCCCA's Consolidated Real Estate Index to look up land records by name (grantor/grantee), book and page number, subdivision/unit/block/lot, instrument type, or address. (The instrument type and address search options require a subscription.) The current Real Estate Index features records from 1990 to the present date. Records retrievable include deeds, liens, contracts, cancellations, powers of attorney, and more.

Individuals can also access the Superior Court Clerk's Land Records Search System (LRS) to find real estate records dating back to the 1930s. The clerk also has a Public Records Search portal to view real estate records from 1822 to date. Links to these search portals are available on the Real Estate Division's website.

• Email the Superior Court Clerk's Real Estate Division at superiorcourtrealestate@co.henry.ga.us or call (770) 288-8060.
• Send a written inquiry to the clerk's office by mail (same as the physical address). Each request must bear relevant information like the book/page number or grantor/grantee's name. Those requesting copies of plats can review the applicable fees on the clerk's website.

Members of the public seeking property tax information in Henry County can view records (and pay property taxes) using the property search tool on the local tax commissioner's website. To be redirected to the portal, individuals should select "View or Pay Property Tax" on the website homepage. Access is provided at no cost.

Henry County Court Records Online

While courts are the official repositories of Henry court records, there exist several independent websites, like Georgiacourtrecords.us, that specialize in aggregating and disseminating public records to interested persons. These third-party websites can typically be searched by name or case number to find court records and other public documents maintained locally, such as Henry criminal records. Users can also expand their searches to other jurisdictions to retrieve publicly available data associated with a particular individual. However, a fee may be incurred to obtain detailed records.

Beyond the potential cost limitations, it is imperative to acknowledge certain constraints inherent to a third-party website. Given that third-party databases collate records from official entities at varying intervals, there may be discrepancies regarding what can be retrieved on one site versus another. In addition, although third-party databases significantly expedite the research time, records retrieved may not be relied upon to make legal decisions without further investigation into the official documents.