Alpharetta Court Records
Alpharetta court records are divided between the city's own court services and Fulton County Superior Court, which covers felony criminal cases, major civil suits, family law, and real estate filings for all of Fulton County including Alpharetta's approximately 67,275 residents. The city handles local traffic and ordinance matters through its Court Services division. This guide explains which court handles what, where to search online, and how to get copies of the records you need.
Alpharetta Quick Facts
Alpharetta Court Services
Alpharetta's Court Services division handles municipal court matters for the city. This includes traffic citations written by Alpharetta Police, violations of city ordinances, and other local case types that fall within the city's jurisdiction. The court's information page is at alpharetta.ga.us/174/Court-Services, where you can find contact information, hours, procedures, and online payment options.
If you received a traffic ticket in Alpharetta, this is your first stop. The court can tell you your case status, fine amount, and options for contesting the citation. For citations where a hearing is needed, staff can walk you through how to request one and what to expect in court. Georgia's municipal courts are not courts of record for appeals in the traditional sense, so the process differs slightly from Superior Court proceedings.
Alpharetta Court Services does not handle felony charges or civil disputes between private parties. Those cases go directly to the county level. A felony arrest in Alpharetta will generate a case file at Fulton County Superior Court, not at the city court.
Georgia's statewide filing notification system lets users monitor court activity by name. FANS (Filing Activity Notification System) sends email alerts when new documents are filed under names you're tracking across all Georgia counties.
FANS is free to use and works across all 159 Georgia counties, making it useful for monitoring property or case activity in Alpharetta or Fulton County at large.
Fulton County Superior Court Records and Alpharetta
Most significant court records tied to Alpharetta residents live at the Fulton County Superior Court level. The Fulton County Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts manages these filings at 136 Pryor Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303. Phone: (404) 613-5313. This office holds records for felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits, divorces and custody proceedings, and all real estate documents recorded in Fulton County.
The clerk's online portal allows case searches by name or number. Most civil and criminal filings are searchable digitally, though extremely old records or certain confidential filings may require an in-person request. Certified copies - the kind needed for legal proceedings or official use - must be ordered through the clerk's office and carry a per-page fee. Staff at the clerk's main line can tell you exactly what a specific document will cost before you commit to the request.
Fulton County State Court is a separate court from Superior Court and handles misdemeanor criminal cases and civil claims in a lower dollar range. That court has its own clerk. If you're not sure which Fulton County court holds a particular record, a quick call to the main clerk's number will usually resolve the question in a few minutes. Don't assume everything is in the same office - knowing the right court saves time.
Alpharetta sits in the northern part of Fulton County, near the Cherokee County line. If someone's address is near that border, double-check that the filing is in Fulton and not Cherokee, because filings go by where the case originates, not exactly where a person lives.
Searching Alpharetta Court Records Online
The GSCCCA at gsccca.org/search is the main statewide portal for real estate and civil records. You can search by name or parcel number and see deeds, liens, UCC filings, and recorded documents tied to Alpharetta addresses. It's free to search, though certified copies cost a fee. Document images are available for many filings going back decades.
PeachCourt at peachcourt.com provides access to some case documents filed electronically through Georgia's e-filing system. Civil filings in Superior Court that went through PeachCourt are visible to the public in many cases. This is especially useful if you're tracking a pending civil suit and want to see recent filings without going to the courthouse.
Georgia's open records law at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 gives the public the right to inspect and copy court records. Courts must make records available unless a judge has sealed them or a statute restricts access. Exemptions exist under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 for things like ongoing investigations, certain victim information, and some personnel records - but the default is public access.
Types of Alpharetta Court Records
Different courts hold different records. Here's a general guide to where Alpharetta-related filings go:
- Traffic tickets and city ordinance cases: Alpharetta Court Services
- Misdemeanor criminal cases: Fulton County State Court
- Felony criminal cases: Fulton County Superior Court
- Small claims and civil disputes under threshold: Fulton County Magistrate Court
- Major civil lawsuits: Fulton County Superior Court
- Divorce and family law: Fulton County Superior Court
- Real estate - deeds, liens, mortgages: GSCCCA or Fulton County Clerk
Within any court file, what you'll find varies by case type. Criminal cases include the charge, plea, trial record if applicable, and disposition. Civil cases hold the complaint, responses, motions, and judgment. Real estate records document the ownership chain and any encumbrances on a property. Family law files can include petitions, financial disclosures, parenting plans, and final decrees - though some of those may have limited access depending on what a judge ordered sealed.
Legal Resources for Alpharetta Residents
Georgia Legal Aid serves low-income residents in Fulton County and across the state. Their services cover civil matters like housing disputes, family law, and consumer issues. You can find intake information and office contacts at georgialegalaid.org. The Atlanta Legal Aid Society is another option for Fulton County residents who qualify for free assistance.
The State Bar of Georgia at gabar.org operates a lawyer referral service. If you need an attorney for an active court matter - not just a records lookup - the referral service matches you with attorneys who practice in the relevant area. Many offer reduced-fee initial consultations. For Alpharetta's tech-heavy professional community, there's no shortage of attorneys familiar with both the local courts and the specialized legal needs of the area.
The Fulton County Clerk's office is a practical starting point for any record search that goes beyond the city court. Their staff can confirm which court holds a file, what a certified copy costs, and the fastest way to get access. That kind of administrative help is often free and takes less time than you'd expect.
Fulton County Court Records
Alpharetta is in Fulton County. All felony cases, civil lawsuits, divorces, and real estate filings for Alpharetta residents go through Fulton County Superior Court. The Fulton County Clerk maintains those records and offers both online and in-person access from their Atlanta office.
Nearby Cities with Court Records
Other north Fulton cities share the same county court system. Each has its own municipal court for local matters and its own court records page.