Understanding Gordon County Magistrate Court: What It Handles, Pre‑Issuance Warrant Hearings, and Limits on Legal Advice

Gordon County Magistrate Court handles civil cases when the amount in dispute - or the property value involved - is $15,000 or less. That includes garnishment and attachment, common tools for collecting debts or securing property during a dispute. If the dollar amount exceeds that limit, the case won't fit here. You'll need to file in a different court.

A pre-issuance warrant hearing puts information in front of a judge before a warrant gets issued. Both sides can present evidence so the judge can decide whether probable cause exists. For families, these hearings often prevent things from escalating. In about 80% of cases, the parties resolve their differences without anyone being arrested.

Magistrate Court has clear boundaries - and those boundaries matter when you're deciding where to file. On the civil side, the court only handles claims (including garnishment and attachment) when the amount or property value is $15,000 or less. Anything above that requires a different court.

Pre-issuance warrant hearings have limits too. They're not full trials - the judge is simply deciding whether probable cause exists for a warrant. Because the focus is narrow, many situations end with a practical resolution. About 80% of the time, the parties work things out and no one gets arrested.

If you call the court hoping someone will tell you what to file, what to say, or whether you have a good case, you'll hit a wall. Neither the judge nor the clerks can give legal advice to either side. For guidance specific to your situation, talk to an attorney.

Can't afford a private lawyer? Ask about applying for Public Defender services. Under Georgia law, there's a $50 application fee - but if the court finds you can't pay or it would cause hardship, the fee may be waived.

Gordon County Magistrate Court prefers eFile for paperwork and filings. If you're helping from the outside or need to move quickly, using eFile can cut down on delays and confusion.

See references to "nCourt" in older instructions? That system was discontinued after December 31, 2020. For current filings, use the court's eFile process instead.

Some details - like exact hearing dates or whether you can appear remotely - depend on your specific case and the court's current procedures. For filing questions, start with the court's preferred eFile method. For representation, a Public Defender application has a $50 fee under Georgia law, but the court may waive it if you can't pay.