Cobb County Court Records

Court records in Cobb County, Georgia, are maintained by the clerks of the various courts serving the county and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's offices. CobbCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Cobb County. You can also search records through the Georgia Courts E-Access portal, the Cobb State Court record search, and by contacting the appropriate clerk's office directly.

Cobb County Court System Overview

Cobb County is part of the Cobb Judicial Circuit, which serves Cobb County exclusively. The county seat is Marietta, where the primary courthouse complex is located. Georgia's court system is unified, with Superior Court serving as the general jurisdiction trial court in each county. Cobb County also has a State Court, Magistrate Court, Probate Court, and Juvenile Court — each handling specific categories of cases. The Superior Court Clerk's Office maintains records for Superior Court cases, while the State Court Clerk maintains State Court records separately.

Cobb County Superior Court

Courts Serving Cobb County

What Types of Cases Cobb County Courts Hear

Cobb County's courts collectively handle a wide range of matters:

• Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, traffic violations, DUI
• Civil: General civil litigation, contract disputes, personal injury, small claims
• Family Law: Divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, protective orders
• Probate: Wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships
• Juvenile: Delinquency, dependency (child protective), truancy
• Infractions and Ordinance Violations: Municipal code violations, county ordinance matters

Each court has defined jurisdiction. The sections below explain which court handles what.

District Court Cases in Cobb County

In Georgia, Superior Court functions as the court of general jurisdiction — equivalent to a district court in many other states. Cobb County Superior Court hears all felony criminal cases, civil cases without a dollar-amount cap, divorce and family law matters, equity cases, and appeals from lower courts. Felony cases typically begin with an arrest and an initial appearance in Magistrate Court before being bound over or indicted by a grand jury for Superior Court. Cases are assigned to one of the Superior Court judges sitting in the Cobb Judicial Circuit. The court also handles post-conviction matters such as habeas corpus petitions and motions for new trials.

Magistrate Court Cases in Cobb County

Cobb County Magistrate Court handles several high-volume case types:

• County ordinance violations and minor criminal offenses
• Preliminary hearings for felony cases
• Civil claims up to $15,000 (the jurisdictional limit under Georgia law, O.C.G.A. § 15-10-2)
• Arrest and search warrants
• Dispossessory (eviction) proceedings
• Bad check hearings

Small claims in Magistrate Court are capped at $15,000. Parties may represent themselves without an attorney. The court also issues arrest warrants and conducts initial appearances for criminal defendants. Given Cobb County's population, Magistrate Court processes a large volume of warrant applications and landlord-tenant disputes daily.

Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Cobb County

Family Law: Divorce, custody, child support, legitimation, paternity, and temporary protective order cases are heard in Cobb County Superior Court. Protective orders under Georgia's Family Violence Act are also filed through Superior Court, though Magistrate Court can issue temporary protective orders after hours or on weekends.

Probate: Cobb County Probate Court handles decedent estates, wills, guardianships of minors and incapacitated adults, conservatorships, marriage licenses, firearms licenses, and involuntary commitment hearings. The Probate Court is located at 32 Waddell Street in Marietta.

Juvenile: Cobb County Juvenile Court addresses delinquency, unruly behavior, truancy, and deprivation (child protective) cases involving children under 17. Juvenile records are confidential under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 15-11-700 et seq.) and are not available to the general public.

How Cases Move Through the Cobb County Court System

1. Filing or Initiation: Criminal cases begin with an arrest, warrant application, or indictment. Civil cases start with the filing of a complaint and payment of a filing fee. Family law cases begin with a petition (e.g., petition for divorce).
2. Service and Response: In civil and family cases, the opposing party must be served and given time to respond — typically 30 days in Georgia Superior Court.
3. Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants have an initial appearance or arraignment. Civil cases receive a scheduling order or are placed on a calendar.
4. Pre-Trial Phase: Discovery, depositions, motions, and — in criminal cases — plea negotiations occur during this stage.
5. Trial or Resolution: Cases may resolve through plea agreement, settlement, mediation, bench trial, or jury trial.
6. Post-Judgment: Criminal cases proceed to sentencing. Civil judgments may be appealed to the Georgia Court of Appeals. Enforcement actions (garnishments, liens) may follow civil judgments.

Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Cobb County

The Cobb Judicial Circuit is administered by the Chief Judge of Superior Court, with support from a court administrator's office. Local rules for the Cobb Judicial Circuit govern filing deadlines, motions practice, and courtroom procedures. These rules can typically be found through the Georgia Courts portal.

Public access: Under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.), most court records are open to the public. Exceptions include sealed records, juvenile records, adoption records, and certain mental health proceedings. Anyone can request copies of public court records from the appropriate clerk's office, usually for a per-page copy fee.

Attending hearings: Most Cobb County court proceedings are open to the public. Some hearings may be conducted by video or telephone — contact the specific court for current remote hearing options. Jury duty information for Cobb County is available online, including instructions for reporting and contact details for the Cobb County Sheriff's Office at (770) 499-4700.

Court Records and Related Court Resources in Cobb County

• State Court Record Search: Search Cobb County State Court case records through the Cobb State Court online record search. The official court record is maintained at the Cobb State Court Clerk's Office, 12 East Park Square, Marietta, GA 30090.
• Georgia Courts E-Access: Search Superior Court and other court records statewide through Georgia's E-Access to Court Records. An account may be required.
• Georgia Department of Corrections — Offender Search: Look up individuals incarcerated in the Georgia state prison system using the GDC offender query tool.
• Property Tax Records: The Cobb County Tax Commissioner's website provides property tax information, and the Property Tax Division page has details on assessments and exemptions. Property tax records can be relevant in civil litigation and estate matters.
• Jury Duty: Cobb County residents summoned for jury service can find reporting instructions at the Cobb County Jury Duty portal.
• Georgia Sex Offender Registry: Search the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Sex Offender Registry online for registrants in Cobb County.
• Court Forms and Self-Help: The Georgia Courts website offers links to court forms, self-help resources, and information about legal aid programs.
• Federal Court Records: For cases filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, search records through the PACER system at pacer.gov.

For additional help locating Cobb County court records, visit CobbCourt.us.