Chatham County Civil Court Records

Chatham County civil court records are kept by the Superior Court Clerk at 133 Montgomery Street in Savannah, Georgia, covering all civil filings, domestic cases, real estate records, and judgments for this coastal county of over 307,000 residents.

Chatham County Superior Court Clerk

Tammie Mosley serves as the elected clerk for the Chatham County Superior Court, a position she has held since 2017. Her office handles all civil court records in Chatham County, from the first filing through final judgment. The clerk's office is the starting point for anyone who needs to search, file, or get copies of civil records in Savannah.

The main office sits at 133 Montgomery Street, Room 304, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 10277, Savannah, GA 31401. You can reach the office by phone at (912) 434-8920. When you call, an automated menu helps route your question. Press 1 for civil and domestic matters, 2 for passports, 3 for real estate and liens, 4 for criminal, 5 for appeals, 6 for notary services, and 7 for Board of Equalization. The fax number is (912) 447-4955.

The office is closed on all major state holidays, including New Year's Day, MLK Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Plan your visit on a business day. Staff at the clerk's office can help you find civil case filings, pull records, and make copies. Each staff member covers a different area. Courtney Middleton handles civil matters, registry, and the Board of Equalization. DeLeah Blake covers court services and adoptions. Robin Osborne manages real estate records and archives.

The clerk's website at superiorcourtclerk.chathamcountyga.gov has contact info, forms, and updates about fee changes and new laws that affect civil court records in Chatham County.

The screenshot below shows the clerk's official site, where you can find department contacts and access links for civil records in Chatham County.

The site lists staff assignments, fee schedules, and links to online filing tools used for civil cases in Chatham County.

Civil Records Kept by Chatham County

The Superior Court Clerk in Chatham County maintains a wide set of civil court records. These records cover nearly every legal matter that goes through the Superior Court, from family law cases to property filings. Knowing what each type contains helps you find the right record fast.

Civil and domestic filings include divorce cases, child support actions, temporary protective orders (TPOs), and other domestic relations matters. All of these create records in the Chatham County civil court system. A divorce file typically contains the petition, response, any temporary orders, and the final decree. Child support cases have their own files with payment records and modification orders. TPO cases are also tracked as civil records in Chatham County Superior Court.

Real estate records are another major category at the Chatham County clerk's office. These include deed records, liens, Fifas (tax executions), plats, and UCC filings. Military Discharge records (DD214) and trade name registrations are also filed here. These records support property transactions and business activity throughout Chatham County. The archives section, managed by Robin Osborne, handles older files.

Other civil records in Chatham County include appeal filings to the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court, notary public applications, and passport applications. Each category has its own department within the clerk's office. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-6-94, the clerk is required to maintain complete and accurate records of all court proceedings, which means Chatham County civil records go back many decades.

Search Chatham County Civil Records Online

Chatham County participates in re:SearchGA, which is one of the better ways to look up civil court records from home. This statewide platform lets you search by name, case number, or party. It covers civil, criminal, and domestic filings from Chatham County Superior Court. Access is free for basic searches.

The screenshot below is from the re:SearchGA portal, where Chatham County civil court records can be searched online without visiting the courthouse.

The re:SearchGA platform at researchga.tylerhost.net is one of the fastest ways to find civil case filings in Chatham County without a trip to Savannah.

For real estate and lien records, the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority runs two useful tools. The GSCCCA search portal at gsccca.org covers deed records, plats, UCC filings, and liens across all Georgia counties, including Chatham. FANS, found at fans.gsccca.org, provides access to Fifas and tax executions. eCert at ecert.gsccca.org lets you order certified copies of real estate documents filed in Chatham County without going to the office in person.

For those who prefer in-person access, the clerk's office at 133 Montgomery Street has public terminals where you can search civil court records in Chatham County at no charge. Staff can help you navigate the search system if you are not sure where to start. Bring the full name of a party or a case number if you have one. Partial names can work but may return more results than you need.

Mail requests are also accepted. Write to the clerk at P.O. Box 10277, Savannah, GA 31401, and include the case name or number, the type of document you need, and a check or money order for the copy fee. Processing times for mail requests vary based on workload.

Recent Fee and Law Changes Affecting Chatham Civil Records

Several recent changes affect civil court records and filings in Chatham County. Anyone who files cases or orders copies should know about these updates before they go to the courthouse or submit a request.

Effective July 1, 2024, all civil filing fees in Chatham County increased by $4.00. This applies to adoptions, charters, petitions, trade names, name changes, and all civil proceedings. The increase came from Senate Bill 322 passed by the Georgia General Assembly. This means the cost to file any civil case in Chatham County is now $4.00 more than it was before July 2024. Call the clerk's office at (912) 434-8920 to confirm the current fee for your specific filing type before you go in.

Effective January 1, 2025, House Bill 1292 changed notary law and also requires real estate e-filing in Georgia. Chatham County has implemented these changes at the clerk's office. If you file real estate records in Chatham County, you must now do so electronically. The GSCCCA e-filing portal at efile.gsccca.org handles real estate e-filing for Chatham County. The notary changes also affect how notary public applications are submitted and processed.

Effective July 1, 2025, House Bill 586 changes the statute of limitations for short-term notes. The period moves from 3 years to 62 months (5 years and 2 months). This affects civil debt collection cases and lien enforcement in Chatham County. If you have pending civil matters involving short-term notes, review this change with a lawyer to see how it affects your case.

These are real changes that affect how civil records are created and accessed in Chatham County. Stay current with clerk updates at the official website so you don't miss new rules that could affect your filing or records request.

Legal Help for Civil Cases in Chatham County

If you need help with a civil case in Chatham County, several resources are available. The Georgia Legal Aid Society serves Savannah and the surrounding coastal area. They provide free legal help to people who meet income guidelines. Civil matters like evictions, debt cases, and family law are within their scope for Chatham County residents.

The Georgia Courts e-filing system at efilega.tylertech.cloud allows attorneys and some pro se filers to submit civil cases electronically in Chatham County. For self-help court forms, the elearn.gsccca.org platform provides training and guidance on how to use clerk tools and submit civil records requests in Georgia. CourtTRAX at courttrax.org is another option for searching civil court records in Chatham County and other Georgia counties.

The State Court in Chatham County handles certain civil matters that do not go to Superior Court. Clerk David A. Wood at Suite 127, 400 W. Oglethorpe Ave., can be reached at (912) 652-7224. State Court typically handles misdemeanor crimes and civil claims up to a certain dollar threshold. For cases above that level, Superior Court in Chatham County takes over.

Cities in Chatham County

All cities in Chatham County file civil cases at the Superior Court Clerk's office on Montgomery Street in Savannah. The clerk's office serves the entire county regardless of which city you live in.

Other communities in Chatham County include Tybee Island, Port Wentworth, Garden City, Bloomingdale, Thunderbolt, Vernonburg, and Skidaway Island. All civil cases from these areas go to the Chatham County Superior Court in Savannah.

Nearby Counties

Chatham County borders three other Georgia counties. Civil cases must be filed in the county where you live or where the matter took place. Check your address before filing to make sure you go to the right courthouse.