Search Clayton County Family Court Records

Clayton County family court records are maintained by Clerk Chanae Clemons at the Superior Court office in Jonesboro, Georgia. This south metro Atlanta county has its own judicial circuit and handles a heavy caseload of family law matters each year. If you need to find family court records in Clayton County for a divorce, custody case, support order, or protective order filing, the clerk office on Tara Boulevard is your primary source. Clayton County serves a large population and processes hundreds of family court cases monthly. The records are open to the public in most situations and can be searched in person, by phone, or through state online tools.

Clayton County Superior Court Clerk

Chanae Clemons is the Clerk of Superior Court for Clayton County. The main office is at 9151 Tara Boulevard in Jonesboro. Call (770) 477-3305 to reach the clerk staff. This office files, stores, and distributes all family court records for Clayton County. They handle a high volume of cases given the county's large population.

Clayton County has its own judicial circuit, which means the court operates independently from neighboring counties. The clerk office deals with a wide range of family law cases every day. Divorce petitions, custody disputes, child support orders, paternity actions, and protective orders are all processed here. The staff manages both electronic and paper records. Recent cases are in the electronic system. Older files may be in paper form at the courthouse or in off-site storage. Either way, the Clayton County clerk can help you locate the family court records you need.

How to Find Clayton County Family Records

Searching for family court records in Clayton County can be done several ways. The most direct is calling the clerk at (770) 477-3305. Provide a name or case number and they will check the system. For copies, you can visit the office in Jonesboro or mail a written request with the right fee.

Online, the GSCCCA search portal includes Clayton County records. This statewide tool lets you search by name and filter by county. It covers deeds, liens, and some court filings. Not all family court records appear in the online system, but it can help you identify cases before visiting in person. The Odyssey eFileGA platform may also have some Clayton County filings if the case was submitted electronically.

Note: Clayton County is a busy court, so allow extra time if you visit in person during peak hours.

Clayton County Custody Proceedings

Child custody cases are a large part of the Clayton County family court workload. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-9-3, judges decide custody by looking at the best interest of the child. They weigh the bond with each parent, the safety and stability of each home, and the willingness of each parent to support the other's relationship with the child. Clayton County has seen a high volume of these cases for years.

Family court records for custody in Clayton County include the petition, temporary orders, mediation results, guardian ad litem reports, and the final custody order. Parenting plans are part of the file. These records are public in most cases. Anyone can request copies at the Clayton County clerk office. Some information tied to minors may have restricted access.

Modification of custody is also common in Clayton County. When a parent moves, changes jobs, or there is a new concern about safety, either side can ask the court to revisit the order. Those filings become new entries in the existing case file.

Child Support in Clayton County

Child support orders are a frequent part of family court records in Clayton County. Georgia uses the income shares model from O.C.G.A. § 19-6-26. Both parents share income details with the court. A worksheet calculates the amount based on combined earnings, health insurance, daycare costs, and the number of children.

The Georgia Division of Child Support Services is active in Clayton County. DCSS helps enforce orders when payments fall behind. They use wage garnishment, tax intercepts, license suspensions, and other tools. Residents of Clayton County can also use DCSS to request changes to support amounts when finances shift. All actions taken by DCSS become part of the family court records at the clerk office.

Clayton County Protective Order Records

Protective orders for family violence are handled by the Clayton County Superior Court. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-13-3, anyone who faces abuse from a family or household member can ask for protection. There is no fee. The court can issue an emergency temporary order on the same day. A full hearing comes within a short time.

Forms and instructions are on the Georgia protective order page. Once a Clayton County judge signs the order, it enters the statewide registry. Any law enforcement officer in Georgia can enforce it. These records are kept at the clerk office in Jonesboro. Some details may be restricted for the safety of the person who filed.

State Resources for Clayton County

The GSCCCA is the main statewide court records database and covers Clayton County. For vital records like divorce or marriage certificates, the Georgia Department of Public Health handles those separately from the court files. Electronic filing through Odyssey eFileGA may cover some Clayton County case types.

The screenshot below shows the GSCCCA search portal used to look up Clayton County family court records online.

This statewide tool lets you search by name and filter results to Clayton County.

Nearby Counties

Clayton County is in the southern metro Atlanta area. These bordering counties may handle cases if the parties live outside Clayton County lines.