Common Questions About Cobb County Court Records
How do I search Cobb County court records online?
Start at the official Cobb County Search Judicial Records hub and pick the court that matches your case. Superior Court Clerk WebCaseManagement covers felony, divorce, domestic, child support, and habeas files. The State Court portal covers civil cases from 1997 and traffic and misdemeanor cases from 1999. Magistrate covers small claims, evictions, garnishments, and warrants. Probate has its own case-status link. For a plain-English walk-through, see the Cobb County court records guide on this site.
Where do I file for divorce in Cobb County?
Divorce cases are filed with the Clerk of Superior Court at 70 Haynes Street in Marietta. Superior Court has general jurisdiction over divorce, title to land, and equity. The Clerk maintains the decree and any later modifications. The official Superior Court Clerk fee page lists general civil filing, which includes divorce, name change, and adoption, at $218. Sheriff service runs $50 per party for Cobb addresses. The full process, forms, and search steps are covered on the Cobb County marriage and divorce records page.
How do I get a Cobb County marriage license?
Marriage licenses come from Cobb Probate Court at 32 Waddell Street in Marietta. The fee is $56 without proof of premarital counseling. With a valid counseling certificate, the fee drops to $16. Certified copies cost $10 each. Bring a printed copy of the completed application and valid photo ID. The License Division runs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. More detail, plus links to the application form, is on the probate records page.
How do I find out if someone has a warrant in Cobb County?
The county’s online Magistrate Warrant Inquiry is limited to State Bar of Georgia members. Public users should call the Magistrate Warrant Division at 770-528-8900 or Sheriff Warrant Information at 770-499-4634. Attorneys can request a login and search by name or warrant number. A criminal case search on State or Superior Court may also show a bench warrant tied to a case. The warrant records page walks through every public option.
How do I check whether someone is in the Cobb jail?
Use the Cobb Sheriff inmate inquiry. Search by name in "Last First" format, by SOID number, or by serial number. Choose "In Custody" for someone you believe is at the Adult Detention Center at 1825 County Services Parkway. Choose "Inquiry" for a broader history search, which can be slow. The result shows charges, bond, and release status. Booking photos are not posted. For a deeper walk-through with the full field list, see the inmate records page.
What is the difference between Superior Court and State Court?
Superior Court is the general-jurisdiction trial court. It hears felonies, divorces, real estate, equity, and habeas matters. The District Attorney prosecutes its criminal cases. Cobb State Court hears traffic violations, misdemeanors, ordinance cases, and some civil suits. The Solicitor General prosecutes its criminal calendars. The records live with two different clerks, so a felony or divorce search starts at Superior Court and a ticket or misdemeanor search starts at State Court.
How do I pay a Cobb County traffic ticket?
Most payable citations can be paid through the State Court Clerk after the case posts online. The official traffic citation page says to wait 10 to 14 business days before looking up or paying. Not every offense is payable; some require a court appearance. If you pay online, the bond is forfeited on the court date and serves as the final disposition. Skipping court can trigger a bench warrant or license suspension. Step-by-step payment and contest options are on the traffic court records page.
How do I expunge or restrict a Cobb County criminal record?
Georgia uses the term "record restriction" instead of expungement. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 lets eligible arrests be hidden from public background checks for non-criminal-justice purposes. For arrests before July 1, 2013, file through the arresting agency, which routes the request to the prosecutor. Approved requests go to the GCIC with a $25 fee. Arresting agencies may charge up to $50. Processing often takes two to three weeks after approval. More on what qualifies and how to file is on the criminal records page.
What does the Cobb County Probate Court handle?
Probate Court has a wide docket. It oversees wills, estates, executors, administrators, guardianships for minors, and guardianships or conservatorships for incapacitated adults. It also handles mental-health, alcohol, and drug commitments. On the license side it issues marriage licenses, weapons carry permits, fireworks permits, and elected-official oaths. Marriage licenses are a Probate matter, not a Superior Court Clerk matter. Estate searches and forms run through the same office at 32 Waddell Street. Full details, fees, and links are on the probate records page.
How do I request a certified copy of a court document?
Certified copies come from the clerk that holds the file. Divorce decrees and Superior Court orders come from the Clerk of Superior Court at 70 Haynes Street. Traffic and misdemeanor dispositions come from the Clerk of State Court at 12 East Park Square. Marriage and probate certificates come from Probate at 32 Waddell Street. Requests can be made in person, by mail, or in some cases through PeachCourt eFile. Bring the case number, names, and the right fee. Plain copies cost less than certified copies.
How much does it cost to file in Cobb County courts?
Fees vary by court and case type. The Superior Court Clerk lists general civil filings, including divorces, name changes, and adoptions, at $218. Sheriff service is $50 per party for Cobb addresses, and publication is $120 when needed. Magistrate small-claims civil suits cost $50 with $60.50 entry of service per defendant. Probate marriage licenses are $56, or $16 with a counseling certificate. GCIC record restriction is $25 by money order. Always confirm the current total on the official fee page before you mail payment to the Clerk of Superior Court.
How long do records take to appear online after filing?
It depends on the court. The State Court user guide says the online database refreshes nightly, so a same-day filing should appear the next business day. Traffic tickets take longer because they are routed from the issuing agency. The official traffic page says to allow 10 to 14 business days before searching or paying. Magistrate and Superior portals also update on a delay. If a case still does not appear after that window, call the right clerk. Search tips for each portal are on the court records page.
How do I file an Open Records request in Cobb County?
Georgia’s Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, favors public access. Requests for police reports, sheriff records, and county agency files go to the office that holds the record. Court files are governed by court rules and clerk statutes, so a request for a case file goes to the clerk that maintains it. § 50-18-71 sets response timing and lets agencies charge reasonable copy and search fees. Exemptions are in § 50-18-72. A full walk-through is on the public records page.
Where do I find federal court records for cases out of Cobb County?
Cobb sits in the Northern District of Georgia. Federal civil and criminal cases are filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Bankruptcy goes to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Appeals from those courts go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Most federal dockets are searched through PACER, which charges per page. Federal inmate locator is at BOP.gov. State and county options stay on the court records page.
What are the Cobb County court hours?
Hours vary by court. State Court and the State Court Clerk are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except county holidays. Magistrate Court runs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Probate Estates Division runs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but arrive by 4:30 p.m. to process filings. Probate License Division closes at 4:30 p.m. New weapons carry applications stop at 3:30 p.m. Confirm the current schedule on the Magistrate Court page or the relevant clerk page.
Where is the Cobb County courthouse?
The court campus sits in downtown Marietta around Marietta Square. Superior Court and the Clerk of Superior Court are at 70 Haynes Street, Marietta, GA 30090. State Court is at 12 East Park Square. Probate, Magistrate, Juvenile Court, and the Circuit Defender share 32 Waddell Street. The Sheriff Adult Detention Center is at 1825 County Services Parkway. Each office uses a different street address, so plan for the right door based on the case type. Building-by-building detail is on the Superior Court page.
Why don’t Cobb jail mugshots show up online?
The Sheriff stopped posting booking photos to the inmate inquiry. The official page cites O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19, which limits the public posting of booking photographs by law enforcement. The inmate search still shows charges, bond amounts, OCGA code sections, warrant numbers, case numbers, and release status. The image column appears in the result grid, but the photo is not displayed. For the full list of fields a booking record can show, see the released inmates page or the main inmate records page.
Can the clerks give legal advice?
No. The official Clerk of Superior Court duties page is clear. Clerks and deputy clerks may not practice law or give legal advice. They can help you find a file, explain filing mechanics, and point to forms. They cannot tell you what to file, draft your motion, or advise on strategy. For free or low-cost civil help, contact Legal Aid of Cobb County at 770-528-2565. For criminal matters, the Cobb Circuit Defender handles court-appointed cases. More on the clerk’s role is on the Clerk of Superior Court page.
Still Have Questions?
For the right office, see Clerk of Superior Court. For broader access rules, see public records. For records by topic, browse court records, criminal records, inmate records, warrant records, marriage and divorce, or probate.