Forsyth County Criminal Court Records

Forsyth County criminal court records are managed by the Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse in Cumming. This is one of the fastest-growing counties in metro Atlanta, and its court system handles a large number of felony and misdemeanor cases each year. You can search for criminal records at the clerk office on Courthouse Square, or use statewide online tools to check on cases from home. The clerk staff assists with walk-in requests, provides copies of case files, and answers questions about court dates and docket info. Forsyth County borders Fulton and Gwinnett counties to the south, and criminal cases from Cumming and the surrounding areas all go through the county court system here.

Forsyth County Court Clerk Office

Greg G. Allen serves as the Clerk of Superior Court in Forsyth County. His office handles all criminal court records that flow through the county court system. The clerk office is at 101 E. Courthouse Square, Room 1007, in Cumming. You can call (770) 886-2777 to check on a case or ask about filing procedures. The fax line is (770) 807-1381. This office is where you get copies of criminal case files, look up court dates, and access docket information. Walk-ins are welcome during normal business hours. Because Forsyth County has grown so much in recent years, the clerk office handles a higher volume of requests than many Georgia counties, but staff are used to the pace and can assist most visitors quickly.

The Georgia Supreme Court Docket Search is a statewide tool that covers appellate cases, including any criminal matters from Forsyth County that were appealed to the state's highest court.

This search tool lets you look up cases docketed in the last five years at the Georgia Supreme Court, which may include criminal appeals from Forsyth County.

How to Search Forsyth County Criminal Records

The most direct way to search for criminal court records in Forsyth County is to visit the clerk office in Cumming. Staff can look up cases by name or case number and make copies for you right there. Standard copy fees in Georgia run $0.10 per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. The first 15 minutes of staff search time are free. After that, the office can charge based on the hourly rate of the lowest paid employee who can handle the work. Most lookups in Forsyth County are quick and fall well within that free window.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. Anyone can ask to see them, and no reason is needed. The clerk has three business days to respond. This rule applies to Forsyth County and every other county in Georgia. You can also mail a written request to 101 E. Courthouse Square, Room 1007, Cumming, GA 30040. Include the person's full name, any case numbers, and a check for copy fees.

To search criminal records in Forsyth County, it helps to have:

• Full name of the person you are searching for
• Date of birth or approximate age
• Case number if you have one
• Whether the case is a felony or misdemeanor

Criminal Cases in Forsyth County

Forsyth County Superior Court takes felony cases. These include violent crimes, drug trafficking, burglary, and theft over certain dollar amounts. The State Court handles misdemeanors like DUI, simple battery, shoplifting, and criminal trespass. Magistrate Court processes preliminary hearings, bond settings, and warrant applications. Each court creates records that the Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court keeps on file. With a population of over 265,000, Forsyth County sees more criminal filings than most Georgia counties, and the clerk office stores a large volume of case data.

The District Attorney handles all felony prosecutions in Forsyth County. The Solicitor General manages misdemeanor cases in State Court. Both offices create documents and files that become part of the criminal court record. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records from active criminal investigations may be held from public view until the investigation ends. Basic docket data, court dates, and party names are usually available even during open cases. Forsyth County is part of the Bell-Forsyth Judicial Circuit, which is a single-county circuit. That means Forsyth County has its own dedicated judicial resources rather than sharing them with neighboring counties.

Note: Juvenile criminal cases in Forsyth County have separate access rules and are generally not open to the public.

Forsyth County Records Online Access

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority indexes filings from all 159 counties, including Forsyth County. While GSCCCA mainly covers real estate and lien records, it helps direct you to the right clerk for criminal case data. A regular account costs $14.95 per month and premium access is $29.95. The E-Access to Court Records portal is another statewide tool that connects you to case data from courts across Georgia. You need an account to use it. For Forsyth County criminal records, this can be a solid way to check case status without driving to Cumming.

For your own criminal history, visit the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office and ask for a Purpose Code U report. That is the standard way to get your Georgia criminal record for personal use. You can also call the GBI Criminal History Records Helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 with questions about your record, including cases from Forsyth County. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, certain criminal records can be restricted from public view. Arrests without a conviction and some misdemeanor convictions after four years may qualify. For arrests on or after July 1, 2013, Forsyth County residents start the process through the District Attorney.

The GBI Criminal History page explains the full process for getting your criminal record in Georgia, including cases that started in Forsyth County.

Record Restriction in Forsyth County

Georgia uses record restriction to limit public access to certain criminal history records. The old name was expungement, but the state now calls it restriction. The records do not get erased. They just get hidden from public searches. Law enforcement and judges still see them. In Forsyth County, the process follows statewide rules. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction can qualify. So can certain misdemeanor convictions after a four-year waiting period with no other convictions on your record. Cases on the dead docket for more than 12 months may also be eligible.

Each person in Georgia is limited to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions. Violent felonies and sex offenses cannot be restricted at all. For arrests after July 1, 2013, contact the District Attorney in Forsyth County. For earlier arrests, reach out to the arresting agency. The processing fee is up to $50, and the timeline runs from two weeks to 90 days. Time-expired restrictions may happen on their own if GCIC does not get a final disposition within two years for a misdemeanor or four years for a felony.

Note: The GBI Open Records Unit no longer takes email requests, so use the online portal or mail your request instead.

Cities in Forsyth County

All criminal cases from cities and towns in Forsyth County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Cumming. The courthouse on Courthouse Square is the main location for all felony and misdemeanor filings from across the county.

Cities and communities in Forsyth County include Cumming, Coal Mountain, and parts of several unincorporated areas. Criminal cases from all these areas are processed through the Forsyth County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Forsyth County. Criminal cases must be filed in the county where the alleged crime took place. If you are not sure which county handles a case, check where the arrest happened.