Lee County Court Records Search
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Lee County, Georgia, located in the southwest part of the state, operates a multi-court system that handles the full range of civil, criminal, family, and probate matters for its residents. Court records produced through these proceedings are official documents maintained by various court offices and serve as the foundation of public accountability in the judicial process. Under Georgia law, these records encompass written filings, dockets, orders, judgments, audio and video recordings, electronic data, and any other material generated in the course of legal proceedings, as defined under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-91.
Searching for court records in Georgia generally involves contacting the clerk’s office of the relevant court, using public access terminals at the courthouse, or accessing online tools maintained by state authorities. For those beginning a broader search across Georgia jurisdictions, GeorgiaStateCourts.us may assist in locating publicly available court case information.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Lee County?
The starting point for most Lee County court records searches is the Clerk of Superior Court, which serves as the central repository for criminal records, civil filings, divorce decrees, deeds, and property liens. The clerk’s office is located at the Lee County Courthouse in Leesburg and is open to the public during regular business hours.
Lee County Clerk of Superior Court
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 Leslie Highway, Leesburg, GA 31763 (Mailing: P.O. Box 49) |
| Phone | (229) 759-6018 |
| Fax | (229) 759-6049 |
| Hours | Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
For online record searching, the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) provides a statewide index covering real estate records, liens, UCC filings, notary information, and plat documents. Researchers can search by name, document type, or filing date.
The Lee County Magistrate Court also provides a public access portal for civil records filed from 2023 to the present through its online civil records viewer, which requires account creation. Additionally, attorneys, agents, and parties to Magistrate Court matters can file claims and responses electronically through Odyssey eFileGA.
For open records requests not directed to a specific court office, Lee County’s designated Open Records Clerk is Kaitlyn Good, reachable at kaitlyn.good@leecountyga.gov. Requests may also be submitted using the county’s online open records request form or a PDF request form. The county must respond within three business days with a timeline for production of responsive records.
Copy fees under the Georgia Open Records Act:
- Letter or legal-size copies: $0.10 per page
- No charge for the first 15 minutes of staff time spent searching or retrieving records
- Additional staff time billed at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid qualified employee
Are Court Records Public in Lee County?
Georgia’s Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 et seq.) creates a strong presumption that public records, including court records, are open for inspection and copying by any member of the public. However, this right is not absolute — certain categories of records are sealed, restricted, or exempt from disclosure either by statute or court order.
Commonly restricted or confidential record categories in Lee County include:
- Juvenile court records — protected under O.C.G.A. § 15-11-700 and related statutes; generally not accessible to the general public
- Adoption records — sealed under O.C.G.A. § 19-8-23; require a court order to unseal
- Juror information — jury lists and related identifying information are not publicly disclosed
- Attorney-client privileged communications — any privileged material included in a court file is exempt from disclosure
- Protected health and medical information — records containing health data are restricted under applicable state and federal law
- Sealed or expunged records — any file specifically ordered sealed by a judge is unavailable for public inspection
When a record request is submitted and responsive documents fall partially under an exemption, the clerk’s office may redact the protected portions and release the remainder. Requesters who believe a denial is improper may seek review through appropriate legal channels.
Lee County Criminal Court Records
Criminal proceedings in Lee County originate with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and are prosecuted in the Superior Court. The Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Reggie Rachals, is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for arrests, incident reports, and maintaining the county’s Criminal Justice Center — a 109-bed facility that holds individuals awaiting court appearances and those sentenced to one year or less.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 119 Pinewood Road, Leesburg, GA 31763 (Mailing: P.O. Box 610) |
| Phone: (Records) | (229) 759-3334 |
| Non-Emergency | (229) 759-6012 |
| Fax | (229) 759-3331 |
| Hours | Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
The Sheriff’s Office maintains the Citizen Connect portal, which allows the public to view bookings, incident reports, arrest information, maps, and missing persons data. Police crash reports can be accessed through LexisNexis BuyCrash. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Sex Offender Registry covers registered sex offenders statewide, including those in Lee County.
For criminal records maintained at the court level — including charges, plea entries, trial records, and sentencing documents — contact the Clerk of Superior Court at (229) 759-6018. Non-confidential criminal case information may also be available through the GSCCCA portal for certain filing types.
For a comprehensive statewide criminal history, the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC), operated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, serves as the state’s central criminal history repository. The GCIC maintains records on nearly four million offenders. Individuals seeking their own criminal history record may contact the GCIC Lobby Office at (404) 244-2639 (option 1) to schedule an appointment.
Lee County Superior Court (Criminal Division)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 Leslie Highway, Leesburg, GA 31763 |
| Phone | (229) 759-6018 |
| Fax | (229) 759-6049 |
| Hours | Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Lee County Civil Court Records
Civil disputes in Lee County are distributed among three courts depending on the nature and dollar value of the claim.
- The Superior Court has broad general jurisdiction over major civil matters, including suits for damages, garnishments, repossessions, equity matters, and adoptions
- The State Court, where established, may handle civil matters not exclusively reserved for the Superior Court
- The Magistrate Court handles civil claims up to $15,000, dispossessory (landlord/tenant) proceedings, personal property foreclosures, deposit account fraud (bad check) cases, and garnishments, per O.C.G.A. § 15-10-2
Lee County Magistrate Court
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 104-A Leslie Highway, Leesburg, GA 31763 (Mailing: P.O. Box 530) |
| Phone | (229) 759-6016 or (229) 759-6031 |
| Fax | (229) 759-3303 |
| magistrate@leecountyga.gov | |
| Hours | Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
The Magistrate Court does not hold jury trials and is not a court of record. Appeals from civil judgments in Magistrate Court are taken to the Superior Court. Standard civil claim forms — including the Statement of Claim, Petition for Writ of Possession (Foreclosure), Mechanics Lien, Reviving Dormant Judgment, and Summons of Garnishment — are available on the Magistrate Court forms page. A fee schedule is also published online.
For civil records in the Superior Court, requesters should contact the Clerk of Superior Court directly. The GSCCCA website provides online access to real estate filings, lien indexes, and UCC records maintained by the Superior Court Clerk. Property-related civil records — including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, security deeds, assignments, right-of-way deeds, easements, fi fas, and plats — are also recorded and retrievable through the GSCCCA.
Lee County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Lee County fall under the jurisdiction of the Superior Court, which hears all divorce and dissolution proceedings, child custody and support cases, legitimation actions, adoptions, and name change petitions. The Juvenile Court handles matters involving minors, including dependency, neglect, abuse, and delinquency proceedings.
Divorce and Domestic Relations Records — Under O.C.G.A. § 15-6-61, the Clerk of Superior Court maintains all divorce case files, final decrees, and related documents. To request a copy of a divorce decree, contact the Clerk at (229) 759-6018 or visit the courthouse at 100 Leslie Highway during business hours. Requesters should have the case number or the full names of both parties and the approximate filing year to facilitate the search.
Marriage Licenses and Records — Marriage licenses in Lee County are issued exclusively by the Probate Court of Lee County on a Tuesday through Friday, appointment-only basis. Both parties must appear in person, be at least 18 years of age, and present a valid photo ID. If a prior marriage existed, a copy of the final divorce decree or a death certificate must be provided.
Marriage license fees:
- $76.00 without premarital counseling
- $36.00 with at least 6 hours of documented premarital counseling from a licensed professional or member of the clergy (verification on official letterhead required)
Replacement certified copies of marriage certificates cost $12.00 and can be ordered through feepayonline.com.
For marriage records from the broader state-level database, the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Vital Records division issues certified marriage certificates for events occurring between June 1952 and August 1996, and verifies marriages statewide from January 1, 2014 forward. The search fee is $10.00 for one certified copy or verification; additional copies are $5.00 each. Eligible requesters are generally limited to one of the spouses.
Birth and Death Records — Vital records are administered by the Probate Court locally and the Georgia DPH at the state level. The Lee County Probate Court issues certified copies of birth and death certificates by appointment. Fees are $25.00 for the first certified copy and $5.00 for each additional copy. Acceptable payment includes cash, credit card, or postal money order. A valid driver’s license or state-issued ID is required.
For records through the state office, the DPH Vital Records division maintains Georgia birth and death records from January 1919 to the present. Mail requests should use Form 3918 for birth records or Form 3912 for death records, accompanied by a copy of valid photo ID and the applicable fee. The DPH State Office of Vital Records is located at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, Phone: (404) 679-4702
Juvenile Court Records — Juvenile proceedings are strictly confidential under O.C.G.A. § 15-11-700. The Juvenile Court is located at the Lee County Courthouse, 100 Leslie Highway, Leesburg, GA 31763, Phone: (229) 759-6018 Public access to juvenile records is not permitted except in specific circumstances allowed by statute.
Lee County Probate Court Records
The Probate Court of Lee County has exclusive jurisdiction over the probate of wills, administration of decedent estates, guardianships of minors and incapacitated adults, conservatorships, and related proceedings under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30. The court also issues marriage licenses, Weapons Carry Licenses, and birth and death certificates.
All services at the Probate Court are by appointment only, including estate matters, marriage applications, vital records requests, and Weapons Carry License applications.
Probate Court of Lee County
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 Leslie Highway, Leesburg, GA 31763 (Mailing: P.O. Box 592) |
| Phone | (229) 759-6005 |
| Fax | (229) 759-3345 |
| Contact | Renita Gause / Sheila Bruner |
To access probate records:
- Call (229) 759-6005 to schedule an appointment and inquire about the specific records needed
- Provide identifying information such as the decedent’s name, approximate date of death, and case number if known
- Present valid government-issued photo ID
- Pay applicable fees upon receipt of documents
Publicly available probate files may include wills submitted for probate, letters testamentary, estate inventories, annual returns, and guardianship or conservatorship orders. Adoption records, however, are sealed under O.C.G.A. § 19-8-23 and are not available for public inspection.
Georgia probate case information statewide, including participating courts, petition filing fee calculators, and court directories, is also available through Georgia Probate Records, a resource that aggregates publicly available probate court data across the state.