Pooler Public Records Directory

The Pooler residents directory connects you to public records held at both the city and county level. Pooler sits in Chatham County, just west of Savannah, and has grown fast over the past two decades. With a population now above 31,000, this city has its own records department, police records unit, and open records process. Most court filings and property records for Pooler go through the Chatham County Superior Court Clerk. But the City of Pooler keeps its own set of documents too, including council meeting minutes, fire and rescue reports, and police records. This page lays out where to find each type of public record tied to people in Pooler and how to get copies.

Pooler City Government Records

The City of Pooler runs its main office at 100 S. Rogers Street, Pooler, GA 31322. You can also use the address 100 US Highway 80 SW, Pooler, GA 31322. The phone number is (912) 748-7261. Pooler's Records Department manages public records and council meeting documentation for the city. The city clerk handles records requests and can be reached at cityclerk@pooler-ga.gov. Under O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-70, any person has the right to ask for public records from Pooler city offices. You do not need to explain why you want the file. The law gives the city three business days to respond once a request comes in.

Pooler has separate online forms for different types of records. Fire and rescue records go through one process. Police and court records go through a different one. This split means you need to know which department holds the file you want before you send in a request. The city website at pooler-ga.gov has links to each form. If you are not sure where to start, call the main city line or email the city clerk and they can point you to the right form for your Pooler records search.

Paper copies from Pooler city offices cost $0.10 per page. That rate comes from O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-71. The first 15 minutes of staff search time are free. After that, the city can charge based on the hourly pay of the lowest paid worker who can pull the record. If the total cost will be over $500, Pooler can ask you to pay up front before the search starts.

Pooler Open Records Process

The Pooler Open Records Request page walks you through how to file a request with the city. You can submit your request online through the city website, by email to the city clerk, by mail, or in person at city hall. The Georgia Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. Sections 50-18-70 through 50-18-74 governs the whole process. These sections set the rules for what records are open, how fast agencies must respond, and what they can charge.

When you send a request to Pooler, be as specific as you can. Give the full name of the person, any dates you know, and the type of record you need. A clear request saves time on both sides. Vague requests can slow things down because the city has to figure out what you mean before they can start looking. If Pooler denies your request, they must give a written reason. O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-71 says the denial has to cite the specific exemption that applies. You have the right to challenge any denial in court, and the law puts the burden on the agency to prove the exemption fits.

Pooler is still a mid-size city. That means the records department is smaller than what you would find in Savannah or Atlanta. Requests may take the full three days, especially during busy stretches. Plan ahead if you need a Pooler record by a certain date.

Chatham County Court Records for Pooler

Chatham County handles all court filings for Pooler residents. The Superior Court Clerk office sits at 133 Montgomery Street in Savannah. Phone is (912) 652-7264. This clerk keeps civil case files, criminal records, divorce filings, and recorded documents for everyone in Chatham County, including people who live in Pooler. Under O.C.G.A. Section 15-6-11, the clerk must provide public access to these records. Every document filed or recorded in the Chatham County clerk's office gets scanned, which means a lot of Pooler court records are available online.

The Chatham County court portal gives electronic access to cases from five courts: Superior Court, State Court, Magistrate Court, Probate Court, and Recorders Court. You can search by name or case number. If someone in Pooler has a case, this portal is the fastest way to find it. The system uses Odyssey case management and includes a Smart Search tool that pulls results across all five courts at once.

Certified copies from the Chatham County clerk cost $10.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after that. Uncertified copies run $1.00 per page. If you mail a request for Pooler court records, send it to the clerk at 133 Montgomery Street, Savannah, GA 31401. Include a money order or cashier's check. The clerk does not take personal checks by mail.

Pooler Property Records Search

Property records are a strong part of the Pooler residents directory. With Pooler growing as fast as it has, there are a lot of real estate transactions on file. The GSCCCA Real Estate Records Search lets you look up property deals across all of Georgia. Filter by Chatham County to find Pooler transactions. The index goes back to 1999 and shows buyer and seller names, property addresses, liens, and the book and page number where each deed is recorded. This is a free tool run by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority.

The Chatham County government website also has property tax records and assessor data. The tax assessor keeps ownership information with names and mailing addresses for every parcel in Pooler. Tax records get updated each year, so the data stays current. Between the GSCCCA search, the county tax assessor, and the clerk's deed index, you have three solid ways to find property owners in Pooler.

The GSCCCA runs a free alert tool called F.A.N.S. (Filing Activity Notification System). It sends you a notice when someone files a new document tied to your property in Pooler. You just need an email or phone number to sign up. This is worth using if you own property in Pooler and want to watch for fraud or unexpected filings.

State Databases for Pooler Searches

Georgia runs several free tools that work well for a Pooler residents directory search. The Georgia My Voter Page lets you look up any registered voter by name and date of birth. It is free and covers all of Chatham County, including Pooler. Results show voter status, polling place, district, and when the person last voted. Voter records are public in Georgia, so this is a solid starting point for finding someone who lives in Pooler.

The Georgia Courts eAccess portal gives online access to Superior Court records from across the state. You can search by party name or case number. The system covers civil and criminal cases filed in Chatham County, which means it picks up cases tied to Pooler residents. Basic searches are free. Results show case type, filing date, parties, and status. For certified copies, you still need to go through the Chatham County Clerk.

The Georgia Department of Public Health Vital Records office handles birth, death, and marriage records statewide. Their main office is at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Phone is 404-679-4702. Birth certificates cost $25.00 and go back to 1919. Death certificates are also $25.00. Birth records have limits on who can get them under Georgia law. Only the person named, parents, legal guardians, grandparents, adult children, adult siblings, or spouses can order a birth certificate. Death certificates are open to anyone.

Pooler Records and Georgia Law

Georgia has a strong open records law. O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-70 sets the tone right at the start. It says that Georgia has a "strong public policy in favor of open government" and that access to records should be encouraged. This law applies to every office in Pooler that holds public documents. It covers city departments, the county clerk, and the courts.

Under O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-71, any Pooler agency must respond to a records request within three business days. If the records exist, the office must hand them over or give a written reason why they cannot. Paper copies cost $0.10 per page. Electronic records cost the price of the storage media. These fee caps protect people who search for Pooler public records from surprise charges. If the search cost goes over $500, the agency can ask for prepayment, but they have to give you the estimate first.

Some records are off limits. O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-72 lists the exemptions. Active law enforcement investigation files, records with Social Security numbers or credit card data, medical records, and sealed court files all fall outside public access. But Georgia courts have said these exemptions must be read as narrowly as possible. Most records that make up the Pooler residents directory are fully open. If a Pooler office denies your request and you think the denial is wrong, you can challenge it in court. The law puts the burden on the agency, not on you, to prove the exemption applies.

How to Search Pooler Records

Online is the fastest way to search. Start with the Chatham County court portal to check for case files. Use the GSCCCA tool for property records. Try the My Voter Page for voter data. Each one shows a different part of the picture, and using all three gives you the best shot at finding someone in Pooler.

For in-person visits, you have two options. The Pooler city hall at 100 S. Rogers Street handles city records, police reports, and fire records. The Chatham County courthouse at 133 Montgomery Street in Savannah handles court filings, property deeds, and probate matters. You can view records at no charge in most cases. Copies are where the fees kick in. Bring a payment method other than a personal check if you plan to get copies at the county courthouse. Hours are Monday through Friday during normal business hours at both locations.

• Court records: Chatham County court portal or clerk at (912) 652-7264
• City records: Pooler city clerk at (912) 748-7261 or cityclerk@pooler-ga.gov
• Property records: GSCCCA search or Chatham County tax assessor
• Voter data: Georgia My Voter Page, free by name and date of birth
• Vital records: Georgia DPH at 404-679-4702 or Chatham County Probate Court

You can also mail a request to either the Pooler city clerk or the Chatham County clerk. Put the full name, any dates or case numbers you have, and your payment in the envelope. A clear and specific request gets faster results.

Pooler Record Fees and Costs

Fees depend on which office holds the record. Pooler city offices follow the state rate of $0.10 per page for paper copies. The Chatham County Superior Court Clerk charges $10.00 per search as a research fee. Certified copies from the county are $10.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after. Uncertified copies are $1.00 per page. The Chatham County Probate Court uses the same fee schedule.

Vital records from the state cost $25.00 per copy for birth and death certificates. Marriage certificates through the Chatham County Probate Court cost $10.00. Online searches through the GSCCCA, the My Voter Page, and the eAccess portal are all free. You only pay when you need physical or certified copies. If you go to the Chatham County courthouse in person, ask about card payments at the window. Not all offices accept cards yet, but most have started in the past few years.

Note: Call the office before you send payment. Rates can change, and it helps to confirm the current fee so your request does not get held up.

Chatham County and Nearby Cities

Pooler sits in Chatham County. All court filings, property deeds, and probate matters for Pooler residents go through the Chatham County courthouse in Savannah. If you cannot find a record under the City of Pooler, check with the county clerk instead. The Chatham County CMS Portal also has tools for looking up county records and services tied to Pooler addresses. The county page in this directory has more detail on every office and tool available in Chatham County.

Several nearby cities also have pages in this directory. If the person you are looking for moved between Pooler and a nearby area, checking records in those places can help fill in gaps.