Magistrate Court

Civil E-Filing NOW AVAILABLE!  Please click the hyperlink to visit our e-filing portal.

**We are unable to accept garnishment answers via e-filing at this time.**

This webpage is made available to the citizens who may have business with the Magistrate Court. It is not intended to be a complete disclosure of all the services provided by this Court or legal procedures and principles pertaining to the Magistrate Court. The Magistrate Court and its employees cannot and will not provide legal advice - to do so would be unlawful. Questions regarding what/where to file, who to file against, what your rights are, and whether or not you have a case against another party, all constitute legal advice. If you need answers to these or similar questions, please consult with an attorney.

Our clerks are able to answer any and all questions related to procedure; however, as stated above, they cannot provide legal advice and will advise you to consult with an attorney if you have legal questions. Please be aware that our Magistrate Judges are prohibited from speaking with any party individually, in person or otherwise, in order to avoid ex parte communications, in accordance with Canon 2, Rule 2.9 of the Code of Judicial Conduct.  If you ask to speak to a judge about a current, pending, or potential case, you will not be able to do so unless all parties involved are present (such as at a hearing).  

Due to increasing inquiries related to restraining orders, please be advised that the Magistrate Court does not have jurisdiction to issue restraining orders, temporary protective orders, family violence protective orders, or any other type of "stay away order".  If you need to apply for one of these orders, you may contact the Clerk of Superior Court's office or call Safe Haven at 180033HAVEN.

For forms and additional information, visit the Georgia Magistrate Council website.

Court Schedule

The Magistrate Court of Washington County generally holds court for both civil and criminal matters on Mondays and Wednesdays, with the morning block beginning at 10:00 AM and the afternoon block beginning at 2:00 PM.  Bad Check Court and County Ordinance Court are held bi-monthly, on the third Wednesday of the month, beginning at 9:30 AM.  If you believe that you have an upcoming court date but have not received your notice of hearing in the mail or by e-mail, please contact our office.  Except in emergencies, this office will not contact anyone by phone to notify or remind them of their upcoming court date.

First Appearance Hearings, or "Bond Hearings", are conducted every weekday (as needed) at the Washington County Jail at 4 PM.

Civil Matters & Hearings

  • Statement of Claim - The Court's jurisdictional limit on civil judgments is $15,000. This is a suit for money damages; judgment can ONLY be issued for a monetary amount.  Once the case is filed and served, the defendant(s) have 30 days to file an answer with the court, and an additional 15 days upon payment of court costs into the registry of the court.  Once an answer is filed, the clerk will schedule a hearing within 30 days. 
  • Dispossessory - Action taken by a landlord to initiate the eviction process on a tenant and regain legal possession of the property.  Once the case is filed, the tenant(s) have 7 days to file an answer with the court. If an answer is filed by the Defendant(s), a hearing is scheduled within 7-14 days, depending on calendar availability.
  • Writ of Possession - Order by the Court notifying the tenant to vacate said premises within the guidelines of the law.
  • Garnishment - A type of collection action available to creditors/individuals who have been awarded a money judgment.
  • Foreclosures - Action taken by a creditor to regain possession of collateral or financed personal property.  Once the case is filed, the defendant(s) have 7 days to file an answer with the court. If an answer is filed by the Defendant(s), a hearing is scheduled within 7-14 days, depending on calendar availability.  
  • Writ of Fieri Facias - A lien against Defendant(s) which is recorded through the Clerk of Superior Court. It also can be used as a writ of execution that directs the Sheriff's Department to seize Defendant's personal property to satisfy a money judgment.
  • Interrogatories - Interrogatories are a post-judgment pleading filed by the plaintiff in order to acquire information about the defendant, which may then be used in collection actions.
  • Abandoned Motor Vehicle Foreclosures - Action taken by a Party to obtain an order from the Court allowing public sale of a vehicle to satisfy an unpaid debt.

Criminal Matters, Hearings & Warrants

  • First Appearance Hearings - May be referred to as a "bond hearing".  In these hearings, the judge reads the defendant his/her rights and charges and determines whether bail can be set in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia.  
  • Commitment Hearings - The purpose is to determine if probable cause exists in order to forward the case to the District Attorney's Office for prosecution. These hearings are also known as Preliminary Hearings.
  • Pre-Warrant Hearings - The purpose is to determine if probable cause exists to justify the issuance of an arrest warrant against an accused. The majority of civilian criminal warrant applications are set for a hearing to provide a fair and impartial inspection of all the facts prior to any decision being rendered. Both the accused and applicant appear at this hearing, along with witnesses, documents, and any other relevant evidence.  
  • Arrest Warrants - Criminal warrants are issued through the Magistrate Court. Law Enforcement Officers and civilians request warrants based on probable cause. The probable cause determines if a criminal warrant is approved or denied by the Magistrate judge.
  • Search Warrants - Law Enforcement Officers are authorized to request search warrants. Civilians cannot apply for a search warrant. The probable cause determines if a search warrant is approved or denied. Search warrants are extremely invasive of a citizen's personal freedom and liberty; therefore, tremendous scrutiny is administered when deciding on the approval of this warrant.
  • Deposit Account Fraud (Bad Check) - The Magistrate Court handles all misdemeanor bad checks and the prosecution of those misdemeanors, while all felony bad checks are prosecuted in Superior Court. Warrants are issued as to these cases.
  • County Ordinance Violations - Magistrate Courts have jurisdiction over violations of county ordinances.  These violations are generally related to illegal use of county dumpster sites but may include other ordinances as well.  If convicted, the maximum penalty for these violations is up to $1,000 in fines and/or imprisonment of no more than 60 days.  A representative from CSRA Probation will be present on court days for those who wish to pay their fines through probation services.  

Fee Schedule

  • Civil Suits (Small Claims)                               $  95.00 - includes service on 1 defendant
  • Sheriff's Service (Additional Defendant)         $  50.00
  • Dispossessory                                                $  95.00 - includes service on 1 defendant
  • Garnishments                                                 $  95.00 - includes service on garnishee
  • Abandoned Motor Vehicle                              $  37.00 
  • Abandoned Mobile Home                               $  45.00 - additional $5.00 per abandoned mobile home upon

                                                                                            which a lien is asserted

  • Writ of Fieri Facias (FIFA)                              $    5.00 - Magistrate Court fee; $25.00 to record on GED
  • Interrogatories                                                $  10.00 
  • Pre-Warrant Hearing Applications                  $  20.00
  • Witness Subpoena                                         $    6.00 per subpoena