State Court of Chatham County (Reference: Ga. L. 1989 Vol. 2 -- Page: 3876)

All Civil Actions or Civil Suits require a filing fee. (See below) The term Civil Action or Civil Suit applies to all actions, cases, proceedings, motions, or filings of a civil nature. Any post-judgment proceeding filed more than 30 days after judgment or dismissal in an action shall be considered as a new case.


Notice to all persons filing in the Clerk of State Court's Office

Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 10-1-393.8, effective July 1, 2006, it became illegal in the State of Georgia to publicly post or publicly display in any manner an individual's social security number. As used in this Code Section, "publicly post" means to "intentionally communicate or otherwise make available to the general public." Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 9-11-7.1, effective July 1, 2014, social security numbers, taxpayer identification numbers, financial account numbers and birth dates require some degree of redaction before the pleading/documentation can be admitted into evidence. Domestic practitioners with financial affidavits, worksheets and standing order responses usually have a number of these numbers in the documents.

Pertinent portions of the statute are as follows:

  1. Redacted filings. Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this Code section or unless the court orders otherwise, a filing with the court that contains a social security number, taxpayer identification number, financial account number, or birth date shall include only:
    1. The last four digits of a social security number;
    2. The last four digits of a taxpayer identification number;
    3. The last four digits of a financial account number; and
    4. The year of an individual’s birth.

All records in the State Court Clerks' offices are generally public records and the inclusion of the social security number is prohibited and is in violation of the law. If additional personal information is necessary for credit, criminal history or other legitimate purposes, please review O.C.G.A. 10-1-393.8 and O.C.G.A. 9-11-7.1(a) before filing.

This office will not refuse to file a document that we are otherwise required by law to file, publicly post or publicly display for public inspection if O.C.G.A. 9-11-7.1(a) is not followed. The Clerk shall be held harmless for such filings in accordance with O.C.G.A. §10-1-393.8(d).

Please join us in reducing the opportunity of identity theft and the abuse of personal information.

CIVIL FILING FEES Current Fees -
Effective 1/1/20
OCGA 15-6-77(e)(2) - Filing Fee (include $2.00 Clerks' Retirement; ) $58.00
OCGA 36-15-9 - Law Library Fee $5.00
OCGA 47-16-61 - Sheriff's Retirement Fund $5.00
OCGA 15-23-7 - Alternative Dispute Resolution Program $10.00
OCGA 15-21A-6 - Peace Officer, Prosecutor & Indigent Defense Fee $15.00
OCGA 15-21A-6.1 - Judicial Operations Fund Fee $125.00
TOTAL CIVIL FILING FEE $218.00

Any Post-judgment proceeding filed more than 30 days after judgment or dismissal in an action requires a new filing fee ($58.00 only).
(OCGA 15-6-77(e)(1))

As of 5/13/19, per HB239, any post-judgment pleading in the State Court of Chatham County (excluding garnishments) are subject only to the filing fee enumerated in OCGA 15-6-77(e)(2) and shall not incur additional surcharges.

SHERIFF'S SERVICE FEES: Current Fees Additional
Services
Serving copy of process and returning original, per copy $50.00  
Serving summons of garnishment or rule against garnishee $50.00 $6.00
Serving process to dispossess tenant $25.00  
Dispossessing tenant or intruder $25.00  
Levying an attachment $50.00  
Each Levy or Writ of Fieri Facias $50.00  
Service of Subpoena $10.00  
Search and return of Nulla Bona ($20 Sheriff; $25.00 Sup. Ct; $5.00 State Court)
(Note: send one check payable to State Court in the amount of $50.00)
$50.00  


MISCELLANEOUS FEES: First Page Additional
Pages
Uncertified copies per page (if no assistance is required) $.50  
Uncertified copies per page (if assistance is required) $1.00  
Uncertified copies transmitted electronically - 1st page $2.50 $1.00
True Copy - 1st page $1.25 $.25
Certification or Exemplification of Record - 1st page $2.50 $.50
Computer Printouts - Per Page $2.50  
Issuing Subpoena $5.00  
Issuing Certificate of Pending or Unsatisfied Judgment (OCGA 40-9-40) $3.00  
Preparation of Record to Court of Appeals or Supreme Court - per page $1.00  
Filing Transcript of Evidence and Proceedings (if no copying required) $35.00  
Issuing a Writ of Fieri Facias (FiFa) $25.00  
Cancellation of Writ of Fieri Facias (FiFa) per Book and Page $25.00  
Transfer to another county (plus any mailing costs) $50.00  
Clerk's Certificate (includes Driver's License Suspension pursuant to OCGA 40-9-61) $2.50  
Alias Fieri Facias ($25.00 Superior Court; $5.00 State Court)
(Note: send one check payable to State Court in the amount of $30.00)
$30.00  
Record Search $3.00