Find Court Docket Records in Savannah

Savannah court docket records are maintained through Chatham County Superior Court and Savannah Municipal Court. The Superior Court holds civil, criminal, and domestic case files for the city and surrounding Chatham County area. Municipal Court handles local ordinance violations and traffic matters within Savannah's city limits. This guide walks through how to search Savannah dockets online and how to request copies of court documents.

Court Records in Savannah

Savannah is the county seat of Chatham County, and Chatham County Superior Court handles all major court matters for the city. Felony criminal cases, civil disputes over $15,000, divorce and custody filings, and probate matters are all maintained by the Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court. The clerk's office is the first stop for anyone researching a significant legal matter in Savannah.

Chatham County State Court handles misdemeanor cases and smaller civil claims. Both State Court and Superior Court dockets are accessible through the statewide re:SearchGA portal, which makes it relatively easy to check Savannah-area cases without visiting the courthouse in person. The clerk maintains records going back many years, with older files sometimes available only in physical form.

Savannah operates as an independent city within Chatham County, but the court structure here is traditional. There is no consolidated city-county government like Atlanta or Augusta. The city has its own municipal court for local matters, and the county Superior Court handles everything else of substance.

Savannah Municipal Court

Savannah Municipal Court is at 133 Montgomery Street, Savannah, GA 31401. The court's phone number is (912) 652-7866. Details about the court, including how to look up cases and pay fines, are at the city's official municipal court page.

Municipal Court in Savannah focuses on city code violations, traffic citations from Savannah Police, and related minor infractions. It does not handle felony charges, serious civil claims, or domestic cases. If your matter involves a parking ticket, a city ordinance issue, or a traffic citation within city limits, the municipal court is where you will find that docket.

Municipal court records are generally not in re:SearchGA. You will need to contact the court directly at the Montgomery Street address or use the city's online portal to check the status of a municipal case. The clerk at municipal court can confirm whether a warrant is active or whether a citation has been resolved.

Search Savannah Court Dockets Online

Chatham County Superior Court and State Court dockets are searchable through re:SearchGA. You can search by name or case number and pull up filing dates, case type, parties, and hearing information. This is the fastest way to check Savannah's Superior Court docket without going downtown to the courthouse.

For property records, judgment liens, and real estate filings tied to Savannah court cases, GSCCCA is the right tool. The Georgia Courts e-access portal at georgiacourts.gov also links to access information and individual county court systems across the state.

The Savannah Municipal Court portal handles local case lookup for city-level matters. Here is the official court page for Savannah:

Savannah Municipal Court official page

The Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court's office is located at 133 Montgomery Street as well, making in-person visits for both courts a single trip downtown to the courthouse complex.

Getting Copies of Court Records

To get certified copies of Savannah court records, contact the Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court. Standard copy fees are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $2.50 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. You can request records in person, by mail, or use the GSCCCA eCertification portal for documents available in electronic form.

Older Savannah court records that predate the shift to electronic filing may require a manual search by clerk staff. If you need a case from the 1980s or earlier, plan on a longer wait. The clerk's office can tell you whether your specific case has been digitized or exists only in paper files at the courthouse.

Open Records Access

Savannah court records are open to the public under Georgia's Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. 50-18-70. Any person can request to view or copy court records. The government has three business days to respond. You do not need to be a party to the case or explain your reason for requesting.

Not all records are public. Juvenile court files are sealed under state law. Certain domestic violence cases have restricted access. Cases where a judge has entered a specific sealing order will have that noted in the docket. For most Savannah Superior Court and State Court cases, though, the records are open and accessible.

Legal Resources in Savannah

The Georgia Legal Services Program provides free civil legal assistance to low-income Savannah residents and covers the coastal Georgia region. The Savannah Bar Association can refer residents to local attorneys through its referral service. The State Bar of Georgia's searchable directory at georgiacourts.gov covers attorneys by county and practice area.

For self-represented litigants, the Georgia Courts website provides standard forms and filing guides for Superior Court matters. Many common civil cases, including landlord-tenant disputes and small claims, have ready-to-use forms available on the site.

Nearby Cities

The nearest qualifying city to Savannah is Pooler, a fast-growing community just west of Savannah also in Chatham County. Pooler cases generally route through Chatham County Superior Court as well. No other qualifying cities are within close range of Savannah in the coastal Georgia area.