McDonough Court Docket Search

Court docket records in McDonough are held by the McDonough Municipal Court for city-level traffic and ordinance matters, and by the Henry County Superior Court for major civil, criminal, and domestic cases. McDonough is the county seat of Henry County, which places the Superior Court here and makes this city the central point for county court activity south of Atlanta. This page covers how to search those dockets, request certified copies, and find legal help in the area.

Court Records in McDonough

McDonough is the county seat of Henry County, and the Henry County Superior Court is located here. As the primary trial court for the county, the Superior Court handles felony criminal cases, civil actions over the jurisdictional threshold, domestic relations matters including divorce and child custody, and appeals from lower courts. The clerk of the Henry County Superior Court keeps the official docket for all cases filed in that court and is the main public records contact at the Superior Court level.

Henry County also has a Magistrate Court for small claims and preliminary criminal hearings, a State Court for misdemeanor cases and civil matters below the Superior Court limit, and a Probate Court for estate and guardianship proceedings. Each court keeps its own records. If you are researching a specific case and are not sure which court heard it, start with the Superior Court clerk in McDonough. They can usually tell you whether the case is in their system or point you to the right office.

Henry County is part of the Flint Judicial Circuit. The circuit handles cases from Henry and several neighboring counties. Appeals from Henry County Superior Court go to the Georgia Court of Appeals. The McDonough courthouse is the hub of all county-level court activity in Henry County.

McDonough Municipal Court

The McDonough Municipal Court handles traffic citations and city ordinance violations within McDonough city limits. Citations issued by McDonough Police Department officers are heard in this court. The court does not handle felony cases or major civil disputes. Those are handled at the county court level. For speeding tickets, parking violations, and code enforcement actions within city limits, the municipal court is the right place to start.

The court is located at 40 Griffin Street, McDonough, GA 30253. The phone number is (770) 898-7250. The city's municipal court page at mcdonough.org provides hearing schedules, fine payment options, and contact details. McDonough Municipal Court records are separate from Henry County Superior Court records. The county clerk will not have records of matters handled solely at the city court level.

As the county seat, McDonough sees a mix of city court and county court activity. If you are not sure which court handled your matter, check the citation or court papers you received. The court of jurisdiction is listed on official documents. If you are still unsure, call both the city court and the county clerk to ask.

Search McDonough Court Dockets Online

Henry County Superior Court dockets are available through re:SearchGA at researchga.tylerhost.net. The portal is free to use and allows searches by name, case number, attorney, or date. Henry County records are included in the system, and McDonough-area cases at the Superior Court level can be found without a courthouse visit. The portal shows case type, current status, parties involved, and scheduled hearing dates.

The GSCCCA portal at gsccca.org covers Henry County and provides an index of court filings, real estate records, and judgment liens. This is a useful supplement to re:SearchGA when you need to search both court records and property records for the same person or business. Many document images are viewable directly through GSCCCA.

The image below shows the re:SearchGA portal, the primary online access point for Henry County Superior Court dockets, which cover cases filed in McDonough.

The Georgia Courts E-Access portal is a secondary option for courts on the state's unified case management system. If re:SearchGA does not show a specific case, try the E-Access portal before concluding the record is unavailable online.

Requesting Copies of Court Records

Certified copies of Henry County Superior Court records are available from the clerk of court at the Henry County Courthouse in McDonough. Standard copy fees under Georgia law are $0.50 per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost $2.50 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. Requests can be made in person during courthouse hours or by mail. Call the clerk's office to confirm current procedures before mailing a request.

The Georgia eCertification portal at ecert.gsccca.org lets you order certified copies of certain document types online. This is convenient if you need a document sent to a third party or cannot visit during business hours. Check what is available for Henry County on the portal before placing an order.

Open Records in McDonough

Georgia's Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-70, gives the public the right to inspect and copy court dockets and most government records. Court records in McDonough and Henry County are public. Agencies must respond to written requests within three business days. You do not need to provide a reason for requesting access to public records.

Juvenile court proceedings are sealed. Sealed cases require a court order to access. Records with privacy protections for minor victims are not publicly accessible. Any denial must cite the specific exemption that applies. Improper denials can be challenged through the courts.

Legal Help in McDonough

McDonough residents who need free civil legal help can contact the Georgia Legal Services Program at glsp.org. The program assists qualifying residents with family law, housing, benefits disputes, and other civil matters. For attorney referrals in Henry County, the State Bar of Georgia at gabar.org connects you with local attorneys in the right practice area. The Georgia Courts website has court contact information and self-help guides for self-represented parties navigating the Georgia court system.

As the county seat, McDonough has more direct access to court services than many parts of Henry County. If you are dealing with a matter that requires in-person contact, the courthouse is right in the city center and generally accessible during standard business hours.

Nearby Cities

Other Henry County cities near McDonough have court docket pages. Stockbridge is to the north in Henry County and is one of the county's larger cities, with its own municipal court that handles local traffic and ordinance matters. Atlanta is to the north in Fulton County, one of Georgia's largest court systems. Both cities have detailed court docket pages with court addresses, phone numbers, and direct links to online docket search tools through re:SearchGA and GSCCCA.