Jackson County Court Records

Jackson County court records is the general term for documents of cases heard and decided by any of the county's courts. These records contain varying information about court proceedings and are maintained in various forms, such as papers, letters, maps, books, microfilm, and magnetic tape.

They are also stored in a case file and cataloged into different types, including:

• Docket sheets
• Transcripts
• Affidavits
• Motions
• Complaints
• Warrants
• Summons
• Judgments

Note: Per O.C.G.A. § 50-18-90, records of court employees, such as judges, clerks, prosecuting attorneys, public defenders, and court reporters, are also regarded as court records.

Jackson County court records are of utmost legal significance in the judicial system for numerous reasons, including:

• Establishing legal precedence
• Servicing as evidence during appeal hearings
• Promoting fairness, transparency, and accountability in the legal system

Members of the public also find court records useful for:

• Legal and academic research
• Criminal background checks
• Policy making
• Investigative reporting
• Verifying real estate ownership
• Satisfying curiosity

Are Court Records Public Jackson County?

Yes. Court records generated or filed in Jackson County are presumed open to public inspection and copying under the Georgia Open Records Act of 1959. Consequently, any interested party can approach a custodian of court records for court case information by submitting an Open Records Request orally or in writing.

Individuals should note, however, that the right to access Jackson County court records is not absolute. Record custodians can deny requests for documents expressly exempted from disclosure by an extant law. These records include:

• Information marked as confidential, such as identification numbers, home addresses, financial statements, bank account information, and social security numbers
• Most juvenile records
• Mugshots (except those under the state's sexual offender registry)
• Sealed or expunged records
• Records that are included as part of an active or pending investigation

Note: Georgia law allows record custodians to charge reasonable fees for searching, producing, copying, and certifying court records. In some cases, requesters must indicate a willingness to pay costs for reviewing or producing court records before the search.

Jackson County Court Records Search

Several options exist for accessing Jackson County court records, including:

• Querying the Jackson County Clerk of Court's Office or the courthouse where the case was heard in person during regular administrative hours
• Leveraging the eSearch platforms made available on the Jackson County Clerk of Court's website
• Utilizing the eAccess to Court Records platform provided by the Judicial Council of Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)
• Leveraging third-party websites

Jackson County Courts

Jackson County belongs to the Piedmont Judicial Circuit of the Superior Court 10th District. The court system comprises a superior court, state court (the trial-level court), juvenile court, probate court, magistrate court, and municipal courts.

The addresses of all the courts in Jackson County are outlined as follows:

Jackson County Superior/State/Magistrate/Juvenile/Probate Courts

5000 Jackson Parkway
P.O. Box 7
Jefferson, GA 30549
Phone: (706) 387-6246
Fax: (706) 387-6273

Municipal Court of Arcade
3325 Athens Highway
P.O. Box 417
Arcade, GA 30549
Phone: (706) 367-5500
Fax: (706) 367-1914

Municipal Court of Braselton
5040 Highway 53
P.O. Box 306
Braselton, GA 30517
Phone: (706) 654-5553

Municipal Court of Commerce
1491 South Elm Street
P.O. Box 348
Commerce, GA 30529
Phone: (706) 335-3200

Municipal Court of Hoschton
79 City Square
P.O. Box 61
Hoschton, GA 30548
Phone: (706) 824-1911

Municipal Court of Jefferson
Jefferson Police Department
1010 Washington Street
Jefferson, GA 30549
Phone: (706) 367-5231

Municipal Court of Maysville
4 Homer Street
P.O. Box 86
Maysville, GA 30558
Phone: (706) 652-2274
Fax: (706) 652-3511

Municipal Court of Nicholson
P.O. Box 365
Nicholson, GA 30565
Phone: (706) 757-3408

Municipal Court of Pendergrass
P.O. Box 95
Pendergrass, GA 30567
Phone: (706) 693-2494

Jackson County Criminal Records

Individuals can obtain Jackson County Criminal Records by following these two steps:

1. Determine the Custodian of Records:

Jackson County criminal records have a broad scope, encompassing different types of records and official custodians. Consequently, members of the public should begin their search by determining the type of criminal record and the agency dedicated to maintaining the criminal record of interest.

For example, local law enforcement agencies maintain arrest records of individuals they detain. As such, individuals seeking information about detainees arrested by a particular police department should approach the department for such records. On the county level, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office is responsible for handling criminal case files of arrested persons. However, individuals searching for records of persons arrested in Jackson County by a state agency should query the Georgia Department of Public Safety. Parties may also conduct a comprehensive local or state criminal background check from the above agencies and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).

1. Conduct the Search through Approved Methods

Various record custodians prescribe varying procedures for searching criminal records in their custody. However, a commonly accepted method is to visit the record custodian’s physical location during regular work hours to obtain copies of documents. Record custodians may also provide online access to their criminal records on their official websites.

For example, the Jefferson Police Department provides an online form for members of the public to make an Open Records Request. On the other hand, inmate information maintained by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office is available on the Sheriff's Offender Index, which is searchable by name and booking date. Information obtainable on the offender's index includes:

• Arrestee's identifying information including name, sex, height and weight
• Arrest information such as arrest date and time, and arresting officer
• Warrant number
• Offense type and description
• Bond information
• Court details

To obtain Jackson County criminal records from the Georgia Department of Public Safety, interested individuals should query the Department's Open Records Unit at openrecords@gsp.net or send a mail to:

P.O. Box 1456
Attention: Open Records Unit
Atlanta, GA 30371

Details on accessing criminal history information from the GBI are highlighted in the Bureau's Criminal History.

Other methods for obtaining Jackson County criminal records include:

• Submitting a filled Open Records Request Form to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office via email to sheriff@jacksoncountysheriff.us
• Conducting a criminal history check with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office by submitting a completed consent form along with a photo ID and $10 cash or money order (for Jackson County residents only)
• Querying the criminal court that heard the matter

Get Jackson County Civil Court Records

Jackson County civil court records are documents kept by a court clerk in relation to any proceeding between two private individuals, organizations, or entities, and of which there are no criminal imputations. Civil court cases typically focus on resolving disputes, enforcing a right, or obtaining damages and includes the following types of cases:

• Property disputes
• Contract disputes
• Personal injury matters
• Tort claims
• Domestic relations (child support, adoptions, child custody, divorces, etc)
• Employment and business disputes
• Probate matters

Most civil court records filed or generated in Jackson County courts are kept in the custody of the Jackson County Clerk of Courts. These include records of cases heard in the superior, state, and magistrate courts. To search these records, individuals can query the Clerk of Courts in-person or utilize the online case search platform on the clerk's website. Individuals may search civil court case records for free, but must create an account with a username and password to print copies of documents.

Alternatively, members of the public can obtain Jackson County civil court case records through the state's judicial council's eAccess to Court Records page. However, they will be required to register an account for free to utilize this platform.

Note: Individuals should call ahead to check availability of civil court case documents recorded prior to 1998. Parties must also give a 24 hour notice to retrieve archived records. Payment for obtaining copies of documents may be made with cash, money orders, or cashier's check. Debit/credit card payments attract a 4% convenience fee.

Jackson County Marriage Records

Jackson County marriage records, including marriage applications, licenses, and certificates are public documents kept in the custody of the Jackson County probate court located on the first floor of the Jackson County courthouse. Individuals can visit this location during normal work hours to obtain copies of marriage licenses.

To obtain copies of marriage certificates, interested individuals may send an email to probatecourt@jacksoncountygov.com or send a mail to:

Jackson County Probate Court
5000 Jackson Parkway
Suite 140
Jefferson, GA 30549

Mail requests should be accompanied with a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment ($10 per copy and $2 mailing fee).

The Georgia Department of Public Health also maintains Jackson County marriage records from June 1952 to August 1996. Detailed information on how to obtain these records can be found on the Department's marriage records page.

Jackson County Divorce Records

The Jackson County Superior Court maintains exclusive jurisdiction over divorce matters in the county. Records from divorce proceedings are public documents and form part of the Clerk of Court's civil records. Consequently, interested parties can search Jackson County divorce case documents using the same procedures outlined in “Jackson County Civil Court Records” above.

Jackson County Birth and Death Records

Records of persons born and deceased in Jackson County are maintained by the probate court, which is the county's vital records custodian. These records can be obtained by filling out and submitting a Birth Certificate Request Form or Death Certificate Request Form and mailing it to the Jackson County Probate Court with a self-addressed stamped envelope, a copy of current identification, and check or money order for the accurate copy and processing fees. Record requests can also be made in person or via email to probatecourt@jacksoncountygov.com. Email requests should include all the information required in the request form, a valid address for receiving mailed certificates, and a phone number to facilitate payment.

Birth certificates are only available to the subject of the record, their close family members (parents, grandparents, adult children, adult siblings, spouses, and legal guardians), and legal representatives. On the other hand, death certificates are only released to the decedent's parents, spouse, children, other next of kin, or legal representative. A court of competent jurisdiction may also order a death certificate to be released to a party.

Note: Any applicant who applies properly can obtain certified copies of death certificates without cause.

Jackson County Probate Court Records

Jackson County probate court records are documentary materials generated in the course of a legal proceeding regarding probate matters, which include:

• Probate of wills
• Administration of estate
• Adult guardianship and conservatorship
• Temporary and permanent guardianship of minors
• Conservatorship of minors
• Evaluation orders in mental, drug, and alcohol cases

Probate court records in Jackson County are public documents that are searchable by anyone, but with the limitations discussed above. Individuals can access these records by querying the Jackson County Probate Court in person at the courthouse.

Jackson County Property Records

Jackson County property records are documents that provide information regarding a piece of real estate situated within the county, including:

• Property owner’s name
• Legal description of the property
• Tax assessment information
• Information on encumbrances
• Deed information

Although the Jackson County Clerk of Court's Office does not conduct title searches, it handles real estate records and makes them publicly accessible. Anyone can obtain these records, which date back to 1796, in person at the deed room in the Clerk of Court's Office. Digital images dating back to January 1988 are also available on public terminals.

For property tax information, individuals should direct their queries to the Jackson County Assessor's Office located on the lower floor of the Jackson County Administration Building. The assessor's office also provides an online records search platform for anyone to obtain information on properties in Jackson County. The database is searchable by owner's name, location address, parcel number, real key or account number, legal information, and reprop key. Members of the public can also conduct a sales search through this channel.

Jackson County Court Records Online

The official processes for obtaining comprehensive Jackson County court records may be time-consuming. As such, searchers may prefer to use more convenient means of securing court case information by taking advantage of third-party record search providers such as Georgiacourtrecords.us. However, while these private websites offer remote, easy access to numerous types of court records at a go, they also charge significant fees for their services.