Bibb County Family Court Records Lookup

Bibb County family court records are managed by Clerk of Superior Court Erica L. Woodford in Macon, Georgia. The Macon Judicial Circuit handles all family law matters for this consolidated county. Bibb County merged with the City of Macon to form Macon-Bibb County, making it one of the larger jurisdictions in central Georgia. Whether you need divorce records, custody orders, or child support filings, the clerk office on Mulberry Street is where all family court documents are filed, stored, and made available for public searches.

Bibb County Superior Court Clerk

Erica L. Woodford is the Clerk of Superior Court for Bibb County. Her office at 601 Mulberry Street in Macon is responsible for all family court records in the county. Staff handle new case filings, maintain existing files, and issue copies to the public. The office is large enough to handle a steady stream of requests, which makes sense given that Bibb County is a major hub in central Georgia.

Because Bibb County is consolidated with the City of Macon, the clerk office serves the entire Macon-Bibb County population. There is one courthouse location for family court filings. This simplifies things. No matter where you live within the consolidated area, your family court case gets filed at the same office. The phone number is (478) 621-6527. Call ahead if you plan to request multiple certified copies, as those take more time to prepare.

Divorce Records in Bibb County

Bibb County processes a high number of divorce cases each year. O.C.G.A. § 9-10-91 requires six months of Georgia residency before filing. The case goes to the county where the defendant lives, or either party's county if both agree. Filing at the Bibb County clerk office starts the clock on the 30-day mandatory waiting period. After that, an uncontested case can be finalized quickly.

Contested divorces in Bibb County often involve disputes over property, custody, or support. These cases may go to mediation. If mediation fails, a trial date is set. The family court file grows with each filing: the complaint, the answer, motions, financial disclosures, temporary orders, settlement proposals, and finally the decree. All of these are public records. You can ask the clerk in Macon for copies of any document in a divorce file.

The final divorce decree is what most people request from Bibb County. It proves the marriage ended and states the terms. Certified copies cost more than plain copies but carry the court seal that banks, government agencies, and other courts accept.

Bibb County Custody and Support Cases

Child custody battles produce thick case files in Bibb County. O.C.G.A. § 19-9-3 sets the standard: the best interest of the child. Judges look at home stability, parental fitness, the child's ties to school and community, and any history of domestic violence. Older children get more say. At 14, a child picks a custodial parent and the court follows that preference barring good reason not to. At 11 to 13, the child's voice matters but does not control the outcome.

Support orders in Bibb County fall under O.C.G.A. § 19-6-26. The court retains jurisdiction to modify support when circumstances change. The Georgia Division of Child Support Services enforces payments statewide. DCSS tracks every case and can take action against non-paying parents. Their phone line is 1-877-423-4746. Lobbies are open Tuesday through Thursday, 9 AM to 3 PM, with Monday and Friday by appointment only.

All custody and support records for Bibb County are at the clerk office in Macon. Modifications to existing orders create new documents in the same case file. You can track a case from its initial filing through all changes by pulling the full file at the courthouse.

Online Search for Bibb County Family Court Records

The GSCCCA search portal includes Bibb County records. A regular account runs $14.95 per month with $0.50 per printed page. You search by name and get case numbers and dates. This tool is useful for quick lookups from home.

The GSCCCA portal shown above covers all 159 Georgia counties. Bibb County family court records appear alongside court records from every other county in the state. For full document copies, contact the clerk office directly or use the online image request feature if available.

Attorneys filing family court documents in Bibb County can use eFileGA for electronic submissions. The PeachCourt portal is another filing option. Both systems work around the clock. Self-represented parties in Bibb County cannot use e-filing and must bring paper documents to 601 Mulberry Street.

Protective Orders in Bibb County

Protective orders in Bibb County are free to file. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-13-3, the court cannot charge a fee for family violence petitions. You file at the clerk office in Macon. A judge can issue a temporary order the same day. It lasts up to 30 days. Then a hearing is scheduled where both sides present their case. Final orders run one to three years depending on the severity.

The Georgia protective order page has the forms and step-by-step instructions. Georgia's domestic violence hotline at 1-800-334-2836 is available around the clock for anyone who needs help. Protective order records in Bibb County are stored at the Superior Court Clerk office with other family court documents.

Note: Adoption records in Bibb County are sealed under O.C.G.A. § 19-8-2 and cannot be accessed without a court order.

Bibb County Adoption and Paternity

Adoption cases in Bibb County are handled by the Superior Court, which has exclusive jurisdiction under O.C.G.A. § 19-8-2. These records are sealed. You cannot walk into the clerk office and ask for them. A judge must sign an order before any adoption file can be opened. This rule protects the privacy of all parties in the adoption.

Paternity cases are different. These family court records are public in Bibb County. A paternity action determines who the legal father is, which affects custody, support, and inheritance. The Georgia Putative Father Registry is a state resource for men who want to be notified if their child is placed for adoption. The CourtTRAX website can help you estimate court fees for family filings in Bibb County.

Cities in Bibb County

Bibb County is consolidated with the City of Macon. All family court cases for residents of the Macon-Bibb area are filed at the Superior Court on Mulberry Street.

Nearby Counties

Bibb County is in the heart of central Georgia. These neighboring counties each have their own Superior Court for family law cases.