DeKalb County Court Records
DeKalb County court records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Decatur and cover one of the largest court systems in Georgia, with civil cases, felony criminal matters, domestic filings, and a high-volume real property index. This page explains how to search DeKalb County court records using statewide databases and the county's own court resources.
DeKalb County Quick Facts
DeKalb County Superior Court Overview
DeKalb County is one of the most populous counties in Georgia, with over 759,000 residents. The Superior Court in Decatur handles a high volume of felony criminal cases, civil suits, domestic relations proceedings, and real property matters. DeKalb County is served by the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit. The Clerk of Superior Court maintains all official case records and the real property index, which covers deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats for the entire county.
The Clerk's office operates out of the DeKalb County Courthouse in Decatur. Given the county's size, the office handles thousands of new filings each year and has well-developed systems for both in-person and online access. Staff assist walk-in visitors with case lookups and certified copy requests during standard weekday hours.
DeKalb County also has a dedicated State Court, Magistrate Court, Probate Court, and Juvenile Court, each operating separately with its own dockets. For the full list of court contacts, the Georgia Judicial Gateway provides current information.
Online Access to DeKalb County Court Records
The GSCCCA search portal indexes DeKalb County civil filings, real property records, and UCC filings. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority maintains this system statewide. A standard subscription is $14.95 per month; premium access costs $29.95 per month. Printed copies are $0.50 per page. This is widely used by attorneys, title companies, and the public for DeKalb County searches. Given DeKalb's large volume of filings, the GSCCCA database is one of the most robust for any single Georgia county.
The re:SearchGA platform provides document-level access for participating Georgia counties including DeKalb and is useful for pulling actual case documents rather than just index data. For e-filed cases from 2005 forward, PeachCourt offers access at $0.50 per page - call 844-GA-EFILE for support. The FANS notification service is free and lets you monitor your name or properties for new filings across Georgia.
Georgia's open records law at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 gives the public access to court records within three business days of a request. Copying costs $0.10 per page under the statute. Access restrictions are listed at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72.
The image below shows the GSCCCA search interface, the primary portal for accessing DeKalb County civil and property records online.
The GSCCCA portal indexes DeKalb County filings and is one of the fastest ways to search civil and property records without visiting Decatur.
Types of Records in DeKalb County Courts
Superior Court in DeKalb handles felony criminal cases, civil suits, domestic relations matters, and equity proceedings. DeKalb County State Court handles a large volume of misdemeanor criminal cases and civil cases within its jurisdiction - one of the busiest state courts in Georgia. Magistrate Court handles civil claims up to $15,000, dispossessory filings, and ordinance violations. Probate Court maintains estate records, wills, guardianship orders, and marriage licenses. Juvenile Court handles matters involving minors, and those records are confidential by law.
Real estate filings are heavily searched in DeKalb given the county's active property market. Deeds, mortgage releases, UCC filings, and judgment liens all appear in the Superior Court Clerk's real property index. Criminal records show charges, case history, and outcomes. Domestic relations records including divorce decrees and custody orders are public unless a judge orders sealing of specific exhibits.
In-Person Requests at the DeKalb Courthouse
Walk-in visitors can search records and request certified copies at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Decatur. The Clerk's office is staffed weekdays during regular business hours. For a high-volume office like DeKalb, it is a good idea to arrive with as much information as possible - case number, party names, and filing year - to speed up the lookup. Certified copies carry the official Clerk seal and are accepted in legal proceedings and financial transactions.
For mail requests, write to the DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court with your case details and include a money order or check for the copy fee. Use the Find My Clerk tool for the current mailing address and phone number. Mail turnaround is generally three to seven business days, though high-volume periods may take longer.
DeKalb County Criminal Record Searches
Felony criminal records in DeKalb County are filed at the Superior Court level. The county's State Court maintains misdemeanor records. Both are public with narrow exceptions under Georgia law. For a statewide criminal history, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation provides background checks that pull records from across all Georgia counties - that is a separate process from searching DeKalb court records specifically. Contact the GBI for multi-county or statewide background searches. Arrest and booking records are held by the DeKalb County Sheriff and Police Department, not the court clerk.