Find Civil Court Records in Douglas County

Douglas County civil court records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior and State Courts in Douglasville. The clerk's office handles all civil case filings, manages public access to court documents, and collects fees tied to civil proceedings throughout Douglas County.

Douglas County Clerk of Superior and State Courts

The Clerk of Superior and State Courts is a constitutional officer in Douglas County. This office was created by act of the Legislature under the Georgia Constitution of 1798 and has held its core role ever since. Annetta Danley Stembridge currently serves as Clerk of Superior and State Courts for Douglas County.

The duties of this office go beyond just storing papers. The clerk receives, manages, and processes all civil court documents filed in Douglas County. It collects and disburses court fees, fines, and costs tied to civil cases. The clerk also records deeds, mortgages, and notary bonds. And it provides the public with access to civil court records under Georgia law, including O.C.G.A. § 15-6-94, which governs how clerks maintain and share court records.

For civil case information and record access, the clerk's main website is at douglascountyga.gov. You can find contact details, filing requirements, and links to relevant resources for Douglas County civil court records.

The screenshot below shows the Douglas County Clerk of Superior Court page. This is the starting point for most civil record requests in Douglas County.

Visit douglascountyga.gov/193/Clerk-of-Superior-Court to reach the clerk's office online and find current contact information for Douglas County civil court records.

Civil Cases Filed in Douglas County Superior Court

Every civil case in Douglas County Superior Court gets its own case number and assigned judge. Civil cases can involve multiple parties on each side. The case number is the key identifier you need when searching Douglas County civil court records through any system.

Attorneys, the District Attorney, and the Public Defender file original documents in the clerk's office for their respective cases. In civil matters, private attorneys file pleadings, motions, and orders that become part of the official Douglas County civil court record. Once a judge signs an order, it gets filed with the clerk and becomes public under Georgia's open records framework, explained at rcfp.org/open-courts-compendium/georgia.

When a civil case closes in Douglas County, the file remains with the clerk. Closed case files do not go away. You can still request access to records from cases that ended years ago. For criminal cases, once sentencing is complete, the clerk sends certain paperwork to the applicable state agency, but civil case records stay with the Douglas County clerk long-term.

Electronic Filing for Douglas County Civil Cases

Douglas County uses the Icon Case Management System for civil case tracking. Attorneys who need to file civil cases in Douglas County must request an ID and password by emailing the Clerk of Superior Court directly. Mandatory e-filing applies to civil cases filed by attorneys in Douglas County.

The state e-filing portal eFileGA, also accessible through odysseyefilega.com, handles civil submissions for many Georgia courts. Check with the Douglas County clerk to confirm whether your specific case type goes through the Tyler/Odyssey system or the Icon system used locally. Getting this right before you file saves time and avoids rejected submissions.

Real estate documents use different filing channels. Liens in Douglas County can be submitted through gsccca.org (GSCCA) by calling 1-800-304-5174, or through efileregistry.org. Deeds and real estate documents can be sent via simplifile.com or by calling 1-800-460-5657. These go to the Douglas County clerk for recording as part of the civil court records system.

FANS Alerts for Douglas County Property Records

The FANS system, run by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority, lets you sign up for notifications when real estate or personal property records are filed in Douglas County. This is useful for property owners who want to know when something gets recorded against their property, or for attorneys watching for lien filings tied to a civil case.

The screenshot below shows the FANS notification system available for Douglas County property and civil lien records.

Set up your alerts at fans.gsccca.org. You choose which property or name to monitor, and the system emails you when a new filing appears in Douglas County civil court records tied to that subject.

The GSCCCA also maintains the broader Georgia statewide search system at gsccca.org/search. This covers recorded documents across all Georgia counties, including Douglas County deed filings, mortgage recordings, and UCC financing statements that may connect to civil disputes.

Douglas County on re:SearchGA

Douglas County participates in re:SearchGA, the statewide court records platform. This gives attorneys and members of the public a single place to search civil case information from participating Georgia counties. Douglas is one of the counties integrated into this Tyler Technologies system.

Through re:SearchGA, you can find basic case details for Douglas County civil court records, including party names, case numbers, filing dates, and case status. Some document images are available for download; others may require a visit to the clerk's office or a fee. Attorneys with Georgia bar credentials can register for expanded access. The platform works well for checking whether a civil case has been filed in Douglas County before committing to an in-person records request.

How to Get Douglas County Civil Court Records

You can access Douglas County civil court records online, in person, or by mail. Each method has different trade-offs in terms of speed, cost, and what you can get.

Online access through re:SearchGA is the fastest way to find basic case information without leaving home. The GSCCCA search portal covers recorded documents like deeds and liens. Neither system covers everything, so complex or older requests often need a direct contact with the clerk's office in Douglasville.

For in-person access, visit the Douglas County Clerk of Superior and State Courts. Bring a photo ID. Staff can search by name or case number. Copy fees apply for printed documents. Certified copies carry an additional fee and require the clerk's official seal. These are often needed for legal transactions tied to civil court records in Douglas County.

Georgia's public records law gives anyone the right to inspect civil court records. Most civil case documents in Douglas County are public. If a record is sealed by court order, you would need to petition the court to access it. The clerk's office can tell you which documents in a case file are available and which, if any, are restricted.

The eCert portal at ecert.gsccca.org provides electronic certified copies of certain recorded documents without requiring a trip to Douglasville. This works well for recorded deeds or liens connected to Douglas County civil cases.

Cities in Douglas County

Douglas County includes several communities. Civil court records for residents throughout the county are filed with the same clerk's office in Douglasville, the county seat.

Other communities in Douglas County include Villa Rica, Lithia Springs, Winston, and Austell. All civil filings for these areas go through the Douglas County Clerk of Superior and State Courts in Douglasville.

Counties Bordering Douglas County

Douglas County borders several metro Atlanta counties. If your civil matter involves a different county, use the links below to find the right clerk's office.