Chamblee Court Records
Chamblee court records are maintained by two courts serving this city of about 32,321 people in DeKalb County, just northeast of Atlanta. The Chamblee Municipal Court handles traffic violations and city ordinance cases within city limits, while DeKalb County Superior Court holds civil, criminal, and family law records for the county. This page covers how each court works, what types of records each one keeps, and the best ways to search online or make a formal records request.
Chamblee Quick Facts
Chamblee Municipal Court Records
The Chamblee Municipal Court handles cases within the city's own authority. Traffic violations issued by Chamblee Police within city limits come before this court. City ordinance violations, parking, noise, zoning, and code enforcement cases, are heard here as well. The court does not handle felonies or civil suits. Those go to DeKalb County's courts. The municipal court serves as the entry point for local legal matters that arise under city law.
The City of Chamblee runs its municipal court information page at chambleega.com/municipal_court. That page covers how to reach the court, how hearings are scheduled, and how to pay a fine. If you have a pending case or need to look up a past case from Chamblee's municipal court, contact the court clerk directly. They handle case status checks, copy requests, and scheduling questions. The clerk can also tell you what fees apply for certified documents.
Municipal court records in Chamblee are public as a general rule. Sealed cases and juvenile matters are restricted. Certified copies cost a per-page fee. The clerk's office is the source for all official documents from city court proceedings.
The Chamblee city site provides current information on the municipal court, including hours and how to reach the clerk. Chamblee Municipal Court is the official source for city-level case information.
For county-level records beyond Chamblee's municipal court, the GSCCCA search tool covers DeKalb County filings including real estate and lien records.
DeKalb County Superior Court and Chamblee Court Records
All serious legal matters involving Chamblee residents go to DeKalb County Superior Court. This includes felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits, divorces, custody matters, and appeals from lower courts. DeKalb County Superior Court sits in Decatur, the county seat, which is a short drive from Chamblee. The Clerk of Superior Court keeps all civil and criminal case records and handles certified copy requests.
For real estate records, deeds, liens, mortgages, and property filings, the statewide GSCCCA platform at gsccca.org covers DeKalb County along with all 159 Georgia counties. You can search by name or parcel at no cost. The platform includes document images for many filings and is updated regularly as new documents are recorded. It's the fastest way to look up property records tied to a Chamblee address.
DeKalb County also has a State Court, a Magistrate Court, and a Probate Court. State Court handles misdemeanor criminal matters and civil claims up to a threshold amount. Magistrate Court hears small civil disputes, landlord-tenant cases, and some civil warrants. Probate Court manages estates, wills, and guardianship proceedings. Each maintains separate records. If you're not sure which court handled a matter, start with the Superior Court Clerk, they can redirect you.
DeKalb County is one of the larger Georgia counties by population, so its court system is more complex than many others. There are multiple clerks and multiple divisions. Knowing which one holds the record you need is important before you call or visit.
Searching Chamblee Court Records Online
For real estate and document filings, start at gsccca.org/search. This is Georgia's statewide search for deeds, liens, UCC filings, and other recorded documents. DeKalb County is fully covered. The search is free. Certified copies can be ordered online. The database goes back many years and is regularly updated.
PeachCourt at peachcourt.com is Georgia's Superior Court e-filing system. It also gives the public access to some civil case records from participating courts. DeKalb County participates in the system, so some civil filings may be accessible there. It's useful if the county's own search portal doesn't show what you need for a civil matter.
The FANS alert system at fans.gsccca.org lets you track new filings in DeKalb County tied to a specific name or property. Set it up once and get email notifications when new documents are recorded. It's free. This is handy for monitoring ongoing litigation or watching property filings without manual searches.
Georgia's open records law at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 makes most court records available to the public. Certain records are protected under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, juvenile cases, sealed filings, and certain sensitive proceedings are not public. If access is denied, the clerk must explain the legal basis.
What Chamblee Court Records Are Available
Records come from different courts depending on the case type. Here's the breakdown for Chamblee and DeKalb County:
- Traffic tickets and city ordinances: Chamblee Municipal Court
- Misdemeanor criminal cases: DeKalb County State Court
- Felony criminal cases: DeKalb County Superior Court
- Civil lawsuits and small claims: DeKalb County Superior or Magistrate Court
- Divorces and family law: DeKalb County Superior Court
- Estates and wills: DeKalb County Probate Court
- Deeds, liens, and real estate filings: GSCCCA or DeKalb County Clerk
Arrest records are separate from court records. The Chamblee Police Department maintains arrest information for incidents within the city. For incidents outside city limits in DeKalb County, the Sheriff's Office holds that information. Court records and arrest records are different things, one shows what happened in court, the other shows that someone was detained.
Chamblee Court Records and Additional Resources
The clerk finder at gaclerks.org/Clerks/FindMyClerk.aspx gives you direct contact details for the DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk. Use it to find the mailing address and phone number before sending a written records request. The Georgia Judicial Gateway at georgiacourts.gov explains the different levels of Georgia courts and links to court websites, which is helpful if you're not sure which court to contact.
For information specific to Georgia municipal courts, how they work, what they can hear, and how they differ from county courts, the Georgia courts site at georgiacourts.gov/municipal gives a clear overview. Chamblee's municipal court fits the standard Georgia municipal court model, handling only city-level matters.
Georgia's Odyssey e-filing platform at odysseyefilega.com supports e-filing for some Georgia courts and also provides public record access for certain filings. It's another tool worth checking for DeKalb County civil records.
The Odyssey platform supports e-filing and public access for some Georgia Superior Court records, including courts in the DeKalb County area.
Legal Help for Chamblee Residents
Georgia Legal Aid provides free civil legal help to qualifying residents. Their site at georgialegalaid.org covers intake processes and regional office locations. The organization serves DeKalb County and can assist with family law, housing, and benefits matters for those who meet income requirements. Apply online or by phone to see if you qualify.
The Atlanta Legal Aid Society also serves DeKalb County residents and can be reached through their main office in the Atlanta area. The State Bar of Georgia's referral service at gabar.org connects you with private attorneys who practice in Chamblee and DeKalb County. If you just need help finding a record rather than legal advice, the clerk's office at the Superior Court or the Chamblee Municipal Court can walk you through the process at no cost.
DeKalb County Court Records
Chamblee is in DeKalb County. DeKalb County Superior Court manages felony criminal cases, civil suits, divorces, and real estate records for county residents. The Superior Court Clerk maintains those records and handles certified copy requests from the courthouse in Decatur.
Nearby Cities with Court Records Pages
Several cities in DeKalb County and the northeast Atlanta area have their own court records pages. Each city has a municipal court in addition to DeKalb County-level courts.