Tucker Court Records
Tucker court records come from two sources: the Tucker Municipal Court, which the city established after incorporating in 2015, handles local ordinance and traffic cases within city limits, and DeKalb County Superior Court handles criminal, civil, and family law cases for this east DeKalb County city of about 37,224 residents. Both courts keep public records under Georgia's open records law, and this page walks you through how to find records from each system, what cases each court handles, and what statewide tools can supplement your search.
Tucker Quick Facts
Tucker Municipal Court Records
Tucker incorporated as a city in 2015, and with cityhood came the establishment of Tucker's own Municipal Court. This court handles matters that fall under city ordinance: traffic citations within Tucker city limits, local code violations, and misdemeanor offenses under city law. Cases that were handled by DeKalb County before Tucker incorporated may show up under county records, so if you're looking for a case from before 2016, county records are the right place to start.
Tucker's city government website at tuckerga.gov provides information about city services and departments, including the Municipal Court. The city's contact information for the court is listed there, along with details about how to pay fines, request a court date, or get information about a pending case. For a copy of a city court record, reach out to the Municipal Court clerk using the contact details on that site.
Tucker Municipal Court handles only what falls within city jurisdiction. Felony arrests in Tucker go to DeKalb County Superior Court, not to the city court. Civil suits, divorces, and larger civil claims also go to the county level. The split between city and county matters can sometimes cause confusion - calling the wrong office is a common mistake when trying to track down an older case or a charge that happened to be in Tucker but was processed at the county level.
Tucker's city website at tuckerga.gov lists current contact details and services for the Tucker Municipal Court.
The Tucker city site links to municipal court information, payment options, and contact details for court staff who can answer case-specific questions.
DeKalb County Superior Court Records for Tucker
All major court filings involving Tucker residents go through DeKalb County Superior Court. Felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits over significant amounts, divorces and custody proceedings, real estate disputes, and other serious matters are all handled at the county level. The DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court maintains these records and provides access by name search, case number, or document type.
DeKalb County's court system also includes a State Court for misdemeanor criminal cases and civil matters, a Magistrate Court for small claims and bond hearings, and a Probate Court for estates and wills. Each court keeps its own records and has its own clerk's office. If you're looking for a specific case, knowing which court handled it will save you time - the county's court website can help you figure that out before you start making calls.
For Tucker cases that predate 2015, when the city was still an unincorporated community, all records from that period are in DeKalb County's system. There was no Tucker city court before incorporation, so any case involving what is now Tucker's city limits from before 2016 would be a DeKalb County record.
Real estate records for Tucker properties - deeds, mortgages, liens - are recorded with the DeKalb County Clerk and can also be found through the statewide GSCCCA system at gsccca.org. That tool covers all 159 Georgia counties and is often faster for property record searches than contacting the county clerk directly.
How to Search Tucker Court Records Online
For real estate and recorded documents tied to Tucker addresses, start with the GSCCCA portal at gsccca.org/search. Search by name or parcel number. Results include document images for most recorded items. The system is free and covers DeKalb County fully.
PeachCourt at peachcourt.com is Georgia's e-filing platform with some public access to civil case documents filed electronically through Superior Courts. DeKalb County civil filings submitted through PeachCourt may be viewable there. It's a good backup if you can't find a specific case through the county clerk's system.
The FANS notification tool at fans.gsccca.org lets you track new filings under a specific name in any Georgia county. If you're monitoring activity in DeKalb County over time, signing up for FANS alerts for that county is a free and practical option. Alerts come by email when new documents are filed in the name you've registered.
The Georgia Judicial Gateway at georgiacourts.gov links to all court websites in the state and explains the jurisdiction of each court type. If you're not sure whether a Tucker case went to municipal, state, or superior court, this resource helps clarify how the system works before you reach out to a specific office.
Tucker Court Records and Public Access
Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most court records in Georgia are public. That includes docket entries, case filings, judgments, and recorded documents. Anyone can ask to inspect or copy these records - no need to show a reason. Clerks must respond within a reasonable time and make available records that aren't restricted.
Records that are closed include juvenile proceedings, sealed criminal cases, adoption files, and some domestic violence matters. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 lists the specific exemptions. If you're told a record is unavailable, asking which exemption applies is a fair question. For most standard civil and criminal cases, the records are open and accessible through the clerk's office.
Keep in mind that court records and arrest records are not the same. Arrest records come from the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office or the Tucker Police Department. Court records come from the court that heard the case. You may need both depending on what information you're looking for.
Legal Resources for Tucker Residents
Georgia Legal Aid offers civil legal help to low-income residents in DeKalb County. You can find their office contact information and eligibility details at georgialegalaid.org. The DeKalb County Bar Association and the State Bar of Georgia's referral service at gabar.org can connect you with a private attorney if you need legal advice about a case, a court record, or a legal proceeding. The Tucker Municipal Court clerk and DeKalb County Clerk's staff can help you find documents but cannot advise you on legal matters.
DeKalb County Court Records
Tucker is part of DeKalb County, and all felony cases, civil suits, and family law matters for Tucker residents go through DeKalb County Superior Court. The DeKalb County Clerk maintains an online case search and handles in-person and mail requests for certified copies and document access.
Nearby Cities with Court Records
Several other DeKalb County cities have their own court records pages with information on local and county-level filings.