Frequently Asked Questions
Comprehensive resources for Civil and Criminal matters and court operations.
How can I find out the date of my upcoming court appearance?
You may obtain your court date by contacting our Customer Service Call Center or by emailing our office for assistance. Court date information for criminal cases is also available through the Fulton County Records Portal.
How can I pay my fines and fees?
You may pay your fines and fees in person at the Fulton County Treasury Division, where payments are accepted at the counter during regular business hours.
Online payment options are also available. To pay a Fulton State Court traffic citation, click here. To pay a State Court criminal misdemeanor (CR) case, click here.
Am I allowed to attend the initial court appearance of an individual I know, such as a relative, friend, or acquaintance who was arrested recently?
Due to security reasons, members of the public are not allowed to be physically present at the first hearing. You may view these and other past hearings at State Court’s YouTube channel by clicking here.
What steps should I take if I have missed my scheduled court date and need to have my case rescheduled?
To reset a case, you must visit the Criminal Division in person. Please bring a form of government issued picture identification with you.
If I am unable to update my address, how will I receive notification of my court date?
If you cannot update your address, you may contact this office at (404) 612‑5085 every one to two months to check whether a formal case has been created. You may also search the Court’s records online at your convenience to monitor the status of your case. Once your case appears in the system, you will be able to update your address, and the Court will revise its records accordingly.
I have moved since my case was last heard in Municipal Court and the matter has been transferred (bound over) to State Court. Am I able to update my address with State Court?
No. Citations that are bound over to State Court are forwarded directly to the State prosecutor (the Solicitor General). State Court will not have any record of your citation until the Solicitor General’s Office files a formal accusation. Once the case is formally filed, you may then update your address with the Court.
My case was transferred/bound-over to State Court. What happens now?
If your case was bound over to Fulton County State Court, it must first be processed by the Solicitor’s office before State Court will receive it. Please search for your case or name through the re:SearchGA to see if the case has been filed in State Court yet. If not, please check back in 60-90 days. Or you may contact the Solicitor directly at https://fultonrestorativejustice.org/contact. Their main number is 404-612-4800.
I have been waiting a long time for a court date on my traffic citation that was bound over to State Court. If I no longer want to wait, am I allowed to pay the citation instead?
No. Once a traffic citation has been bound over to State Court, it must be resolved before a judge. Paying the fine is no longer an option.
How can I contact my probation officer?
Probation services for misdemeanor cases are managed by Judicial Corrections Services (JCS). You may contact their office at (404) 591‑3180 or visit them at 132 Mitchell St. SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
How do I contact Probation Services?
Please contact JCS Probation Services directly for information regarding your supervision or requirements.
I would like to know the outcome of a State Court case. Where can I obtain this information?
You may review State Court case information online at https://researchga.tylerhost.net/. After signing in or registering for a new account, you can view the first page of each document, with the option to purchase full copies.
My case is more than 20 years old. Can I still obtain a certified disposition?
Under the Court’s record retention policy, which is governed by Georgia law, case files are maintained for 20 years and are then destroyed. For cases older than 20 years, the Court can provide a certified Case Summary, which includes the charges and their dispositions. This certified Case Summary is generally accepted in place of the original documents. It represents the Court’s complete and currently available record for older cases, and no additional records exist.
My criminal history shows an arrest, but no outcome was reported by the Court. How can I have my criminal history updated?
To request an update to your criminal history, please email StateCourt.CustomerService@fultoncountyga.gov with all available case information. To help expedite the process, include the case number, the defendant’s full name and date of birth, the approximate timeframe of the arrest and case filing, and a brief description of the charge(s). Once the Court’s record is verified, the criminal history can be updated immediately.
How can I get a copy of my entire certified criminal history?
You may obtain a copy of your certified criminal history by contacting the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, located on the 9th floor of 185 Shirley C. Franklin Boulevard. For additional information about background checks, please visit the Sheriff’s Office website at https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/inside-fulton-county/fulton-county-departments/sheriff/law-enforcement/background-checks.
How can I have my Dead Docketed case permanently dismissed?
To request a permanent dismissal of a Dead Docketed case, you or your attorney must file a motion asking that the case be removed from the Dead Docket and dismissed. If you wish to complete this process yourself, you may visit our Self‑Help Center to obtain a packet that includes instructions and a sample motion. Once your motion is submitted, it will be forwarded to the judge who presided over your case for consideration.
What is a Certified Disposition?
A certified disposition is an official court document that states the final outcome of a criminal case. Certified dispositions are often required for purposes such as employment, housing, or professional licensing applications.
How can I request a Certified Disposition of a case?
If you are NOT with a government agency, certified dispositions are available at a cost of $5. Payment must be rendered in the form of certified check or money order payable to “Fulton County State Court”. Cases for the current and previous year are stored on-site and are readily available. All other files are stored at our off-site archiving facility and must be requested from there. These files should be delivered to our office in 1-2 business days. You may request a certified disposition in-person at our office or via mail. If you elect to mail your request, be sure to include the case number, Defendant’s full name and date of birth, and a brief description of the charges (if available). Mail your request and payment to:
Fulton County State Court
ATTN: Criminal Division
160 Pryor Street SW
Suite J-150
Atlanta, GA 30303
If you ARE with a government agency, certified dispositions and/or disposition information are available at no cost. Simply email your request to Statecourt.dispositions@fultoncountyga.gov.
How do I have my court record sealed?
Record restrictions for Fulton County misdemeanor cases are handled by the Fulton County Solicitor’s Office. You may visit their website at https://fultonrestorativejustice.org/restrictions/for detailed information. To apply, you may contact their Record Restrictions Line at (404) 612‑4827 or email restrictions.solicitor@fultoncountyga.gov.
How do I file case documents?
All case documents must be filed electronically through eFileGA. The only exception is Garnishment Answers, which may be submitted in paper form by mail or courier.
Why was my filing rejected in eFileGA?
When a filing is rejected in eFileGA, an email is sent to the filer detailing the reason for the rejection in the comments section. Please check for a message from efilingmail@tylerhost.net.
I filed a motion 30 days ago, but I have not received a ruling. What should I do?
The Clerk’s Office does not issue rulings on motions. For information regarding the status of a pending motion, please contact the Judge’s Staff Attorney directly.
I need to file Depositions. Should I bring them to the Clerk’s Office for filing?
No. Depositions are not filed with the Clerk’s Office. Instead, you must e‑file a Notice of Filing that references the deposition. You should then retain the sealed deposition until trial or until it is specifically requested by the Judge’s staff. The Clerk’s Office does not store depositions.
I received a Notice of Jury Trial Hearing for a case I do not recognize. What should I do?
The Clerk’s Office does not schedule hearing calendars. Please contact the Judge’s Staff Attorney listed on your notice for clarification. You may also review case filings online by clicking here to obtain additional information.
I have an exhibit stored on removable media (such as a DVD or USB drive) that needs to accompany a Motion for Summary Judgment. Should I bring it to the Clerk’s Office for filing?
No. The Clerk’s Office does not store physical exhibits or removable media. Instead, you must e‑file a Notice of Filing that references the exhibit. You should retain the original media or physical item until trial or until it is specifically requested by the Judge’s staff. This procedure applies to DVDs, CDs, USB drives, external storage devices, audio or video files, photographs, and any other materials that cannot be filed electronically. The Clerk’s Office cannot accept or maintain these original exhibits.
DO I HAVE TO PAY MY CITATION IN FULL?
Yes, full payment is required for all citations processed.
HOW MUCH IS MY CITATION?
Fine amounts vary; please check the Fine Schedule or enter your citation number in the payment portal.
HOW CAN I PAY MY CITATION?
Payments can be made online, by mail, or in person at the State Court Treasury Division.
IF I PAY MY CITATION, DO I HAVE TO ATTEND MY COURT HEARING?
Paying the fine serves as a guilty plea and often waives the hearing, except for must-appear offenses.
HOW CAN I GET MY LICENSE BACK?
You must resolve the citation and provide a release to the DDS.
HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN IS MY COURT DATE?
Notice will be sent to the address on record.
I WANT TO CONTEST MY CITATION. WHAT DO I DO?
Appear on your court date to enter a plea of not guilty.
HOW CAN I GET A CERTIFIED COPY OF A DISPOSED CITATION?
Request a copy from the Clerk’s Office in person or by mail.