Upson County Court Records

A court record is any document filed with the court clerk in connection with a judicial proceeding. In Upson County, court records are primarily maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court. Individuals seeking information about a court case can obtain court records from the clerk's office. Like all other Georgia court records, Upson County court records detail the parties involved, motions passed, and materials generated during the proceedings.

Are Court Records Public in Upson County?

Yes. The Georgia Open Records Act governs all Upson County public records and ensures individuals can access the county’s court records. However, some records are restricted and require authorization to access. These include:

• Sensitive personal information
• Certain physical evidence in sensitive cases
• Jury list data
• Attorney-client privileged communications and attorney work products
• Medical records
• Juvenile records

Under Rule 21 of the Georgia Uniform Superior Court Rules, the court may, after review, limit access to a court record or certain parts of the record. The restriction may be temporary (Ex Parte), not exceeding 30 days, or it may be longer, in which case the court will specify the duration.

Upson County Court Records Search

Individuals can access Upson County court records as follows:

• In person at the Superior Clerk of Court’s Office
• Online on a court's website
• Online through private aggregator websites

Upson County Courts

The Upson County court system comprises a Superior, Juvenile, Magistrate, and Probate Court. Each court is set up to handle different cases that arise in the county. Additionally, the City of Thomaston has a municipal court that handles city ordinance violations, traffic offenses within city limits, and other misdemeanors specific to the city. Below are the addresses of the courthouses in the county:

Upson County Justice Center
1185 Highway 19 South
Thomaston, Georgia 30286
Phone: (Superior Court): (706) 647-5847
Phone: (Magistrate Court): (706) 647-6891
Phone: (Probate Court): (706) 647-7015
Phone: (Juvenile Court): (706) 647-0028

Thomaston Municipal Court
106 East Lee Street
Thomaston, Georgia 30286
Phone: (706) 647-6045

Upson County Criminal and Civil Records

The Clerk of Superior Court is the main custodian of Upson County’s criminal and civil court records. Civil court records document disputes between private parties, such as personal injury claims, divorces, and property claims, while criminal records pertain to cases brought by the government against individuals accused of violating the law.

Upson County criminal records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court, the Magistrate Court, and the Upson County Sheriff’s Office, depending on the nature and stage of the case. Upson County arrest records, in particular, are primarily handled by the Sheriff’s Office and can be accessed in person or on the Sheriff’s website.

To obtain a criminal or civil court record, individuals may visit the Clerk of Superior Court’s Office at the Upson County Justice Center and provide relevant details about the record. Fees may apply to obtain copies of case documents. For those who prefer not to visit the courthouse in person, the court provides a Criminal/Civil Search website, where users can search available dockets using a party name, case number, or CSE number. It is important to note that records deemed confidential by law are not accessible online.

Upson County Marriage Records

The Probate Court in Upson County is responsible for processing marriage license requests and recording all marriages in the county. Upson County marriage records are considered public documents and are available for public inspection. Individuals can request these records in person at the probate courthouse or search basic record information on the court’s Marriage Records Search portal. However, an Upson County marriage certificate cannot be requested online and must be obtained in person at the courthouse. The cost for a certified copy of a marriage record is $20.

Upson County Divorce Records

The Superior Court has jurisdiction over all divorce proceedings in Upson County. Any individuals may contact the Clerk of Superior Court to obtain a divorce record, as these are public and can be accessed by anyone. Requesters will need to provide relevant details, such as the names of the parties involved or the divorce date, to help locate the record. Divorce records may also be searched on the court’s Criminal/Civil Search website.

Upson County Birth Records

Birth records document birth events in Upson County. These records establish a person’s age, citizenship, and identity and, along with death and marriage records, constitute the Upson County vital records.

However, birth records in Georgia are not public records. Only the following individuals are eligible to obtain an Upson County birth certificate:

• The person named on the record ("registrant")
• The registrant's parents or legal guardians
• The registrant's spouse, adult child, or adult sibling
• An authorized attorney

The Upson County Department of Health is responsible for issuing birth certificates in the county. A request can be made in person, online, or by mail. Mail-in requests must contain a clear copy of the applicant’s photo ID and should not include cash. Payments for mail orders are made by money order or cashier’s check and sent to:

Upson County Health Department
314 East Lee Street
Thomaston, Georgia 30286

The fee for an Upson County birth certificate is $25 for the first certificate and $5 for each additional copy requested simultaneously. Online orders incur extra costs.

Upson County Death Records

Death records in Upson County are issued by the local Department of Health. Like birth records, death records are not public records. Only specific individuals may request these records, such as:

• The decedent’s immediate family, legal guardian, or grandparents
• The decedent’s adult siblings or adult children
• A personal representative of the deceased’s estate

Upson County death certificates can be requested in person, online, or by mail following the same procedure as that for birth certificates. An initial copy of a death record costs $25, and each additional copy requested at the same time costs $5.

Upson County Probate Court Records

Probate court records contain details about proceedings surrounding the distribution of a deceased person's assets. The Upson County Probate Court handles these estate matters and also wills, conservatorships and guardianships for incapacitated adults, and temporary guardianships for minors. The court is also responsible for marriage licensing and misdemeanor traffic violations outside city limits.

Individuals can obtain a probate record by visiting the probate courthouse in person. It will be necessary to provide specific information about the record being sought. Upson probate records can also be accessed online on the county's Estate Records portal.

Upson County Property Records

The Clerk of Superior Court maintains property records in Upson County. These records include deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and property transfers. Inquirers may view or obtain these records at the Clerk of Superior Court’s Office. Alternatively, property records can be searched on the clerk's Real Estate Records Search portal. Property tax information can also be accessed online on the local Tax Assessor’s Tax Records portal.

Upson County Court Records Online

Third-party websites like Georgiacourtrecords.us offer online access to Upson County court records. Users can generally perform a search using a name or case number, but these sites often have advanced search filters to help improve search accuracy. However, these vendors typically require payment to disclose complete or extensive records.

While third-party platforms are useful for research or general informational purposes, they are not suitable for official or legal use. This is because they are not authorized to issue certified copies of court records, and the information they provide may not always be accurate or current.