Population
307K
County Seat
Savannah
Libraries
18
Schools
58
Searching Chatham County: what to expect
Searches in Chatham County run on two layers: a few county-run sources (1 below) and Georgia's statewide databases for everything else. Georgia courts search county by county, and Chatham County has no public online docket listed — case records mean the clerk's office, or the statewide options on the Georgia court records page. The standout local source is sheriff.chathamcountyga.gov, covering the sheriff's side — jail roster and inmate lookups. For vital records there's no county-level source online — the statewide routes on the Georgia vital records page cover that piece. When the web runs out, the courthouse in Savannah holds the paper.
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by SearchSystems Editorial Team — verified against official government sources. About our editorial process.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Chatham County record-source URLs verified against the official local and Georgia state publishers on the review date. 3 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
Chatham County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Chatham County, Georgia — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
307,336
Population
Census estimate
117,383
Households
Census estimate
$66,171
Median income
Annual household
$256,400
Median home value
Census ACS
Savannah
County seat
In Georgia
Criminal records
3 sources
Court records
3 sources
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
2 sources
Vital records
see state portal
Voter records
see state portal
Professional licenses
see state portal
Recorded documents
see state portal
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources One source Use state portal
Chatham County Records at a Glance
| Record type | Chatham County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | Chatham County, GA - Court System - Home Page Entry into the Chatham County |
| Criminal records | Inmates Chatham County Sheriff's Office - SORT |
| Wants & warrants | |
| Property records | Georgia Property Records Search | Real Estate | GSCCCA SAGIS 2.0 |
| Vital records | Request Vital Records | Georgia Department of Public Health |
| Voter records | County Election Offices |
| Professional licenses | Business/Company Search |
| Recorded documents | Clerks - CHATHAM County Chatham County Home Page GA Business Search |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Chatham County. Sources reviewed June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — Chatham County Records
2026
Chatham County official government portal active
The official Chatham County government website at www.chathamcounty.org continues to serve as the canonical local source.
2026
Chatham County court records portal verified
State court system links for Chatham County verified against the Georgia judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Chatham County criminal records access
State criminal records repository for Chatham County (statewide system, not county-specific) confirmed active in 2026.
2026
Chatham County property records online
Chatham County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.
The 4-Step Chatham County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the Chatham County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Chatham County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the Georgia statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the Georgia state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Chatham County Records
MYTH"Chatham County maintains all criminal records."
FACTCriminal records for Chatham County are held by the Georgia state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
MYTH"Records sealed in Chatham County are gone everywhere."
FACTSealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
MYTH"Free 'instant background' sites have Chatham County data."
FACTOnly the official Georgia state repository has verified, current Chatham County data. Free sites often have stale data.
MYTH"The Chatham County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
FACTThe Chatham County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
MYTH"All county records older than 50 years are public."
FACTPartially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- www.chathamcounty.org — Official Chatham County government website
- courts.chathamcountyga.gov — Court records — official source
- sheriff.chathamcountyga.gov — Criminal records — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — Chatham County & Georgia Records
For records not specific to Chatham County, use Georgia's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 Georgia statewide record systems:
- Georgia Court Records →
- Georgia Criminal Records →
- Georgia Property Records →
- Georgia Vital Records →
- Georgia Voter Records →
- Georgia Wants & Warrants →
- Georgia Licenses →
- Georgia Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
Georgia statewide records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Vital records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National directories: Court records · Criminal records · Property records · Vital records · Federal databases
Skip the directory — step-by-step Georgia guides that use these databases:
About Chatham County, Georgia
Chatham County is located in eastern Georgia. The county seat is Savannah (official site: http://www.chathamcounty.org/).
- Households: 117,383
- Median household income: $66,171
- Median home value: $256,400
- Below poverty line: 14.0%
- Land area: 432.7 sq mi
- Population density: 710.2 people / sq mi
Chatham County, GA - Court System
Official Free
Superior Court procedures, protocols, and bond hearing information.
Entry into the Chatham County
Official Free
The Judicial Council/Administrative Office of the Courts has developed the Georgia Judicial Gateway (GJG) to facilitate access to numerous services provided by both public and private entities. This Portal is provided to enable Citizens and Court Professionals to access Vital Judicial Services.
Chatham County Sheriff's Office - SORT
Official Free
Law-enforcement records for Chatham County route through this office. Searching the official side is free.
Inmates
Official Free
Official Chatham County, Georgia government source (sheriff.chathamcountyga.gov).
Chatham County Sheriff's Office - SORT
Official Free
Law-enforcement records for Chatham County route through this office. Searching the official side is free.
Chatham County Sheriff's Office - Bookings - 72 Hours
Official Free
The Chatham County Sheriff's Department assumes no liability for your use or misuse of this information. By using this search, you acknowledge that you have read and accepted these terms of use. You can view either the past 24 Hour Bookings or 72 Hour Bookings.
GBI Investigates Chatham County Jail Inmate Death | Georgia Bureau of Investigation
Official Free
In-custody listings for Chatham County post here, typically updated daily. It is an official government source.
Top 10 Most Wanted - SAVANNAH POLICE
Official Free
The Savannah Police Department compiles Top 10 Most Wanted lists that details wanted subjects the department is looking for. These suspects are not always the most violent offenders the department is looking for but have a combined number of factors that make them one of our top wanted offenders.
Georgia Property Records Search | Real Estate | GSCCCA
Official Free
The Clerks Authority Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority · Each county participating in this optional Property Search utility has specific Property Search Good From/Thru Dates posted in the "Display County Property Search Good From/Thru Dates for Participating Counties*" link.
Chatham County, Georgia
Official Free
The Chatham County Tax Commissioner's Office and Board of Assessors makes every effort to produce the most accurate information possible. Information contained herein is provided for informational purposes only. The user hereby acknowledges that the information contained on this site is subject.
Request Vital Records | Georgia Department of Public Health
Official Free
This page simply highlights the different ways that vital records can be obtained through the State Office of Vital Records. It only summarizes the main points of purchasing records and is not intended to be the final authority.
Effingham County Transition - ADVOCATE - Live Oak Public Libraries at Live Oak Public Libraries
Official Free
On November 19, 2025, Live Oak Public Libraries Effingham County Library Board voted unanimously to separate the Rincon and Springfield branch libraries from the LOPL regional system. The separation is expected to be finalized by July 1, 2026. We will continue to update the community on next steps as this transition occurs. As Georgia residents, you will always be welcome to borrow materials and resources from Live Oak Public Libraries and to visit any of our branches in Chatham.
County Election Offices
Official Free
Election administration for Chatham County runs through this office, from voter rolls to results. It is an official government source.
Business/Company Search
Official Free
Please Note: This web site is intended to be used for facility verification only. If you need bulk license data/verification for the state of Georgia, please.
Clerks - CHATHAM County
Official Free
This office answers most records requests in Chatham County. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official recorded document office.
GA Business Search
Business, Voter & Other
.gov
Georgia's corporate registry. Search entities by name, officer, or registered agent, and pull filing history and status free from the Secretary of State.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up court cases in Chatham County?
Chatham County court cases are filed with the Clerk of Superior Court. Search the Chatham County, GA - Court System - Home Page portal: https://courts.chathamcountyga.gov/. For federal matters, see PACER.
Are Georgia marriage records public?
Marriage records in Georgia are generally public — anyone can verify that a marriage occurred and request a non-certified copy. Certified copies (needed for legal purposes like name changes or immigration) may be restricted to the spouses, immediate family, or those with a court order.
How long does an arrest stay on my record in Georgia if I wasn't convicted?
In Georgia, an arrest stays on your record indefinitely unless you petition the court to seal or expunge it, even if charges were dropped or you were found not guilty. Georgia's rules for clearing non-conviction records are stricter than for convictions — start with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
What's the difference between a court record and a criminal record in Georgia?
A court record shows everything filed in a specific case — pleadings, motions, judgments. A criminal record (rap sheet) is a person-centric history from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation that aggregates arrests and dispositions across all courts in Georgia. Court records are searched by case; criminal records by person.