Search Savannah Court Records
Savannah court records are split between two main sources: Chatham County Superior Court, which handles civil lawsuits, felony criminal cases, and family law matters, and Savannah Municipal Court, which covers traffic violations and city ordinance cases. Chatham County has fully digitized its court documents, making electronic access straightforward. This page explains where to search Savannah court records, how to request copies, and what each court system holds.
Savannah Quick Facts
Chatham County Superior Court: Savannah Court Records Hub
Most Savannah court records are maintained by the Chatham County Superior Court Clerk, Tammie Mosley. The clerk's office is the official repository for all Superior Court filings in Chatham County, including those involving Savannah residents. Their website at superiorcourtclerk.chathamcountyga.gov provides case search tools, fee schedules, and information on how to request copies. One key advantage in Chatham County: all court documents have been scanned and are accessible electronically. This means most records can be retrieved without visiting the courthouse, assuming they fall within the digitized date range.
The Chatham County Courthouse is located in downtown Savannah. For in-person visits, bring a photo ID and any case information you have. The clerk's office can conduct name searches if you don't have a case number. Staff are generally helpful in pointing you toward the right record category, though they cannot offer legal advice.
Chatham County is part of the Eastern Judicial Circuit of Georgia. Cases may involve multiple judges assigned within that circuit, and case numbers typically reflect the year and sequence of filing. Knowing the approximate filing year helps staff locate records faster, especially for older cases that may be in a separate archive.
Savannah Municipal Court
Savannah Municipal Court is located at 133 Montgomery Street, Savannah, GA 31401. The phone number is (912) 651-1941. The court's website is at savannahga.gov/departments/municipal-court. Municipal Court handles traffic citations, city ordinance violations, and minor criminal matters that don't rise to the felony level. It does not handle divorces, civil lawsuits, or felony charges - those go to Superior Court.
If you received a traffic ticket in Savannah and need to look it up or make a payment, the Georgia municipal ticket portal is the fastest option. You can search by citation number or driver information and pay online. For case records beyond ticket status, contact the Municipal Court clerk directly at the number above. Court staff can confirm whether a specific case is active, resolved, or in collection.
Municipal courts across Georgia are organized under the state's court system hierarchy. The Georgia Judicial Gateway provides an overview of how municipal courts function statewide, including Savannah's court.
The Gateway also links to the full directory of Georgia's municipal courts, which is helpful if you need to verify contact information or jurisdiction for Savannah court proceedings.
How to Search Savannah Court Records Online
The GSCCCA search portal is the primary tool for online access to Savannah's Superior Court records. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority maintains this statewide index, which covers Chatham County filings. Searching by name or case number is free. The results show the case type, parties, and filing date. To view actual documents, use PeachCourt at $0.50 per page, covering cases from approximately 2005 to present.
Because Chatham County has digitized all court documents, electronic access through PeachCourt tends to be more complete for Savannah records than for some other Georgia counties. You're less likely to hit a gap in the digital archive here than in counties with less complete scanning programs. For records that predate the digital archive, the Chatham County Clerk's office can assist with retrieval.
The FANS (Filing Activity Notification System) from GSCCCA lets you monitor ongoing Savannah cases by email alert. Set up an alert for a specific case number and you'll receive a notification each time a new document is filed. This is useful for tracking active civil or criminal matters without checking the portal manually.
Below is the GSCCCA search portal interface, which is the starting point for most online Savannah court records searches.
The portal allows filtering by county, so you can limit results to Chatham County to avoid pulling records from other jurisdictions when searching common names.
Types of Records in Savannah's Court System
Chatham County Superior Court holds civil case files, felony criminal records, family law filings, and real property records for Savannah. Civil cases include suits between parties, debt collection actions, personal injury claims, and appeals from lower courts. Criminal records at the Superior Court level cover felony charges from indictment through sentencing. Family court records include divorces, child custody orders, child support modifications, and adoption decrees. All of these are generally public records under Georgia law.
Real property records - deeds, liens, mortgages - are also maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Chatham County, though they are indexed separately from case files. If you're researching a Savannah property, the GSCCCA's property records search tools include Chatham County data.
Georgia's open records law applies to Savannah court records. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, public records must be made available for inspection and copying upon request. This includes most court filings. Records that are exempt include those sealed by court order, juvenile court filings, and certain privacy-protected categories under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72. If you're denied access, the clerk must provide the specific exemption in writing.
Legal Aid in Savannah
The Savannah area has several resources for people who need legal help. Georgia Legal Services Program serves Savannah and the coastal region. The Savannah Bar Association and the State Bar of Georgia's Lawyer Referral Service can connect you with private attorneys. The Chatham County Public Defender's office handles criminal defense for qualifying defendants in Superior Court cases.
For civil legal needs, the legal aid organizations listed above can assess eligibility and provide representation or referral for qualifying residents. Self-help resources, including court forms and procedural guides, are available through the Chatham County Clerk's website and at the courthouse law library. Court staff can help you locate the right forms for common case types.
Chatham County Court Records
Savannah court records are filed through Chatham County Superior Court under the Eastern Judicial Circuit of Georgia. The county page covers the clerk's full contact details, courthouse location, and additional search guidance for Chatham County court records.
Nearby Georgia Cities
Pooler, located in Chatham County just west of Savannah, also has a court records page with local court and search information.