Seminole County Civil Court Records
Civil court records in Seminole County are filed with the Superior Court Clerk in Donalsonville and are part of the Pataula Circuit court system. Located in the southwest corner of Georgia along the Florida border, the county's civil records cover lawsuits, property liens, judgments, and other matters heard in Superior Court. You can search available records online through the GSCCCA portal at gsccca.org/search, or you can contact or visit the clerk's office in Donalsonville for copies and in-person assistance.
Seminole County Quick Facts
Superior Court Clerk of Seminole County
The Superior Court Clerk in Donalsonville maintains all civil court records for Seminole County. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-6-94, the clerk is required to index and preserve every civil filing that comes through the Pataula Circuit Superior Court. This includes all lawsuits, property liens, divorce filings, judgments, and related civil documents entered in this court.
The clerk's office is at the Seminole County Courthouse in Donalsonville. You can visit during business hours to search for a case by name or case number, review documents, and request copies. Certified copies require payment of the applicable fee. Staff can walk you through the process if you have not done a courthouse records search before.
Hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call ahead before you make the drive to Donalsonville, particularly if you are looking for older records that may be in off-site storage. The clerk's staff can confirm availability and give you an estimate of how long retrieval will take.
- Address: Seminole County Courthouse, Donalsonville, GA 39845
- Phone: (229) 524-2525
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Judicial Circuit: Pataula Circuit
Searching Civil Records Online
The GSCCCA search portal at gsccca.org/search provides online access to civil court records from Seminole County. The statewide index includes filings entered by the clerk in Donalsonville and covers all Georgia counties that participate in the GSCCCA system. You can search by party name, date range, or document type without visiting the courthouse.
The GSCCCA search portal at gsccca.org/search is where you can look up Seminole County civil filings online. The screenshot below shows the search interface you will use.
Search results show the document type, filing date, and names of the parties involved. Some documents can be viewed in full from the portal. Others require a copy request through the clerk's office or through the eCertification system. Basic searches are free. Document download fees may apply for some record types.
The GSCCCA portal is available at any time. You do not need to create an account for a basic name search. For recurring monitoring, you can set up a free FANS alert account as described below.
Types of Civil Records in Seminole County
The Superior Court in Seminole County hears a range of civil case types. All filings go to the clerk and are part of the public record. Common civil case and document types include:
- Civil lawsuits over contracts, unpaid debts, and business disputes
- Real property disputes and quiet title actions
- Divorce, legal separation, and family court matters
- Adoption and name change proceedings
- Personal injury and tort claims
- Judgment liens and execution of judgment records
- Garnishment proceedings
- Equity cases and injunctions
Smaller civil disputes, generally under $15,000, go to the Seminole County Magistrate Court. Those records are kept separately from the Superior Court files and are not in the GSCCCA statewide index. Contact the magistrate court clerk in Donalsonville for those records. Probate matters involving estates, wills, and guardianships are handled by the Probate Court separately as well.
Because Seminole County borders Florida, some disputes may involve parties or property in both states. If you are unsure which state's courts have jurisdiction, consult an attorney. Civil cases tied to Georgia land or Georgia defendants would normally be filed in Seminole County Superior Court.
eCertification Portal
The GSCCCA eCertification portal at ecert.gsccca.org lets you order certified copies of civil court documents from Seminole County online. You search for the record, pay the applicable fee, and download or receive a certified copy. This is faster than a mail or in-person request for many document types.
The eCertification portal at ecert.gsccca.org is the online tool for getting certified copies of court records without going to Donalsonville. The screenshot below shows the login and search area.
eCertified copies are accepted in many legal and financial settings. Before you order, confirm with the party receiving the document that they accept eCertified copies rather than paper copies with a physical seal. If they need the paper format, contact the Seminole County clerk's office directly.
Older Seminole County records may not be available through eCertification if they were not digitized. In those cases, contact the clerk's office to ask about availability and to arrange a copy request through mail or in person.
FANS Alert System
FANS (Filing Activity Notification System) at fans.gsccca.org is a free service that emails you when a new document is filed in a Georgia Superior Court under a name you have registered. This covers Seminole County filings and every other county in the GSCCCA system.
Property owners and businesses find FANS especially useful. If someone files a lien against your land in Seminole County or files a lawsuit naming you as a defendant, you get an email alert as soon as it is entered in the system. You do not have to keep checking the portal manually. Setup is free and takes only a few minutes.
One FANS account can monitor multiple names and multiple counties. This is helpful if you own land or run a business in Seminole County and other nearby counties such as Early, Decatur, or Grady.
Georgia Open Records Act
Civil court records in Seminole County are open to the public under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. Any person can request them. You do not need to give a reason or show that you have a connection to the case. The clerk must respond to a written request within three business days.
Some records may be sealed by court order or restricted under state law. Adoption records and files involving minors are common examples. If the record you want is restricted, the clerk will tell you and provide the legal basis. You can challenge a denial under the process established by the Open Records Act.
Fees apply for copies. Ask the clerk for the current rate. For large requests, get a cost estimate first. Mail requests should include payment, your return address, and a clear description of the records you need, including party names and filing dates if you know them.
Nearby Counties
Civil cases must be filed in the county where the defendant lives or where the dispute arose. Check these neighboring county records if you are unsure which court has jurisdiction.