Georgetown, Georgia Legal Overview Georgetown is a census-designated place in Chatham County, Georgia. The main trial court with general jurisdiction is the Chatham County Superior Court. It has sole jurisdiction on all the felony cases and family law cases such as divorce petitions, child custody, alimony and child support, paternity lawsuits, etc. The superior court and State Court of Chatham County share jurisdiction on civil cases, with the exception of land title disputes, equity cases and divorce-related civil disputes. Both courts are located in the county seat of Savannah.
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1. The state court also handles criminal misdemeanors, traffic violations and other minor criminal cases. The Chatham County Magistrate Court handles civil lawsuits below $15,000, along with county code violations, landlord-tenant disputes, garnishments, foreclosures, etc. Both the magistrate and state courts have the authority to issue arrest warrants, conduct preliminary hearings and set bail. The Chatham County Probate Court, also located in Savannah, handles probate of wills, estate administration and guardianships. The Chatham County Juvenile Court receives cases involving offenses committed by minors.
Trending Georgetown, Georgia Legal Topics: An appeal against a verdict obtained in the lower courts, including the magistrate and probate courts, have to be filed with the Chatham County Superior Court. Appeals against the superior court must in turn be filed with the Court of Appeals of Georgia in Atlanta. The Georgia Supreme Court is the highest court in the state judicial system. Federal cases from Georgetown and the rest of Chatham County are handled by the Savannah Division of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. |