Polk County Court Docket Records
Polk County court docket records are public documents maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court in Cedartown, Georgia, and are open to inspection by any member of the public under Georgia's Open Records Act. This page explains where to search the Polk County court docket, how to contact the clerk's office, and what official state tools are available for accessing local case filings and records.
Polk County At a Glance
Polk County Court Docket - Search Options
The Polk County Superior Court is the court of general jurisdiction for the county and handles the full range of case types from felony criminal matters to divorce filings, civil suits, and equity actions. The Clerk of Superior Court in Cedartown maintains the official Polk County court docket and all related case records. This docket is a public record. The fastest way to search it online is through the statewide re:SearchGA portal at researchga.tylerhost.net. This free tool indexes Polk County Superior Court case filings and lets you search by party name or case number without an account.
The re:SearchGA system returns case type, filing date, judge assignment, parties of record, and scheduled hearing dates when available. It covers active and closed cases. The data generally reflects new filings within one to two business days of the clerk's intake. For most basic Polk County court docket searches, this portal handles the job well without requiring a trip to Cedartown.
The GSCCCA statewide index at GSCCCA.org covers deed records, liens, and UCC filings connected to Polk County. For civil judgment searches and property lien lookups tied to Polk County court cases, this system is a useful supplement to the case docket search. Civil judgments recorded as liens on Polk County property appear in the GSCCCA index after the clerk processes the recording.
Note: Polk County is part of the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit. Some resources and schedules may reference that circuit name rather than Polk County directly.
Polk County Clerk of Superior Court
The Polk County Clerk of Superior Court is the official custodian of all local court records. The office is at 100 Prior Street, Cedartown, GA 30125. The phone number is (770) 749-2114. Clerk staff manage all incoming case filings, maintain the official docket index, issue certified copies of court documents, and handle Open Records requests. In-person docket searches are available during normal courthouse business hours. Having the case number or party name ready before you arrive saves time at the counter.
Copy fees for Polk County court docket documents follow the schedule set by state law under O.C.G.A. § 15-6-77. Certified copies cost $2.50 for the first page and $0.50 per page for each additional page. Uncertified plain copies are $0.50 per page. These fees apply whether you pick up copies at the counter, request them by mail, or receive them through the electronic certification system. Call ahead to confirm what forms of payment the Polk County clerk's office currently accepts before sending a mail request with payment enclosed.
Visit the Polk County Clerk of Superior Court page for current business hours, forms, and service information. Office hours may shift around court terms, holidays, and other local events.
Polk County Court Records - Online Access
The Georgia Courts E-Access directory at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records links to court-specific search tools for Polk County and other Georgia counties. This page, maintained by the Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts, lists which counties and courts participate in statewide online systems and provides direct links to those tools. It is a good starting point when you are not sure which portal covers a specific Polk County record type.
For certified electronic copies of Polk County court documents, the eCertification portal at GSCCCA lets registered users request official certified copies online without visiting Cedartown. Attorneys, title companies, and researchers use this system to get authenticated Polk County court documents delivered electronically. The electronic certified copies carry the same legal authority as paper-certified copies in most contexts. Registration is open to the public and free to set up.
The GSCCCA also offers a FANS filing alert service that lets you set up name-based notifications for new Polk County court filings. Get an email when a new case involving your monitored name appears in the Polk County docket. The GSCCCA eFiling system supports electronic case submissions in Polk County Superior Court when permitted by local court rules.
Georgia's statewide court portals connect to Polk County docket data and support public access to case filings and status information.
Open Records Rights in Polk County
Georgia's Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 through § 50-18-74, gives the public the right to access Polk County court docket records. Any document created or maintained by the clerk's office in the course of official court business qualifies as a public record under this statute. Case filings, judgments, orders, docket entries, and case histories are all public records.
The clerk's office must respond to your records request within three business days. You do not need to explain why you want the records. The office cannot demand a reason. Responses within the three-day window may be the records themselves, a written denial citing the specific legal exemption that applies, or notice that a large request needs more time. The first 15 minutes of staff search time are free. Standard copy fees under the Open Records Act max out at 10 cents per page for letter and legal size documents.
Sealed cases are the main exception. A judge must issue a sealing order. Without one, Polk County court records are public. Juvenile records are separately protected by statute. But the default rule is open access, and the clerk's office must follow it.
Polk County Court System
Polk County's court system includes Superior Court, Magistrate Court, and Probate Court. Superior Court handles the broadest range of case types and carries the official Polk County court docket for felony criminal, domestic relations, civil, and equity matters. Magistrate Court covers small claims up to $15,000, ordinance violations, and other limited civil matters. Probate Court handles wills, estates, and guardianship proceedings. These lower courts maintain their own separate dockets, which the Superior Court clerk does not manage. Contact those courts directly in Cedartown for Magistrate or Probate Court records.
Nearby Counties
Polk County is in northwest Georgia and borders several other Georgia counties. Cases involving parties or property across county lines may require searching multiple docket systems.