Henry County Civil Court Records

Henry County civil court records are filed and kept at the Superior Court Clerk office in McDonough. The office serves all residents in this fast-growing county south of Atlanta and gives public access to civil cases, judgments, real estate filings, and other court documents.

Henry County Clerk of Superior Court

Sabriya Hill serves as Clerk of Superior Court for Henry County, elected to the role in 2021. Her Chief Deputy is Kimberly Phelps. The office sits on the first floor of the courthouse in McDonough and handles a wide range of civil and criminal court services. This is the central place to go when you need Henry County civil court records.

The clerk's office manages several divisions: Civil, Criminal, Jury Management, Real Estate, and more. On the civil side, that means contract disputes, personal injury cases, property matters, family law filings, and judgments. Real estate records include deeds, mortgages, and liens. The office also records military discharge documents (DD214), notary public appointments, trade name registrations, charters, limited partnerships, and UCCs. Staff at the Henry County Clerk office handle certified copy requests both in person and by mail.

The Henry County Clerk of Superior Court website, hosted at henrycountyga.gov, lists forms, fee schedules, and contact details. It is a good first stop before you visit the office in person.

Search Henry County Civil Court Records

You have a few ways to find Henry County civil court records. Online search is the fastest. In-person visits give you full file access and same-day certified copies. Mail requests work too, but they take more time. Pick the method that fits your needs.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) maintains a statewide search tool at gsccca.org/search. This tool covers real estate records, liens, UCCs, and other instruments filed with clerks across Georgia. Henry County participates. You can search by name or document type to find recorded filings from the Henry County Clerk office.

The GSCCCA also offers a FANS portal at fans.gsccca.org for lien and UCC searches, and an eCert service at ecert.gsccca.org for certified copies of recorded documents. Both tools work around the clock and let you pull Henry County civil court records from home without a trip to McDonough.

CourtTRAX at courttrax.org is another option for civil case docket searches across Georgia courts. It covers Superior Court filings and can be useful for finding Henry County civil court records by name or case number. Check CourtTRAX to see if Henry County docket data is included before you run a search.

To search in person, go to One Courthouse Square in McDonough during business hours. Bring the full name of the party you are searching or the case number if you have it. Staff can search by name, case number, record type (civil, criminal, probate, traffic), and date range. For civil cases, you can also narrow by filing category, such as contract disputes or personal injury. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit.

Types of Civil Records Kept in Henry County

The Henry County Clerk of Superior Court keeps many kinds of civil court records. Knowing what is available helps you ask for the right thing when you call or visit the office in McDonough.

Civil case files are the most common records people request. These include complaints, answers, motions, orders, and judgments. Contract disputes, personal injury cases, and property disagreements all produce civil files in Henry County. Each file has the documents filed by both sides and any court orders or final judgments the judge signed. Most civil case files in Henry County are public records under Georgia law.

Real estate records are another major category. The Henry County Clerk records deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats. These documents transfer or encumber property. Lenders, title companies, and property buyers often search real estate records before any transaction. The clerk's land records system lets you search by grantor/grantee name or parcel information. State and county tax liens are recorded here as well, along with federal tax liens filed through the clerk's office.

Other records the Henry County Clerk keeps include:

• Family law files (divorce, custody, child support)
• Probate and estate records (wills, guardianship, letters of administration)
• Criminal indictments, pleas, and sentencing records
• UCC filings for secured transactions
• Notary public commissions and trade name registrations
• Military discharge documents (DD214)

Under O.C.G.A. § 15-6-94, the clerk of superior court is the legal custodian of all court records in the county. This means any paper filed with the Henry County Superior Court is under the clerk's care and must be made available to the public unless a court order or specific statute restricts access.

Certified Copies and Filing Fees in Henry County

Getting a certified copy of a Henry County civil court record requires a small fee. The clerk's office charges per page for copies, plus an additional fee for the certification stamp. These costs can vary, so it is a good idea to call ahead at (770) 288-8022 to confirm the current rate before you visit or mail a request.

You can get certified copies three ways. First, visit the clerk's office in person at One Courthouse Square in McDonough. Staff will pull the file and make copies while you wait, if the records are readily available. Second, mail a written request with the case number or party name, your contact info, and a check or money order for the estimated fee. Third, use the GSCCCA eCert portal at ecert.gsccca.org for recorded real estate documents, which lets you order certified copies online at any hour.

The Henry County Clerk accepts cash, checks, and major credit cards for payment. Checks must be made out to Henry County Clerk of Court. Personal checks must have the account holder's name printed on them (no starter checks), and they must be from a local Georgia account. Credit card payments (Visa, MasterCard, Discover) carry a convenience fee of 4.5% plus $0.50 per transaction. Plan accordingly if you are paying by card for multiple certified copies.

When filing a new civil case in Henry County, a filing fee applies at the time of submission. The amount depends on the case type. Sheriff service fees also apply when you need someone served. Contact the clerk at (770) 288-8022 or visit the website for the current civil case filing fee schedule before you file a new case in Henry County Superior Court.

Electronic Filing for Henry County Civil Cases

Georgia courts use eFileGA for electronic case filing. The system is managed by Tyler Technologies and is available at efilega.tylertech.cloud. Attorneys and registered filers can submit new civil cases and add documents to existing cases through this portal. It cuts down on trips to the courthouse in McDonough.

The GSCCCA also provides an overview of Georgia's eFiling system at gsccca.org/file/efiling/overview. That page explains how electronic filing works across the state, which courts participate, and how to register as a filer. Henry County Superior Court accepts electronic filings through the statewide system, so attorneys handling civil cases in Henry County can file from their offices without visiting the courthouse.

Self-represented parties should check with the clerk directly about electronic filing options available to non-attorneys in Henry County. Some courts allow pro se filers to use eFileGA while others require paper filing for self-represented parties. Call the Henry County Clerk at (770) 288-8022 to confirm which method applies to your case.

Open Records Access in Henry County

Georgia has strong public access laws. The Georgia Open Records Act requires government agencies to provide access to public records on request. Court records in Henry County are generally open to the public unless sealed by a judge or protected by a specific statute. You do not have to be a party to a case to request its records from the Henry County Clerk.

To request records, contact the clerk's office at (770) 288-8022 or visit in person at One Courthouse Square in McDonough. You can also review the Reporter's Committee for Freedom of the Press guide to Georgia open courts at rcfp.org, which covers the rules around court record access in Georgia and explains what is and is not available to the public.

Some records in Henry County are restricted. Juvenile court records are typically sealed. Certain domestic violence protective order details may be limited. Financial account numbers and Social Security numbers in court filings are often redacted before a file is made public. If you believe records are being improperly withheld, you can file a written request under the Georgia Open Records Act and, if needed, appeal through the courts. The Henry County Clerk office staff can direct you to the right process if you have questions about a specific record type.

Georgia statute O.C.G.A. § 15-6-94 places the clerk in charge of maintaining court records and ensuring public access. This gives the Henry County Clerk both the duty to keep records safe and the duty to let people see them. Most routine civil court records, from complaints to final judgments, fall under this open-access framework.

Cities in Henry County

Henry County has several cities and communities. All civil cases for Henry County residents are filed at the Superior Court Clerk office in McDonough, regardless of which city or town you live in. The two qualifying cities with their own pages are listed below.

Other communities in Henry County include Hampton, Locust Grove, Lovejoy, and Sunny Side. Residents of all these areas file civil court records with the Henry County Clerk of Superior Court in McDonough.

Nearby Counties

Henry County borders several other Georgia counties. If you are not sure which county handles your case, check the address where you or the other party lives. Civil cases must be filed in the correct county to give the court authority over the matter.