Union County Criminal Court Records

Union County criminal court records are held by the Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse on Town Square in Blairsville. This north Georgia mountain county is part of the Enotah Judicial Circuit, which also covers Towns and Lumpkin counties. You can search criminal case data by going to the clerk office during business hours or by using statewide online portals. The clerk staff handles walk-in requests for case files, court dates, and copies of criminal records. Union County sees seasonal population spikes from tourism, but the courthouse in Blairsville stays the central hub for all felony and misdemeanor cases filed in the county.

Union County Criminal Court Clerk

The Clerk of Superior Court manages all criminal court records in Union County. The office is at 1 Town Square in Blairsville. Call (706) 439-6022 to check on a case or ask about a court date. Staff there can search by name or case number. They pull criminal case files and make copies for anyone who asks. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours. Bring a valid ID when you visit. The courthouse is open Monday through Friday.

The GSCCCA page for Union County lists the clerk contact details and links to statewide filing records for the county.

From the GSCCCA page you can find the Union County clerk address and phone. You also get links to statewide search tools for real estate and lien records. A standard GSCCCA account is $14.95 per month. Premium access runs $29.95. While GSCCCA focuses on property filings, it serves as a directory for every clerk office in Georgia, including Union County.

Searching Union County Criminal Records

The most direct way to find criminal court records in Union County is to visit the courthouse in Blairsville. Walk in and tell the clerk what you need. They can search their system and make copies right away. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. Anyone can request them without giving a reason. The Union County Clerk must respond within three business days. Standard copies cost $0.10 per page. The first 15 minutes of search time are free under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71.

Mail requests work too. Send a letter to 1 Town Square, Blairsville, GA 30512 with the full name of the person, their date of birth, and any case number you have. The clerk will search and mail back what they find. If you need certified copies for court, say so in the letter. Certified copies cost more. Include a check or money order for the copy fees.

For online searches, the E-Access to Court Records portal lets you search case data from Georgia courts, including Union County. You need an account. The GSCCCA indexes filings from all 159 counties. While its focus is on real estate and liens, it can point you to the right clerk for criminal case files in Union County or any other county in the state.

Note: Union County is in the mountains, so winter weather can sometimes affect courthouse hours; call before you drive up.

Union County Courts and Criminal Cases

Union County Superior Court handles felony cases. Drug charges, violent crimes, property crimes above certain thresholds, and other serious offenses go through this court. The State Court takes misdemeanor cases like simple assault, minor drug possession, and criminal traffic matters. Magistrate Court deals with warrants, bond hearings, and preliminary hearings in Union County. Each of these courts creates criminal records that the clerk keeps on file. The Enotah Judicial Circuit District Attorney prosecutes felony cases for Union County along with Towns and Lumpkin counties.

Cases in Union County follow the standard Georgia path. An arrest happens. Charges get filed. The case moves through the court. Each step adds to the case record. Motions, court orders, and docket entries all become part of the criminal file. These records are public once the case is no longer under active investigation. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records from open investigations may be withheld from public view until the investigation wraps up.

To search for criminal records in Union County, you will need:

• Full name of the person you are searching for
• Date of birth or age if known
• Case number if available
• Whether it was a felony or misdemeanor

Criminal Record Restriction in Union County

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, certain criminal records in Georgia can be restricted from public view. Georgia calls this record restriction. It replaced the old term expungement. The records still exist, but the public cannot see them. Law enforcement and judges keep access. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction may qualify. Certain misdemeanor convictions are eligible after four years with no other convictions. Cases on a dead docket for over 12 months can also be restricted. Georgia allows a maximum of two misdemeanor conviction restrictions per lifetime. Serious violent felonies and sex offenses are not eligible.

For arrests in Union County on or after July 1, 2013, start the process through the Enotah Judicial Circuit District Attorney's office. For older arrests, contact the arresting agency. The fee can be up to $50. Processing takes two weeks to 90 days. Time-expired restrictions may happen automatically when the Georgia Crime Information Center does not receive a disposition within two years for misdemeanors, four years for felonies, or seven years for serious violent felonies.

For your own criminal history, go to the Union County Sheriff's Office and ask for a Purpose Code U report. The GBI Criminal History page covers the full details. Call the GBI Criminal History Records Helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 for questions about your record statewide. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, defense attorneys can also get criminal history data by sending a written request to the Georgia Crime Information Center with the case style, case number, and subject info. The FANS system is free and monitors new filings tied to your name across all Georgia counties.

Note: The GBI Open Records Unit no longer accepts email requests as of December 2023; use their online portal or send mail to P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30037-0808.

Cities in Union County

Blairsville is the county seat and the only incorporated city in Union County. All criminal cases from Blairsville and the surrounding communities go through the Union County Superior Court or State Court system at the courthouse on Town Square. The Blairsville area draws visitors from across north Georgia, but any criminal case that starts in Union County stays in this court system.

Nearby Counties

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