Echols County Court Records
Echols County court records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Statenville, Georgia, one of the smallest county courthouses in the state. Civil filings, criminal cases, domestic matters, and real property records for this south Georgia county are all on file there. This guide explains how to search Echols County court records using both statewide online tools and the Statenville courthouse.
Echols County Quick Facts
Echols County Superior Court and Clerk's Office
Echols County is one of the least populous counties in Georgia, with around 4,000 residents. The Superior Court sits in Statenville and is part of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit. The Clerk of Superior Court handles civil filings, felony criminal cases, domestic relations matters, and the real property index for the county. Because of the county's small size, court sessions may be less frequent than in larger counties - call the Clerk's office to confirm hearing schedules and office hours before making the trip to Statenville.
Staff at the courthouse are typically accessible and willing to assist with record searches. Having the case number or party names ready before you call or visit will save time. For older records, some files may be archived, which can add a day or two to retrieval time. The courthouse is the official repository for all Echols County court records going back many decades.
For current contact information for the Echols County Clerk of Superior Court, use the Find My Clerk tool maintained by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority.
Online Search Options for Echols County Court Records
The GSCCCA search portal covers Echols County civil filings and real property records as part of the statewide Georgia court records system. The system indexes records from all 159 Georgia counties. Standard subscriptions are $14.95 per month; premium is $29.95. Printed copies cost $0.50 per page. For a county as small as Echols, the GSCCCA database may have a limited number of indexed records, but it is still the most reliable online starting point.
The Georgia Judicial Gateway is free and links to court directory information and clerk contacts across Georgia. For e-filed cases since 2005, PeachCourt is available at $0.50 per page with support at 844-GA-EFILE. The re:SearchGA platform covers participating counties at the document level - check whether Echols County is currently active in that system.
Because Echols is a rural county, some records may only be accessible by contacting the Clerk directly or visiting Statenville. Online availability may be more limited here than in larger Georgia counties.
Georgia law at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 establishes the public's right to inspect government records. Agencies must respond within three business days. Standard copying costs $0.10 per page. Exempt record types are defined at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72.
Types of Records Filed in Echols County
Superior Court in Echols County handles felony criminal cases, civil suits, domestic relations matters including divorces and custody disputes, and equity proceedings. State Court handles misdemeanor criminal matters. Magistrate Court covers small civil claims up to $15,000, dispossessory filings, and local ordinance violations. Probate Court maintains estate records, wills, and guardianship orders in a separate filing system from Superior Court.
Real property records - including deeds, mortgages, and agricultural liens - are common in a rural county like Echols. These are indexed in the Superior Court Clerk's real property system. Criminal records show formal charges and final dispositions. Juvenile records are sealed under Georgia law and are not accessible to the public.
Requesting Records From Echols County
In-person visits to the Echols County Courthouse in Statenville can be done during weekday hours. Given the small size of the office, calling ahead is recommended to confirm hours and whether the records you need are on-site or archived. Certified copies carry the Clerk's seal and cost a fee set by the office. Staff can confirm the current rate when you call.
For mail requests, send a written request with case details, your return address, and a check or money order for the copy fee. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of documents. Use the Find My Clerk tool to confirm the mailing address. Turnaround for mail requests depends on current staff availability and whether the record requires archival retrieval.
FANS Alerts for Echols County
The FANS notification service from GSCCCA is free and lets you set email alerts for new filings in the GSCCCA database tied to your name or a property you own in Echols County. For landowners in a rural county where agricultural land transactions may occur infrequently but carry significant value, FANS provides a simple way to monitor for unauthorized filings. Free to register on the GSCCCA website.
The image below shows the GSCCCA homepage, which serves as the main statewide search tool for Echols County civil and property records.
GSCCCA indexes real property, civil, and lien records from Echols County and is the most comprehensive online source for this small south Georgia county's court documents.
Echols County Criminal Records
Felony criminal cases in Echols County go to Superior Court. Misdemeanor cases go to State Court. Both are public records in Georgia with narrow exceptions. Arrest records are maintained by the Echols County Sheriff, not the court Clerk. Contact the Sheriff's office for arrest and booking information. For a statewide criminal history search, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation provides background checks that cover all 159 Georgia counties.