Martinez Court Records
Martinez court records are handled entirely through Columbia County, because Martinez is not an incorporated city, it's an unincorporated census-designated place with no city government and no municipal court. All court matters involving Martinez residents, from traffic citations to felony criminal cases to civil disputes, go through Columbia County Superior Court and the county's other courts. This page explains how that system works, where to find records, and how to search online or make a formal request.
Martinez Quick Facts
Martinez Is Unincorporated, No Municipal Court
This is the most important thing to understand about Martinez: it has no city government. Martinez is a census-designated place, which means the U.S. Census Bureau tracks it as a populated area, but it was never incorporated as a city under Georgia law. There is no mayor, no city council, and no municipal court. As a result, there is no local court to handle Martinez-specific traffic or ordinance cases.
Everything goes through Columbia County. Traffic stops in Martinez are handled by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office or the Georgia State Patrol, not a city police department. Any court cases that result, traffic violations, misdemeanor charges, civil matters, go to the Columbia County courts. For anyone trying to look up a court record connected to a Martinez address, Columbia County is the only place to check.
This also means that if you're comparing Martinez to other Georgia cities, you won't find a city court docket or municipal court website. None exists. The Columbia County government at columbiacountyga.gov/government/courts is the entry point for all court matters in the area.
The Columbia County government site provides court information for all county courts, including those that serve Martinez. Columbia County Courts is the official resource for residents of unincorporated areas.
The GSCCCA covers Columbia County real estate and lien records, which is one of the most commonly searched record types for Martinez addresses.
Columbia County Superior Court and Martinez Records
Columbia County Superior Court handles the most serious matters, felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits, divorce and custody filings, property disputes, and appeals from lower courts. The courthouse is in Appling, the county seat, which is a short drive from Martinez. The Clerk of Superior Court keeps the official records for all civil and criminal cases filed in the county, and this is where you go for certified copies, case histories, and document requests involving Martinez residents.
The Columbia County government site at columbiacountyga.gov/government/courts links to court contacts, clerk information, and general guidance on the county's court system. This is your starting point for any court record search involving a Martinez address. The site covers Superior Court, Probate Court, Magistrate Court, and other county court divisions.
Columbia County also has a Magistrate Court, which handles small civil claims, landlord-tenant disputes, and some civil warrants. The Probate Court manages wills, estates, and guardianship cases. Each court keeps separate records. If you're not sure which court handled a matter, call the Superior Court Clerk, they can usually redirect you.
Because Martinez has no incorporated status, the county handles things that a city government would normally manage elsewhere. Law enforcement, zoning, code enforcement, and court services all fall to Columbia County rather than any city department.
How to Search Martinez Court Records Online
Start at the GSCCCA search tool at gsccca.org/search for real estate and document records. Columbia County deeds, liens, mortgages, and UCC filings are all searchable there by name or parcel. The search is free. If you're looking for property records tied to a Martinez address, whether for a lien check, ownership history, or recorded documents, this is the fastest tool available.
For criminal and civil case records, go to the Columbia County courts page at columbiacountyga.gov/government/courts and check for available online search options. Georgia counties vary in what they offer online. For cases that aren't in an online system, you'll need to contact the clerk's office directly to request access or copies.
PeachCourt at peachcourt.com is Georgia's e-filing system and also provides public access to some civil case records from participating Superior Courts. It's worth checking if the county's own portal doesn't show what you need. Georgia's open records law under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 gives you the right to request most court records in writing. Certain records are exempt under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, including juvenile cases and sealed matters.
Types of Court Records Available for Martinez
Since Martinez has no municipal court, all records come from Columbia County. Here's how the records break down by court:
- Felony criminal cases: Columbia County Superior Court
- Misdemeanor criminal cases: Columbia County State Court
- Civil lawsuits and small claims: Columbia County Superior or Magistrate Court
- Divorces and family law: Columbia County Superior Court
- Wills and estates: Columbia County Probate Court
- Traffic violations: Columbia County State or Magistrate Court (no municipal court)
- Real estate records: GSCCCA or Columbia County Clerk
Arrest records are kept by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. There is no Martinez Police Department since there is no city government. If you need arrest information, contact the Sheriff's Office directly. Court records come from the Superior Court Clerk's office, both are different sources covering different aspects of a legal matter.
Statewide Tools for Martinez and Columbia County Records
The FANS notification system at fans.gsccca.org lets you set up free email alerts for new filings in Columbia County tied to a specific name or property. If you're monitoring pending litigation or tracking a property, this is a useful tool. Alerts are sent when a new matching document is filed or recorded.
The clerk finder at gaclerks.org/Clerks/FindMyClerk.aspx gives direct contact details for the Columbia County Superior Court Clerk, including mailing address and phone. Use it to request records by mail without making a separate trip to Appling. The Georgia Judicial Gateway at georgiacourts.gov also provides general court guidance and can help you understand what each court type handles.
Georgia's FANS system from fans.gsccca.org allows free alerts on Columbia County filings tied to names or properties in the Martinez area.
FANS is a free service that sends alerts when new filings match your name or property criteria in any participating Georgia county.
Legal Help for Martinez Residents
Because Martinez is unincorporated, there are no city-run legal aid services. County and state resources fill that gap. Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org offers free civil legal assistance to qualifying residents in the Columbia County area. Their intake process can be done online or by phone. The program covers family law, housing, and benefits matters for those who meet income guidelines.
The State Bar of Georgia's referral service at gabar.org can connect you with a private attorney who practices in Columbia County. For questions about how to get court records, the Columbia County Superior Court Clerk's office can answer process questions at no charge. They deal with record requests regularly and can tell you what's available and what the steps are.
Columbia County Court Records
Martinez is an unincorporated community in Columbia County. All court records for Martinez residents, criminal, civil, family law, traffic, and real estate, are maintained by Columbia County courts. The county courts page has clerk contacts, courthouse location, and available online search tools.
Nearby Cities with Court Records Pages
Evans is a neighboring community also within Columbia County. It has a court records page covering the same county-level courts that serve Martinez.