The Magistrate Court plays an important role for the people in the community. The Court provides assistance to individuals in Civil & Criminal actions. An Attorney is not required in this Court, which makes the Magistrate Court affordable for everyone in Chatham County. The Magistrate Court serves the area of Chatham County which encompasses the City of Savannah and other municipalities including Bloomingdale, Garden City, Pooler, Port Wentworth, Thunderbolt and Tybee Island. The court is comprised of (4) divisions: Judicial, Civil / Criminal and Administrative.

Jurisdiction of Magistrate Court in Civil and Criminal Cases
Magistrate Court has jurisdiction and power over the following matters:
* The hearing of applications for and the issuance of arrest and search warrants;
* Issuance of warrants and related proceedings as provided in Article 4 of chapter 6 of Title 17, relating to bonds for good behavior and bonds to keep the peace;
* The holding of courts of inquiry;
* The trial of charges of violations of county ordinances and penal ordinances of state authorities;
* The trial of civil claims including garnishment and attachment in which exclusive jurisdiction is not vested in the superior court and the amount demanded or the value of the property claimed does not exceed $ 15,000, provided that no prejudgement attachment may be granted.
* The issuance of summons, trial of issues and issuance of writs and judgements in dispossessory proceedings and distress warrant proceeding as provided in Articles 3 & 4 of Chapter 7 of Title 44.
* The punishment of contempts by fine not exceeding $ 200.00 or by imprisonment not exceeding ten days or both;
* The administration of any oath which is not required by law to be administered by some other officer; 
* The granting of bail in all cases where the granting of bail is not exclusively committed to some other court or officer;
* The issuing of subpoenas to compel attendance of witnesses in the magistrate court and subpoenas for the production of documentary evidence before the magistrate court;
* Such other matters as are committed to their jurisdiction by other general laws;
* The trial and sentencing of misdemeanor violation of Code Section 16-9-20, relating to criminal issuance of bad checks, as provided by Article 10 of this chapter; or
* The execution or subscribing and the acceptance of written waivers of extradition in the same manner provided for in Code Section 17-13-46.
 
CLERK OF COURT/ ADMINISTRATOR
The Clerk of Court /Administrator has the responsibility to oversee the entire court operation and to make sure that it operates smoothly. Due to the extreme high volume of work, it is the express goal of this office to maintain accuracy and speed; to ensure that the procedures are followed which are required by the Magistrate Court Law, the Official Code of Georgia, Georgia Court Rules, the Judges of the Magistrate Court, Chatham County Local Laws and the Chatham County Rules & Regulations.