Dodge County Court Docket Records
Dodge County court docket records are filed and maintained at the Superior Court Clerk's office in Eastman, Georgia, providing public access to civil litigation, criminal proceedings, and family law cases handled by the county's court system.
Dodge County At a Glance
Dodge County Superior Court Clerk
The Dodge County Superior Court Clerk's office is at 5401 Anson Avenue, Eastman, GA 31023. You can reach them at (478) 374-2871. The clerk handles case intake, docket maintenance, and records requests for all Superior Court matters. Civil filings, felony criminal cases, and domestic cases are all part of the court docket managed here.
The clerk can search cases by name or case number and provide docket sheets showing the full history of a proceeding. Copies of documents in the court file are available for a fee. Staff can also explain which records are open to the public and which have any access restrictions.
Georgia law supports broad public access to court records. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 through § 50-18-74, the Open Records Act, makes most government records available for inspection. Court docket records fall under this statute unless specifically restricted by law or court order. You don't need to state a reason to inspect public court dockets.
Online Docket Search for Dodge County
Georgia provides several online tools for public access to court docket information. The Tyler Technologies portal for Georgia lets you search case indexes by name or case number. It covers multiple counties and is a good first stop for anyone looking up Dodge County cases without traveling to Eastman.
The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority maintains a statewide database of Superior Court records. GSCCCA.org gives you searchable access to case data and document indexes. Their eCertification system handles certified electronic copies of court documents that can be used as legal evidence. The FANS portal on the same network provides access to UCC filings and lien records that may be connected to civil judgments.
The Georgia Courts eAccess page lists every digital resource available for court records in Georgia. It describes which tools serve which court types and how to navigate them. This is a good starting point if you are not sure where to search.
Case Types in the Dodge County Court Docket
The Dodge County Superior Court processes different categories of cases. Criminal felonies make up one part of the docket. Civil suits cover contract claims, real property disputes, and personal injury actions. Family law is a major segment, including divorces, child custody cases, modifications, and adoption proceedings. The court also hears equity matters and petitions for injunctive relief.
Dodge County also has a Magistrate Court and a Probate Court. Magistrate Court handles small claims, landlord-tenant cases, and civil warrants. Probate Court manages wills, estates, guardianships, and mental health petitions. These courts each keep their own dockets. Contact them separately if you need records from those courts.
If you are unsure which court handled a case, start with the Superior Court Clerk. They tend to have a broad view of filings across the county's court system and can direct you appropriately.
Requesting Dodge County Court Docket Records
Walk-in visits to the clerk's office in Eastman are the fastest way to get records. Bring identification and the case number if you have it. Staff can search by party name if you don't have the number. They can print the docket sheet or pull specific documents from the file.
Written mail requests are also accepted. Send your request to the Dodge County Superior Court Clerk, 5401 Anson Avenue, Eastman, GA 31023. Include the party names, case number if known, and a list of the documents you need. Reference the Open Records Act in your letter. Copy fees are set by O.C.G.A. § 15-6-77, which limits what the clerk can charge per page for both certified and uncertified copies.
Online portals provide free index searches in most cases. Full document access or certified copies may carry fees. Check the specific platform before you request paid documents to know what to expect.
What You'll Find in a Dodge County Court Docket
A Dodge County court docket entry records one event in a case's history. Each entry has a filing date, a description of the document or action, and a reference to any document attached. Together, the entries form a chronological record of the case from start to finish.
When you look at the docket, you can see how a case progressed. Did the defendant answer? Were motions filed? What did the judge order? Was there a trial or a settlement? The docket does not always contain the full text of documents, but it tells you what to look for in the case file. For many research purposes, the docket alone answers the question.
Active cases have recent entries. Closed cases show a final judgment, dismissal, or other disposition as the last entry. Cases under appeal may have entries noting the appeal filing and any stays of the trial court judgment. If a case was transferred from another county, the docket should reflect that too.
Georgia Statewide Court Records Portal
The online resources maintained by Georgia courts make it easier to access Dodge County court docket data without an in-person visit. Below is an image showing the type of Georgia court records search tool available to the public.
Older Dodge County cases that predate digital indexing may not appear in online searches. For those records, contact the clerk directly at (478) 374-2871. The clerk can confirm what is available in paper records and arrange access or copies.
Nearby Counties
Cases in Dodge County sometimes connect to filings in nearby jurisdictions. The following counties are adjacent and each has its own Superior Court Clerk handling their dockets.