Dawson County Court Records
Dawson County court records are held by the Superior Court Clerk in Dawsonville and cover civil cases, criminal proceedings, domestic relations filings, and real property records for this north Georgia county. This guide covers how to search Dawson County court records through online platforms and how to contact the Clerk's office for in-person or mail requests.
Dawson County Quick Facts
Dawson County Superior Court Overview
Dawson County sits in the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit in north Georgia. The Superior Court in Dawsonville handles felony criminal cases, civil disputes, domestic relations matters, and equity proceedings. The Clerk of Superior Court is responsible for all filings and maintains both an active case index and archived records going back to the county's establishment. Real property records - including deeds, mortgages, plats, and liens - are also indexed through the Clerk's office.
Dawson County has seen significant population growth in recent decades as part of the broader north Georgia expansion. The Clerk's office has kept pace with modern filing systems, and many recent records are accessible through statewide digital platforms without a trip to Dawsonville. For older records, an in-person request may be needed.
Use the Find My Clerk tool to get current contact details for the Dawson County Clerk of Superior Court, including address and phone number.
Online Search for Dawson County Court Records
The GSCCCA search portal is the main statewide database for Dawson County civil filings, real property records, and UCC filings. Run by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority, it covers all 159 Georgia counties. Subscriptions cost $14.95 per month for standard access or $29.95 for premium. Printed copies are $0.50 per page. Attorneys, title companies, and researchers use this platform regularly to pull Dawson County data quickly.
The Georgia Judicial Gateway provides free access to court directory information and links to clerk offices statewide. It does not give document-level access but is a useful first step for finding court contact details. The re:SearchGA platform offers document-level searches for participating Georgia counties - verify whether Dawson County is active in the system when you search. For e-filed cases from 2005 forward, PeachCourt charges $0.50 per page, with support at 844-GA-EFILE.
Georgia's public records law under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 requires agencies to respond to record requests within three business days. Standard copy fees are $0.10 per page. Exemptions under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 restrict access to juvenile records, sealed cases, and other specified categories.
Types of Court Records in Dawson County
Superior Court records in Dawson County include felony criminal cases, civil suits, domestic relations matters such as divorces and custody orders, and real property documents. State Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases and smaller civil claims. Magistrate Court covers civil disputes up to $15,000, dispossessory actions, and county ordinance violations. Probate Court maintains estate records, wills, guardianship orders, and marriage licenses - each court keeps its own separate filing system.
Real estate filings are among the most searched record types in Dawson County given the county's active housing market. Deeds, mortgages, and liens are all indexed through the Superior Court Clerk's system and are searchable via GSCCCA. Criminal records show charges filed, case progression, and final outcomes. Sealed records and juvenile files are not part of the public index.
FANS Alerts for Dawson County Records
The FANS service - Filing Activity Notification Service - is a free email alert system run by GSCCCA. You can set up alerts for your name or a specific property, and FANS will notify you by email when new filings appear in the database that match your criteria. This is especially useful in a county like Dawson where property transactions are frequent. Free to register, no ongoing cost.
The image below shows the GSCCCA homepage, the main platform for searching Dawson County court and property records online.
GSCCCA indexes real property, civil, and lien records for Dawson County and is searchable by name or case number with a monthly subscription.
Getting Certified Copies From Dawson County
Certified copies from the Dawson County Clerk's office carry the official seal and are accepted in legal proceedings, title searches, and financial transactions. You can request them in person at the Dawsonville courthouse or by mail. Include the case number, party names, document type, and payment for the copy fee. Walk-in requests for on-site files are usually completed the same day. Mail requests typically take three to seven business days.
If you need archived records from many years ago, retrieval may take longer since older files may be stored separately. The Clerk's office will tell you when you call or visit how long your specific request is likely to take. Staff can also confirm whether a record exists before you make the trip to Dawsonville.
Dawson County Criminal Records
Felony cases in Dawson County go through Superior Court. Misdemeanor cases are handled by State Court. Both are public records in Georgia with narrow exceptions. For a full Georgia criminal history, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains a separate statewide database - that is a different process and fee from a local court records search. Contact the GBI directly for background check requests that span more than one county.
Arrest records and booking information are held by the Dawson County Sheriff, not the Clerk. If you want booking data or a mugshot, contact the Sheriff's office. Court records from the Clerk show what charges were formally filed and how the case was resolved. They do not capture every interaction with law enforcement before formal charges.