Gwinnett County Court Records
Residents, businesses, law enforcement, and public and private entities interact with local courts in Gwinnett County, Georgia, daily, resulting in the creation of court records. When companies or individuals engage in civil disputes or defend themselves against criminal accusations, the county's judiciary documents the filings and activities in court records.
Court records provide historical documentation for each case, allowing courts, legal professionals, and the general public to make easy references and study precedents. Gwinnett County court records also keep members of the public apprised of the justice system's affairs, allowing them to understand how the court system works and how justice is served.
The judiciary also relies on the preservation of court records. Judges refer to and cite previous cases when they make judgments and orders. Meanwhile, court clerks and case parties can refer to these records to find out about a case's progression and events.
Obtaining court records in Gwinnett County generally involves querying the Clerk of Courts office. As these records are considered a part of Gwinnett County Public Records, they are accessible to members of the public unless restricted by judicial order. The Clerk is the records custodian of the county's Juvenile, Magistrate, State, and Superior Courts. The Clerk is authorized by law (OCGA § 15-6-61) to maintain and distribute court records. The Clerk's office can provide information on how to find court records in person and using other methods (e.g., online).
Are Court Records Public in Gwinnett County?
Yes. Georgia's Public Records Law (OCGA § 50-18-71) generally allows public access to court records. It establishes that publicly-funded agencies, such as the judiciary, must allow members of the public to inspect and obtain copies of documents created in such agencies, as permitted by law.
However, the law includes provisions for confidential records, which are records restricted from public access. The Supreme Court of Georgia also has the authority to create rules that determine the availability of court records.
For example, Rule 21 of the Uniform Rules of Georgia's Superior Courts lists court documents that may not be released to the public. These records include:
- Sensitive and personal information. For example, taxpayer identification numbers, financial account numbers, social security numbers, and birth year information (OCGA § 9-11-7.1).
- Documents and filings restricted by court order due to a motion submitted by a party to a case.
- Records that, if disclosed to the public, will not serve the public interest or the objectives of the public records law.
- Records are restricted from public access by Georgia or federal law.
Other rules established by the Georgia Supreme Court, such as the Rules of the Juvenile Courts of Georgia, also prohibit clerks from releasing certain records, including sealed juvenile proceedings and expunged criminal cases.
What Do Gwinnett County Court Records Contain?
Gwinnett County court records typically contain legal documents introduced or created during criminal, civil, family, and probate court proceedings. These records can include case filings, motions, court dockets, evidence, transcripts, judgments, rulings, and other case-related materials.
Generally, the specific contents of court records vary based on the case type. For example, details of indictments, pleas, and arraignments are only included in criminal case records.
Where to Conduct a Gwinnett County Case Lookup
Individuals can look up Gwinnett County case records in different places, such as:
- The Clerk of the Magistrate, State, Juvenile, and Superior Courts office
- The courthouse where a case was filed
- Online databases provided by the Clerk of Courts, the Georgia Judiciary, and the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority
How to Conduct a Gwinnett County Case Records Search
Persons seeking Gwinnett County records have varying options, depending on the document or information they are looking for and how urgent the request is. The case search options in Gwinnett County are as follows:
Access the SearchGA System
Members of the public can find and purchase official copies of court documents online via the Georgia e-Access to Court Records (re:searchGA) system. Users who do not have an account must sign up before they can use the system.
Once logged in, a user can follow these steps to find and order documents:
- Go to the top-left corner of the portal and click the hamburger menu.
- Select "Search". One can search by case description, case number, judge, attorney, or party name. They can also filter information with a court's location, the case type, the case status, or the filing date.
- Once the search results appear, click any case description to view more details and preview filed documents. The system works like an eCommerce site, allowing users to add documents to their carts.
- After adding the documents to purchase, users can go to their carts to check out.
Access the Gwinnett Courts Portal
The Gwinnett Courts Portal is another user-exclusive records retrieval system. It allows registered account owners to search for case records generated in the Magistrate, Probate (estate cases), State, and Superior Courts. Users can search by party name or case number.
Access the eCertification Portal
The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority offers this service to persons who want to search for and acquire certified copies of court records via email. Users can also securely store eCertified court documents for future use. The service is available 24/7.
Prospective users must have an active eCertification portal account. Users can follow these steps to request and purchase certified court records:
- Select "Submit New Request" in the upper-right corner.
- Indicate "Gwinnett County" as the jurisdiction.
- Select the type of document required and click "Continue".
- Complete the mandatory fields and select "Submit Request".
Upon submitting a request, the order status will change to "Awaiting Payment Final Authorization". Once the request is processed, the user must click "Awaiting Payment Final Authorization" to complete their order.
The user will receive their documents via email once payment is finalized.
Submit a Record Search Request By Mail
The Clerk of Court accepts written requests for property liens, divorce records, and other open court case records. Interested parties can send their requests to:
Clerk of Courts
P.O. Box 880
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
Individuals can contact the Clerk's office at (770) 822-8100 for assistance.
Recorder's Court Case Search
This online system allows the public to search for cases handled in the Recorder's Court, such as DUIs and other traffic violations. Users can search cases with the following criteria:
- Citation Number
- Case Number
- Date of Birth
- Last Name
People can also request records from the Recorder's Court by submitting an Open Records Request on the county's official website.
Fees
The Clerk of Courts generally charges $2.50 for the first certified copy and $1 for subsequent pages (or for each uncertified copy).
Gwinnett County Civil Court Case Records
Gwinnett County civil court case records are documents or materials created during civil court proceedings. Examples of civil cases include estate disputes, personal injury, small claims, and divorce. These cases are heard in the civil divisions of the Gwinnett County State and Superior Courts. The county's Probate Court hears civil cases involving estates.
People who want to inspect or purchase these records can contact the Clerk of Courts office at (770) 822-8100. One can also utilize online databases to find civil case records in Gwinnett County.
Gwinnett County Criminal Court Case Records
Criminal court case records include a defendant's name, charge, plea, bail amount, and sentencing details. Anyone accused of breaking the law in Gwinnett County may be prosecuted in the county's State, Magistrate, Superior, or Juvenile Courts, depending on the type of offense or offender.
Individuals looking for these criminal case records in Gwinnett County can search online databases provided on the Gwinnett County Clerk of Courts website. Alternatively, they may contact the appropriate Clerk's office for information on how to find court records in person.
Note: The county's Recorder's Court also maintains records related to traffic tickets and ordinance violations. People who want to access these records can send an open records request through the county's Open Records page or reach out to the Clerk's office at (877) 794-0988 or (770) 619-6005 (Fax).
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
One can find free resources to look up Gwinnett County court records on the Clerk of Court's website. These databases require users to be registered before they can search for court cases. However, anyone who wants to obtain copies of court records from a clerk's office must pay the associated fees.
Courts in Gwinnett County, Georgia
Below are the addresses of the courthouses in Gwinnett County, Georgia:
Gwinnett Justice And Administration Center (Superior, Magistrate, State, and Probate Courts)
75 Langley Drive, Southwest
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
Juvenile And Recorder's Court Building
115 Stone Mountain Street, Southwest
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
Individuals should visit the Clerk of Courts' Map & Directions page for more information about the county's court locations. Interested persons can find contact information for the county's courts on the Gwinnett County Courthouse Phone Book.
Persons looking to reach the Clerk of the Magistrate, State, Juvenile, and Superior Courts office can find address and contact information on the Clerk's website. The contact details for the Gwinnett County Probate Court are available on the county courts' website as well. Meanwhile, persons looking for municipal courts in Gwinnett County can access the Clerk's directory.
