Wilkes County Court Docket Search

Wilkes County court docket records are held by the Superior Court Clerk in Washington, Georgia. Washington is the county seat of Wilkes County, located in northeast Georgia. These public records cover all civil, criminal, and domestic cases filed in the Wilkes County Superior Court. This page explains how to search those docket records online, how to request copies from the clerk in Washington, what information the docket entries contain, and which state and local resources are available for Georgia court research.

Wilkes County Clerk of Superior Court

The Wilkes County Superior Court Clerk's office is at 23 East Court Street, Washington, GA 30673. The phone number is (706) 678-2423. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The clerk manages all case filings and record requests for the Superior Court, which handles felony criminal cases, major civil claims, and family law proceedings including divorce, child custody, and adoption in Wilkes County.

Wilkes County is part of the Northern Judicial Circuit, which covers Wilkes, Elbert, Hart, Oglethorpe, and Madison counties in northeast Georgia. Circuit judges rotate among all five counties. To find which judge is assigned to a specific case or when a hearing is set, contact the clerk's office or look up the case on the statewide portal. County information is at wilkescountyga.gov.

In-person searches are available during regular business hours. Bring the case number or party names. For older archived records, call ahead to confirm the file is on-site. Staff can help you find documents and understand docket sheets but cannot provide legal advice.

Search Wilkes County Court Dockets Online

Georgia's re:SearchGA portal provides free public access to Superior Court dockets across all 159 counties. Wilkes County is included. Search by party name, case number, or date range. The portal shows case status, docket entries, party roles, and scanned document links in many cases. No login is needed to search.

The re:SearchGA portal is the main free tool for searching Wilkes County court docket records.

The portal covers all Superior Court case types and is updated on an ongoing basis.

The GSCCCA covers all 159 Georgia counties and is useful for deed records, property liens, and related court filings. Certified copies can be ordered online without traveling to Washington through the eCertification portal. Electronic filing for participating courts is handled by eFileGA.

Requesting Wilkes County Court Records

For in-person requests, visit 23 East Court Street in Washington during business hours. Provide the case number or party names and explain which documents you need. Copies are produced at the courthouse. Cash and checks are the standard payment forms. For large requests, bring a written list to help the clerk's staff pull the right files efficiently.

Georgia copy fees follow O.C.G.A. § 15-6-77. Standard copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $2.50 for the first page and $0.50 for each page after. Certified copies carry the court's seal and are required for most formal legal and financial uses. Tell the clerk upfront if you need certified versions.

For mail requests, write to Wilkes County Superior Court Clerk, 23 East Court Street, Washington, GA 30673. Include the case number or party names, a description of the records you want, a check or money order for the estimated cost, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Routine requests are typically processed and returned within a few business days.

What the Wilkes County Docket Contains

The court docket is a complete, time-ordered log of every action taken in a case. Civil dockets include the original complaint, responses, motions, discovery orders, continuances, and final judgment. Criminal dockets document charges, grand jury indictments, arraignments, bond hearings, plea entries, trial dates, and sentencing. Domestic dockets cover divorce filings, temporary protective orders, child support motions, parenting plans, and final decrees.

Some records are not public. Georgia law closes juvenile court files entirely. Expunged cases and files under court seal do not appear in any public search. Victim-related documents and mental health records may be withheld or redacted before release. If a record is not showing up and you believe it should exist, call the clerk's office to ask whether it has been restricted.

Georgia Open Records Law

O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 gives any person the right to inspect and copy most records held by Georgia government bodies, including court clerks. No reason is needed for the request. The right applies to all people equally, regardless of where they live.

Government offices must respond within three business days. The response can be the records, a firm delivery date, or a written reason for any denial. If only part of a document is protected, the rest must be released with the protected portion redacted. Wilkes County's clerk follows these same standards.

Common exemptions include Social Security numbers, financial account data, and protected victim information. Records sealed by court order are fully restricted. If you think a denial was improper, you may contact the Georgia Attorney General's open government division to file a complaint.

Statewide Tools and Resources

The Georgia Courts e-Access portal links to multiple state court databases and is a useful hub for Georgia court searches. The GSCCCA eCertification portal lets you order certified copies online without going to Washington, GA. Federal cases involving Wilkes County fall under the Middle District of Georgia, with dockets searchable through PACER at pacer.gov.

Georgia Legal Services Program at glsp.org provides free civil legal help for qualifying residents in rural counties. The State Bar of Georgia at gabar.org has a lawyer referral service for those who need private representation in Northern Circuit matters.

Cities in Wilkes County

Washington, the county seat of Wilkes County, is the largest city in the county. Rayle and Tignall are other small communities in Wilkes County. None come close to the 25,000-resident threshold for a dedicated city docket page on this site. Use the county-level tools and resources listed on this page for all Wilkes County docket searches.

Nearby Counties

Wilkes County is in northeast Georgia and borders several other counties. Each maintains its own Superior Court Clerk and uses the same statewide online docket tools.

Neighboring counties include Lincoln County, Elbert County, Oglethorpe County, Greene County, Taliaferro County, Warren County, and McDuffie County.