Catoosa County Court Docket Records

The Catoosa County court docket is maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court in Ringgold and includes civil, criminal, and domestic filings heard in the county's Superior Court. This page explains how to search and access Catoosa County court records through official channels.

Catoosa County Clerk of Superior Court

The Catoosa County Clerk of Superior Court maintains the official court docket and case records for the county. The office is at 875 Lafayette Street, Ringgold, GA 30736. Call (706) 935-4231 to reach the clerk directly.

The clerk's office in Ringgold is the starting point for every case filed in Catoosa County Superior Court. When a case is filed, the clerk assigns a number, creates the docket entry, and keeps the official record from first filing through final judgment. Civil cases, felony criminal matters, and domestic proceedings all run through this office.

Catoosa County sits just south of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the area has seen steady growth for years. The clerk's office handles an active caseload. Recent cases are well-indexed in digital systems. For older files, some records may be in paper or archived formats call ahead if you're looking for cases from more than 10 or 15 years ago.

Walk-in visits to 875 Lafayette Street work for most standard lookups. The staff can search by case number or party name while you wait for recent cases. For a planned visit involving multiple records or complex requests, it's worth calling (706) 935-4231 ahead of time to let them prepare.

Online Access to Catoosa County Court Records

The re:SearchGA portal covers Catoosa County Superior Court filings and is the main online tool for finding Catoosa County court docket entries. Search by party name or case number for free. The system indexes current filings and many historical records.

The GSCCCA statewide index is a useful secondary tool for Catoosa County court research. It indexes Superior Court records and is particularly good for locating real estate-linked filings, lien records, and older case entries that may not appear in re:SearchGA. Use both for a thorough search.

The GSCCCA search portal, pictured below, allows name-based searches across Catoosa County court records and other Georgia Superior Court filings.

For older Catoosa County court docket entries, GSCCCA's deep historical index is often the most reliable starting point.

The E-Access Court Records portal from the Georgia Courts website provides additional search options. If you don't find what you're looking for in re:SearchGA or GSCCCA, check E-Access before giving up on an online search.

What the Catoosa County Court Docket Covers

The Catoosa County court docket records every action in every case before Superior Court. Each entry shows the case number, parties' names, filing date, and a chronological log of motions, hearings, orders, and judgments. When documents are uploaded to the digital system, they may be accessible through the docket. Others require a separate copy request.

Civil cases in the Catoosa County docket range from contract disputes and property matters to personal injury actions and civil litigation between private parties. Criminal docket entries cover felony charges, arraignments, pleas, trial proceedings, and sentencing. Domestic law cases divorce petitions, custody orders, child and spousal support matters are heard in Superior Court and included in the Catoosa County docket.

Catoosa County's location on the Georgia-Tennessee border means some cases involve parties or events from both states. State court records are handled by each state's system separately. If you need records from both sides of the border, you'll need to search the Catoosa County clerk's system and the Hamilton County, Tennessee court system independently.

Sealed and restricted records don't appear in the public docket. Juvenile court records are closed by law. Expunged records are removed from public access. If you're looking for a record and not finding it, call the clerk's office staff can tell you whether the case exists but is restricted.

Copy Fees and Requesting Records

The Catoosa County clerk handles copy requests in person at 875 Lafayette Street and by mail. Standard copies cost $0.50 per page under O.C.G.A. § 15-6-77. Certified copies are $2.50 for the first page plus $0.50 per additional page. Those are the state-set rates and apply to all Catoosa County Superior Court documents.

For mail requests, call (706) 935-4231 to confirm the process. You'll need to provide the case name or number, the specific documents you want, and payment. Turnaround time varies based on the clerk's workload and whether the requested records need to be pulled from archive storage.

Some certified Catoosa County court documents can be ordered online through the GSCCCA eCertification portal. If the document you need qualifies, this is faster than a mail request and eliminates the need to travel to Ringgold.

Open Records and Access Rights

The Georgia Open Records Act O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 through § 50-18-74 gives any person the right to inspect and copy public records maintained by the Catoosa County Clerk of Superior Court. Court docket records are public records under this law. The clerk must respond to a written request within three business days.

Response within three days doesn't mean delivery within three days. The clerk must acknowledge your request and provide a production timeline within that window. Actual document delivery may take longer. All denials must be in writing with a specific legal exemption cited.

You don't need to state a reason for requesting records. You don't need to be a Georgia resident or a party to the case. Just submit a written request that clearly identifies the records you want, and the clerk's office will process it. Phone inquiries can often resolve basic questions without a formal written request.

Legal Resources in Catoosa County

Ringgold is the county seat and main point of access for Catoosa County court services. The county is part of the Chattanooga metro area, and legal services are available in both Ringgold and nearby Chattanooga, Tennessee. Georgia Legal Services Program covers northwest Georgia and can assist low-income residents who need help with court records or legal proceedings in Catoosa County Superior Court.

The State Bar of Georgia's referral service can help you find attorneys who practice in the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, which serves Catoosa, Walker, Chattooga, and Dade counties. Attorneys familiar with this circuit can advise on local court procedures and records access.

Cities in Catoosa County

Catoosa County's largest city is Ringgold, the county seat. Fort Oglethorpe is another significant community. Neither exceeds the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city records page. Use the clerk's office and the online tools listed above to access Catoosa County court docket records for any community in the county.

Nearby Counties

Catoosa County borders Walker, Whitfield, Murray, Gordon, and Dade counties in Georgia. Walker County and Catoosa County are both part of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit. Use re:SearchGA to run searches across the full circuit when you're not certain which county holds the docket entry you're looking for.