Search Fayette County Family Court Records

Fayette County family court records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Fayetteville. Divorce filings, child custody orders, support modifications, and protective orders from this part of Georgia are all stored at the courthouse on Center Drive. Fayette County falls within the Griffin Judicial Circuit, and the Superior Court handles every family law case that originates here. If you want to look up a specific case or need copies of court documents, the clerk office is the starting point. Residents of Peachtree City and other Fayette County communities all file through this same office.

Fayette County Court Clerk Office

Sheila Studdard is the Superior Court Clerk for Fayette County. The office sits at 1 Center Drive in Fayetteville. Call (770) 716-4290 if you have questions before you visit. This is the only office that stores family court records for the county. Every divorce petition, custody order, and child support case filed in Fayette County passes through here. The clerk staff processes new filings and also handles requests for copies of older records.

You can visit the Fayette County clerk office during regular business hours to search for records, request copies, or file new documents. The Fayette County Clerk of Court website has some basic info about services and office hours. For certified copies, you will need to ask at the counter and pay the applicable fee. Certified copies come with the court seal and are accepted for legal purposes like name changes and property transfers. Plain copies are cheaper but do not carry the seal.

How to Search Fayette County Family Records

There are several ways to look up family court records from Fayette County. The fastest option for basic info is to use one of the state's online search tools. The GSCCCA search portal covers all Georgia counties and lets you search by name for deeds, liens, and some court records. For more detailed family law case info, try the CourtTrax system, which pulls case data from many Georgia courts including those in the Griffin Judicial Circuit.

If you want to see the full case file, an in-person visit to the Fayette County clerk office is the way to go. Bring the case number or the full name of at least one party. The clerk can pull up the file and let you review it. You can ask for copies of specific documents while you are there. Some older Fayette County family court records may only exist on paper, so they might take a bit more time to locate.

The Odyssey eFileGA platform handles electronic filings for Georgia courts. Cases filed through this system may have documents viewable online. Not all Fayette County attorneys use e-filing for every case, so coverage varies. Still, it is worth checking if you want to see what is available without making the drive to Fayetteville.

Divorce Records in Fayette County

Divorce is the most common type of family court record filed in Fayette County. A divorce case starts when one spouse files a complaint with the Superior Court Clerk. Under Georgia law, at least one spouse must have lived in the state for six months before filing. The complaint gets filed in the county where the other spouse lives. If both spouses live in Fayette County, the case stays here.

Once a divorce is filed, the case creates a trail of documents. The initial complaint, the answer, any motions, temporary orders, settlement agreements, and the final decree all become part of the court record in Fayette County. The final decree is the document most people need when they request divorce records. It shows the terms of the split, including property division, custody arrangements, and support orders. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2, Georgia allows both no-fault and fault-based divorce. Most cases in Fayette County are filed on no-fault grounds, which means the marriage is simply broken with no reasonable hope of fixing it.

Note: Divorce records in Fayette County are public, but documents with sensitive information about children may have parts redacted.

Fayette County Custody and Support Cases

Child custody and child support cases make up a large portion of family court records in Fayette County. Custody disputes can happen during a divorce or as standalone cases between unmarried parents. O.C.G.A. § 19-9-3 lays out the factors that Georgia courts use to decide custody. The child's best interest drives every decision. Judges in Fayette County look at each parent's ability to care for the child, the home situation, and the child's own preferences if old enough.

Child support in Georgia follows the income shares model under O.C.G.A. § 19-6-26. Both parents' incomes go into a formula that sets the support amount. The Georgia Division of Child Support Services handles enforcement when payments fall behind. If you need to modify a support order from Fayette County, you file a petition with the clerk office in Fayetteville. The court will review whether there has been a material change in circumstances before adjusting the amount.

Custody and support orders from Fayette County are stored at the clerk office. You can request copies just like you would for any other family court record.

Protective Orders in Fayette County

Family violence protective orders are filed at the Fayette County Superior Court. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-13-3, a person who has been a victim of family violence can petition the court for protection. A temporary order can be granted the same day without the other party being present. A full hearing takes place within 30 days, and the judge decides whether to issue a 12-month order.

There is no fee to file for a protective order in Fayette County. The clerk office has the forms. You can also get information from the Georgia protective order resource page. These orders become part of the Fayette County family court record and can be looked up later.

Fayette County Adoption Records

Adoption cases go through the Fayette County Superior Court as well. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 19-8-2 keeps adoption records sealed. You cannot access them without a court order. The judge must find good cause before allowing any part of an adoption file to be opened. This applies to the petition, consent documents, home studies, and the final adoption decree.

Georgia does run a voluntary adoption reunion registry for adult adoptees and birth parents. Both sides have to register for any match to take place. The Fayette County clerk can direct you to the state resources if you need more information about this process.

Legal Help in Fayette County

Free and low-cost legal help is available for Fayette County residents who need it. The Georgia Legal Services Program serves people with low income across the state, including those in the Griffin Judicial Circuit. They can help with divorce, custody, and protective order cases. The PeachCourt online portal offers guided interviews that walk you through filling out family law forms on your own.

If you want to hire a private attorney, the State Bar of Georgia has a lawyer referral service. For self-represented litigants in Fayette County, the clerk office can provide blank forms but cannot give legal advice. Court forms for Georgia family law cases are also available through the Odyssey eFileGA system if you plan to file electronically.

Cities in Fayette County

Fayette County includes Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone, Brooks, and Woolsey. All family court cases from these areas are filed at the Fayette County Superior Court in Fayetteville. Peachtree City is the largest city in the county and the only one with its own page on this site.

Residents of Tyrone, Brooks, and other Fayette County communities use the same clerk office at 1 Center Drive for all family court matters.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Fayette County. Make sure you file in the correct county based on where the parties live. The court must have jurisdiction over the case for it to proceed.