Find Franklin County Family Court Records
Franklin County family court records are kept at the Superior Court Clerk office in Carnesville. This northeast Georgia county is part of the Northern Judicial Circuit, and all family law matters go through the Superior Court there. Whether you need to pull a divorce decree, check on a custody case, or look up a child support order, the clerk office on Lavonia Road is the place to go. Franklin County is a smaller county, so the staff tends to be more hands-on with walk-in requests. Getting what you need here often goes faster than in larger jurisdictions, but you still need to know a few things before you visit or try to search from home.
Franklin County Quick Facts
Franklin County Superior Court Clerk
The Superior Court Clerk office in Franklin County handles all family court records for the area. The office is at 9595 Lavonia Road in Carnesville. You can reach them by phone at (706) 384-2514. The staff here processes new filings, keeps older records on file, and helps people search for cases or get copies of court documents.
Walk-in requests are common at the Franklin County courthouse. Bring a form of ID and the name of at least one party or the case number. The clerk can look up a case in their system and pull the file. If you want copies, ask at the front desk. Certified copies come with the court seal. They cost more but are needed for official uses like name changes or legal filings in other courts. Plain copies work fine if you just need to review the information. Office hours follow a regular weekday schedule, but calling first is a good idea since smaller courts sometimes have adjusted hours around holidays or court days.
| Office | Franklin County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 9595 Lavonia Road, Carnesville, GA 30521 |
| Phone | (706) 384-2514 |
| Circuit | Northern Judicial Circuit |
Searching for Franklin County Records
Finding family court records from Franklin County can be done online or in person. The most thorough search happens at the clerk office in Carnesville, where staff can look through local files that may not show up in any online database. But if you want to start from home, the state offers a couple of tools worth checking.
The GSCCCA search portal covers all 159 Georgia counties. It includes deed records, liens, and some court filings. You search by name and can see what comes up for Franklin County. For more detailed case-level data, the CourtTrax portal lets you look up cases across Georgia courts. Not every family court record will show up in these tools, especially older filings or sealed cases, but they give you a starting point.
Georgia courts also use the Odyssey eFileGA system for electronic filings. If an attorney or party in a Franklin County case used e-filing, some documents might be accessible through that platform. Smaller counties like Franklin County may have fewer e-filed cases compared to metro areas, so your mileage will vary.
Note: Some Franklin County family court records involving minors may have restricted access under state law.
Divorce Filings in Franklin County
Divorce is the most common family court record filed in Franklin County. The process starts with a complaint filed at the clerk office in Carnesville. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2, at least one spouse has to have been a Georgia resident for six months before filing. The complaint goes to the county where the other spouse lives. If both parties live in Franklin County, the case stays here.
Once the divorce moves through the system, a paper trail builds up. The initial complaint, the answer from the other spouse, temporary motions for custody or support, discovery filings, settlement agreements, and the final decree are all part of the Franklin County record. The final decree is what most people are after when they search for divorce records. It lays out the terms: who gets which property, how debts are divided, what the custody plan looks like, and whether any support was ordered. After the judge signs the decree, it becomes a permanent public record at the Franklin County courthouse. Georgia has a 30-day waiting period between filing and the final decree, which gives both sides time to work through the details.
The GSCCCA runs a statewide search tool that covers Franklin County court filings. Below is a look at their homepage, which serves as the main gateway for Georgia court records.
This site connects you to deed records, court filings, and other public documents from Franklin County and every other Georgia county.
Franklin County Custody Records
Child custody cases filed in Franklin County are handled by the Superior Court in Carnesville. These cases can be part of a divorce or filed on their own between unmarried parents. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 19-9-3 says the court must decide custody based on the child's best interest. Franklin County judges consider the home life each parent can provide, the child's school and community ties, and the child's wishes if old enough.
The custody file at the Franklin County clerk office will include the petition, any parenting plans, reports from a guardian ad litem if appointed, hearing records, and the final custody order. Modifications to custody orders also get filed here. A parent who wants to change custody has to show a material change in circumstances since the last order was entered.
Child Support in Franklin County
Support orders from Franklin County follow the Georgia income shares model set out in O.C.G.A. § 19-6-26. Both parents' incomes feed into a state formula. The result is the base support amount, which can be adjusted for health insurance, childcare costs, and other factors. The final order is on file at the Franklin County clerk office.
The Georgia Division of Child Support Services handles enforcement across the state. If a parent in Franklin County is not paying, DCSS can garnish wages, suspend licenses, and intercept tax refunds. To modify a support order from Franklin County, file a petition at the clerk office in Carnesville. The court looks at whether a real change in circumstances has happened since the order was last set.
Protective Orders in Franklin County
Victims of family violence in Franklin County can file for a protective order at the Superior Court. O.C.G.A. § 19-13-3 allows the court to issue a temporary protective order on the same day it is requested. No advance notice to the other party is needed at this stage. Within 30 days, a full hearing is held so both sides can be heard. The judge then decides whether to issue a 12-month order.
Filing for a protective order in Franklin County is free. The clerk at 9595 Lavonia Road in Carnesville has the forms you need. General information about the process is available at the Georgia protective order resource page. These records are kept in the court file and can be looked up later for enforcement or other legal matters.
Adoption Records in Franklin County
Adoption filings in Franklin County go through the Superior Court. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-8-2, adoption records are sealed by default in Georgia. A court order is needed to open them. The judge must find good cause before allowing access to the petition, consent forms, home study, or final decree. Georgia's voluntary adoption reunion registry is an option for adult adoptees and birth parents who want to reconnect. The Franklin County clerk can point you toward the state resources for that process.
Copies of Franklin County Court Records
You can pick up copies of family court records at the Franklin County clerk office in Carnesville. The staff can print documents while you wait. Certified copies take a bit more time since they need the court seal and signature. Fees vary by document type and page count. Call (706) 384-2514 ahead of time to ask about current rates.
Mail requests work too. Send a letter to the Franklin County Superior Court Clerk at 9595 Lavonia Road, Carnesville, GA 30521. Include the case number or full names, the type of record, and a check or money order. Allow a week or two for the clerk to process and mail your copies back. If you are unsure of the cost, call first so your payment covers it.
Franklin County Legal Resources
Legal help for family court matters in Franklin County is available through a few channels. The Georgia Legal Services Program offers free assistance to those who qualify based on income. They help with divorce, custody, and domestic violence cases in northeast Georgia, including Franklin County.
The PeachCourt portal is a self-help tool that walks you through family law forms with guided interviews. This is useful if you plan to file without a lawyer. The Northern Judicial Circuit court staff can hand you blank forms, though they cannot give legal advice. The State Bar of Georgia also runs a referral service that can match you with family law attorneys who work in this part of the state.
Cities in Franklin County
Franklin County includes Carnesville, Lavonia, Canon, Royston, and Franklin Springs. All family court cases from these communities are filed at the Franklin County Superior Court in Carnesville. None of the cities in Franklin County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site, but every resident uses the same clerk office for family law matters.
Nearby Counties
These counties share borders with Franklin County. Make sure the case is filed in the right county based on where the parties reside. The court needs jurisdiction for your case to go forward.