Clarke County Court Records Access
Clarke County court records are maintained through the Athens-Clarke County unified government, with the Superior Court Clerk serving as the official custodian of civil filings, criminal case documents, property instruments, and other public records for the county. This page explains how to find Clarke County court records online and in person, and what statewide tools are available for access.
Clarke County Quick Facts
Clarke County Court Records: Consolidated Government
Clarke County is unique in Georgia because its county government and the city of Athens merged into a single consolidated government in 1990. Athens-Clarke County operates as a unified entity, which means local government services, including some court-related administrative functions, run through the Athens-Clarke County government at athensclarkecounty.com. However, the Superior Court itself is a state institution governed by Georgia law, and the clerk's office functions the same as in any other Georgia county.
The Superior Court Clerk for Clarke County maintains all civil and criminal case records, property instruments, liens, and other recorded documents. With a population of around 130,000 and the University of Georgia as a major presence, Athens and Clarke County have an active court docket covering a broad range of matter types.
Georgia's open records law at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 gives the public access to these records. The exemptions at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 apply to sealed cases, juvenile records, and certain other categories. Most Clarke County court records are publicly accessible.
How to Search Clarke County Court Records Online
The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority is the main statewide tool for Clarke County record searches. The GSCCCA search portal covers real estate records, UCC filings, and civil case data across Georgia's counties. A regular subscription is $14.95 per month, with premium access at $29.95. You can search by party name, document type, or book and page number.
The screenshot below is from the GSCCCA homepage, the main platform for online Clarke County court and property records. Visit gsccca.org to begin.
From the GSCCCA platform you can search civil, real estate, and UCC records for Clarke County and across all of Georgia.
PeachCourt at peachcourt.com handles Georgia court e-filing and provides public case record access. Clarke County, as a larger urban county, likely participates in the PeachCourt system for newer filings. Document copies are $0.50 per page, and records typically go back to 2005. The re:SearchGA system at researchga.tylerhost.net is another option if Clarke County is among the 25 participating counties.
Clarke County Clerk: Contact Information
The Superior Court Clerk's office for Clarke County is located in Athens. As part of the consolidated Athens-Clarke County government structure, you may find some information through the main government website at athensclarkecounty.com. For clerk-specific contact information, the statewide directory at gaclerks.org is the most reliable starting point.
| Office | Clarke County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Athens, GA |
| Government | Athens-Clarke County |
| Find Clerk | Georgia Clerks FindMyClerk |
| Statewide Search | GSCCCA Search Portal |
| E-Filing | PeachCourt |
The clerk's office accepts in-person visits during regular business hours and mail requests with proper payment and identifying information. Certified copies carry a fee set by state law. For certified electronic copies of recorded instruments, the eCert system at ecert.gsccca.org handles online ordering.
Civil and Criminal Cases in Clarke County
Clarke County Superior Court is part of the Western Judicial Circuit along with Oconee County. The court handles felony criminal cases, major civil disputes, domestic relations matters, and equity proceedings. Because Athens is a college town with a large transient population, the court sees a varied mix of case types including landlord-tenant disputes, criminal matters, and domestic filings.
Civil records in Clarke County include complaints, answers, court orders, and final judgments. Criminal records cover indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and any other documents filed in the case. Divorce and custody records are part of the public record unless sealed. Property records including deeds, mortgages, and liens are recorded with the clerk and searchable through the GSCCCA real estate system.
The FANS alert system at fans.gsccca.org lets you set up name-based monitoring for new filings in Clarke County. This is useful for property investors, landlords, and legal professionals who need to stay current on recordings in the Athens area.
Cities in Clarke County
Athens is the primary city in Clarke County through the consolidated government structure.
Nearby Counties
Clarke County borders several northeast Georgia counties near Athens.