Cobb County Court Records
According to Georgia Code § 50-18-91, Cobb County court records encompass various materials, including documents, maps, and electronic data, created or received during judicial functions. These records facilitate the proper functioning of the court system and allow the public to evaluate government efficiency.
Each trial-level court in Cobb acts as the custodian of its own specific records. For instance, the Superior Court, through its Clerk’s Office, maintains felony, divorce, and real estate documents, while the State Court Clerk manages records for traffic violations and civil lawsuits.
Cobb County court records are separate from the county’s vital records, such as birth or death certificates, which are preserved by other local agencies and the Georgia Department of Public Health. Furthermore, the County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest and incarceration records, including fingerprints and photographs. However, these external records may appear in court files when filed as exhibits or for other case-specific purposes.
Are Cobb County Court Records Public?
Yes. Georgia law establishes a strong presumption that the public may inspect government records. While court records are generally public, Superior, State, Probate, and Magistrate Courts are not affected by the mandates of the Georgia Open Records Act (ORA). Instead, these courts follow internal procedures and specific court rules governing the viewing of files, such as Rule 21 of the Uniform Superior Court Rules.
Per judicial policy, most Cobb County civil and criminal cases remain open to the public, but the statutes or regulations restrict access to certain sensitive information. For example,
- Juvenile Court records involving children under 18 are subject to greater access limitations.
- Judges must approve the public inspection of any exhibit tendered as evidence in a trial.
- Specific physical evidence related to sexual offenses remains closed to the public unless a court order explicitly permits inspection.
- Probate Courts conceal sensitive data from online portals to protect individual privacy.
What Information is Available in Cobb County Court Records?
Cobb County court records provide comprehensive information about judicial proceedings, including case numbers, filing dates, and final judgments. However, the records are particular to the cases heard by the courts in which they are generated.
For instance, Superior Court records specifically detail felony prosecutions, divorce decrees, and real estate titles-all of which fall under the Superior Court’s jurisdiction. State Court files contain information on traffic citations, misdemeanor cases, and civil actions such as garnishments or evictions. Probate Court records track the administration of decedent estates, guardianship appointments, and the issuance of weapons carry licenses.
Court records also include dockets that summarize court activities and calendars that reveal scheduled upcoming hearings. To ensure privacy, clerks redact personal data such as bank account numbers, insurance information, and medical data from public court files.
Cobb County Court Records Search
Through the county’s official custodians, Cobb County court records are accessible to requesters online, in person, and by mail:
Online Access
Cobb County provides several online portals for court records access. The County has a State Court Records Search System and a Magistrate Court Records Search System. These are online docket search portals where users find cases by name, case number, or citation number. The Probate Court maintains a web portal for estate and license records that requires no login to view dockets or document images. Additionally, the Superior Court Clerk hosts a dedicated site for searching general court files and real estate archives.
In-Person Access
The public may inspect court records in person during normal business hours at various court clerk offices throughout the county. While State Court staff do not perform manual record searches for individuals, they provide access to the court’s document imaging system and public terminals. Meanwhile, individuals can obtain copies of Superior Court documents directly from the clerk’s office or through a courier.
Mail and Phone Requests
To obtain records by mail from the Superior Court, individuals must submit a written request and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The Clerk requires advanced payment via money order or cashier’s check and explicitly refuses personal checks. On the other hand, State Court deputy clerks answer telephone inquiries regarding civil case statuses if the caller provides a case number. However, the State Court Clerk does not accept requests via email or fax.
Fees for Court Records in Cobb County
Courts in Cobb County charge various fees to cover the costs associated with retrieving and copying records.
State Court Clerk Fees:
- Standard Copies: 25 cents per page
- Certified Copies: $3
- Off-Site File Retrieval: $7 (must be paid in advance)
Superior Court Clerk Fees:
- In-Person Regular Copies: $1 per page
- Certified Copies: $2.50 per page
Superior Court Clerk Fees - Mailed Requests:
- Divorce Decrees (Regular): $3
- Divorce Decrees (Certified): $10
- Criminal Disposition Packages (Regular): $5 (Includes indictments and plea statements)
- Criminal Disposition Packages (Certified): $14 (Includes indictments and plea statements)
- Certified Copy of Marriage License: $10
- Certified Copy of Marriage Application: $10
- Marriage Certificate: $10
Accepted Payment Methods:
The courts accept cash, money orders, cashier’s checks, and major credit/debit cards (such as Visa or MasterCard). Personal checks are strictly refused for any filing or copy fees.
Cobb County Courthouse Locations
Cobb County operates a multi-tiered judicial system consisting of Superior, State, Probate, Magistrate, Juvenile, and Municipal Courts.
The Superior Court maintains general jurisdiction over all felony criminal prosecutions and civil actions involving equity or land titles. Within this court, a dedicated Family Court division handles domestic relations cases, including divorce, child custody, and support.
The State Court adjudicates misdemeanor crimes and traffic violations, while also hearing civil actions like garnishments and evictions.
The Probate Court holds exclusive authority over the probate of wills, estate administration, and the appointment of guardians.
The Magistrate Court processes small claims disputes involving less than $15,000, handles county ordinance violations, and issues arrest warrants.
Juvenile Court serves the legal needs of children under 18 years of age.
Cobb County Superior Court
70 Haynes Street
PO Box 3370
Marietta, GA 30090
Phone: (770) 528-1300
Fax: (770) 528-1382
State Court of Cobb County
12 East Park Square
Marietta, GA 30090
Phone: (770) 528-1216 (Civil)
Phone: (770) 528-1246 (Criminal)
Phone: (770) 528-2660 (Traffic Violations Bureau)
Cobb County Juvenile Court
32 Waddell Street
Marietta, GA 30090
Phone: (770) 528-2220
Fax: (770) 528-2561
Probate Court of Cobb County
32 Waddell Street
Marietta, GA 30090
Phone: (770) 528-1900
Fax: (770) 528-1996
Cobb County Magistrate Court
32 Waddell Street
Marietta, GA 30090
Phone: (770) 528-8900
Fax: (770) 528-8947
Municipal Court of Acworth
4408 Acworth Industrial Drive
Acworth, GA 30101
Phone: (770) 974-0965
Fax: (770) 966-8923
Municipal Court of Austell
5000 Austell-Powder Springs Road
Suite 175
Austell, GA 30106
Phone: (770) 944-4304
Fax: (770) 944-9173
Municipal Court of Kennesaw
2529 J.O. Stephenson Avenue
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone: (770) 429-4531
Fax: (678) 460-2843
Municipal Court of Marietta
240 Lemon Street
Marietta, GA 30060
Phone: (770) 794-5400
Municipal Court of Powder Springs
4483 Pineview Drive
PO Box 46
Powder Springs, GA 30127
Phone: (770) 943-8020
Fax: (770) 943-4276
Municipal Court of Smyrna
2800 King Street
Smyrna, GA 30080
Phone: (770) 431-2804
Criminal Records Access in Cobb County
The Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC), a division of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, maintains the official state-level database for criminal history records. Individuals may inspect their own criminal records at the GICC Lobby Office by booking an appointment. The Georgia Felon Search portal provided by this custodian also permits the public to access felony conviction data for a fee.
To access local criminal case information, the public can utilize Cobb County’s specific court portals and in-person request channels. The Superior Court Clerk serves as the custodian for felony records, while the State Court Clerk manages dockets for misdemeanors and traffic violations. Residents can search these local judicial files through online systems, such as "CourtConnect" or dedicated Superior Court case search sites. For comprehensive file reviews, individuals visit the clerk’s offices in person to use public terminals during normal business hours.
Cobb County Probate Records
The Probate Court generates the Cobb County probate records. These estate records encompass wills and probate filings pertaining to the administration of decedent estates and the probate of wills. Additionally, the court maintains records related to guardianship appointments and conservatorships for minors and incapacitated adults.
While many recent Probate Estates and License documents are available through the Probate Court’s web portal without a login, certain sensitive information remains concealed to protect individual privacy. Users can view document images and court dockets online, but historical indexes dating back to 1825 require broader searches.
For detailed probate records or older files not fully captured in the digital case management system, individuals can visit the court in person during business hours.
Cobb County Family Court Records
Cobb County domestic relations/family cases, which include divorce, child custody, and support matters, fall under the jurisdiction of the Superior Court. The Superior Court Clerk serves as the custodian of these files, maintaining records of final divorce decrees, settlement agreements, and related documents.
While many divorce court documents are accessible through online court portals, the law keeps adoption records strictly confidential and sealed unless a judge orders their release.
Individuals seeking standard or certified copies of Cobb County family court documents can obtain them in person at the Superior Courthouse or by submitting a written request by mail to the Superior Court Clerk’s Office. Mailed requests require advanced payment by cashier’s check or money order and an SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) for the return of copies. The Clerk charges $3 for standard copies of a final divorce decree and $10 for certified versions.
To comply with state privacy rules, the court redacts sensitive identifiers, such as full social security numbers and specific birth dates, from all publicly accessible family court records.
Federal Court Records in Cobb County
Cases involving federal law fall under the authority of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. This court manages federal litigation across several divisions, with its Atlanta courthouse typically handling matters arising in Cobb County.
The federal clerk of court for the Northern District of Georgia maintains the official records of all federal civil and criminal cases, including opinions and public calendars. Members of the public can access these federal documents electronically through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system. This case locator allows users to search for specific filings and track ongoing federal proceedings from a remote location.
For those unable to use electronic systems, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia Clerk of Court’s office offers guidance and processes requests at the following address.
Richard B. Russell Federal Building & United States Courthouse
2211 United States Courthouse
75 Ted Turner Drive Southwest
Atlanta, GA 30303-3309
