Search McDonough Court Records
McDonough court records are split between the city's own Municipal Court and Henry County Superior Court, which together serve this county seat city of about 32,803 in Henry County south of Atlanta. The McDonough Municipal Court handles local traffic and ordinance cases, while Henry County's courts manage felony criminal matters, civil lawsuits, divorces, and most other serious legal proceedings. This page covers what each court holds, where to find records, and how to request copies in person or online.
McDonough Quick Facts
McDonough Municipal Court Records
The McDonough Municipal Court handles cases that fall within the city's jurisdiction. Traffic violations issued within the city limits are the most common matter, speeding, red light violations, and equipment violations. City code and ordinance cases also come before this court. The court has a city judge and operates on a set schedule. It cannot hear felony cases or civil disputes between private parties. Those go to the county level.
The City of McDonough's municipal court page at mcdonoughga.org/225/Municipal-Court-City-Probation covers court procedures, contact information, and probation-related services administered by the city. If you have a case pending in McDonough Municipal Court, this is the page to check. The clerk's office handles case lookups, copy requests, and fine payments. Call during business hours for the fastest service.
McDonough Municipal Court records are public as a general rule. Certified copies are available through the clerk. There's typically a per-page fee for paper documents. Juvenile cases and sealed matters are restricted and not available to the public.
The City of McDonough posts municipal court information including contact details and probation services on its official site. McDonough Municipal Court is the direct link to that department.
The municipal court page covers traffic cases, city ordinance matters, and probation services for cases handled within McDonough city limits.
Henry County Superior Court and McDonough Case Records
McDonough is the county seat of Henry County, which means the county courthouse is in McDonough. Henry County Superior Court handles felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits, divorces, custody matters, real estate disputes, and appeals from lower courts. The Clerk of Superior Court at Henry County keeps the official records for all these proceedings and manages certified copy requests. Their office at henrycountyga.gov/265/Clerk-of-Superior-Court has contact details, office hours, and service information.
The Henry County Clerk of Superior Court page is where to start for civil and criminal case records from the county level. The clerk maintains records for all cases filed in Superior Court, including those involving McDonough residents. For real estate records, deeds, liens, mortgages, the statewide GSCCCA platform at gsccca.org covers Henry County and all 159 Georgia counties in one searchable database. It's free to search and often faster than requesting individual documents from the clerk.
Henry County also has a State Court, which handles misdemeanor criminal matters and civil claims. There's a Magistrate Court for small civil disputes and a Probate Court for estate and guardianship cases. Each court maintains separate records. When you call the Superior Court Clerk, they can direct you to the right office if the record you need is in a different court division.
How to Search McDonough Court Records Online
The Henry County Clerk of Superior Court site at henrycountyga.gov/265/Clerk-of-Superior-Court is the primary resource for county-level case searches. Check there for online lookup tools, case status, and document ordering options. County clerks in Georgia vary in what they make available online, and Henry County's clerk page will show current capabilities.
For real estate and document searches, gsccca.org/search is the most comprehensive free tool. It covers Henry County deeds, liens, mortgages, and UCC filings going back many years. You can search by party name and view document images for many filings without charge. Certified copies can be ordered through the platform.
PeachCourt at peachcourt.com gives public access to some civil case documents from Superior Courts that participate in the system. If you need civil case records that aren't in the county's own portal, PeachCourt is a good secondary tool. Georgia's open records law at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 gives you the right to inspect most court records. Exemptions under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 apply to sealed matters and juvenile cases. Ask the clerk if any record is restricted.
What Records Are Available for McDonough Cases
Different courts handle different matters. Here's the breakdown for McDonough and Henry County:
- Traffic violations and city ordinances: McDonough Municipal Court
- Misdemeanor criminal cases: Henry County State Court
- Felony criminal cases: Henry County Superior Court
- Civil lawsuits and small claims: Henry County Superior or Magistrate Court
- Divorces and family law matters: Henry County Superior Court
- Wills, estates, and guardianships: Henry County Probate Court
- Deeds, liens, real estate filings: GSCCCA or Henry County Clerk
Arrest records are separate from court records. The McDonough Police Department and Henry County Sheriff's Office maintain arrest records. Court records show what happened in court proceedings. You may need both, but they come from different offices and follow different access procedures.
McDonough Court Records and Statewide Search Tools
The FANS system at fans.gsccca.org lets you set up free email alerts for new filings in Henry County tied to a specific name or property. It's a good tool if you're tracking ongoing litigation or watching for new documents filed against a property in McDonough. Alerts are sent when matching documents are recorded.
The clerk finder at gaclerks.org/Clerks/FindMyClerk.aspx provides direct contact information for the Henry County Superior Court Clerk, which is useful if you're planning to send a written records request by mail. The Georgia Judicial Gateway at georgiacourts.gov offers general guidance on which Georgia court handles which type of case, and it links to individual court websites.
The PeachCourt e-filing system at peachcourt.com provides public access to some Georgia Superior Court civil filings, including those from Henry County Superior Court.
PeachCourt is useful when you need civil case documents from Henry County Superior Court and don't want to visit the courthouse.
Legal Help for McDonough Residents
Georgia Legal Aid offers free civil legal assistance to residents who qualify based on income. Their site at georgialegalaid.org lists intake procedures and regional offices. The program covers Henry County. It handles civil matters, housing, family law, and benefits, but not criminal defense. Apply online or by phone to start the process.
The State Bar of Georgia at gabar.org runs a lawyer referral service for people who need private legal counsel in the McDonough and Henry County area. For basic questions about how to access court records or which office holds a specific file, the Henry County Clerk of Superior Court can answer those questions at no charge. The clerk's office deals with public records requests daily and can walk you through the process.
Henry County Court Records
McDonough is the county seat of Henry County. The Henry County Superior Court and Clerk of Superior Court maintain criminal, civil, family law, and real estate records for the entire county. The clerk's office offers case lookup tools and can assist with in-person or written records requests.
Nearby Cities with Court Records Pages
Stockbridge is a nearby city in Henry County with its own court records page covering both the city's municipal court and the county-level courts.