Lee County Family Court Records

Lee County family court records are held at the Superior Court Clerk office in Leesburg, Georgia. The Southwestern Judicial Circuit handles all family law matters for Lee County.

Lee County Superior Court Clerk

Cameron C. Brown serves as the Clerk of Superior Court for Lee County. The office is at 100 Leslie Highway in Leesburg. All family court records for Lee County are filed and stored here. Divorce petitions, custody disputes, child support orders, and protective order filings all go through this office. The staff can look up records by name or case number when you come in.

Call (229) 759-6018 for questions about cases or fees. Lee County is part of the Southwestern Judicial Circuit. The circuit covers Lee County and several other nearby counties. Circuit judges rotate through these counties on a schedule. Family court hearings in Lee County happen on set dates at the Leesburg courthouse.

Lee County is just south of Albany and has grown as part of the Albany metro area. Many residents work in Dougherty County but live in Lee County. Family court cases for Lee County residents are filed in Leesburg, not Albany. This catches some people off guard. Make sure you file in the county where the other spouse lives or where both agree to file.

Divorce Filings in Lee County

Divorce records are the main type of family court record in Lee County. Georgia law requires one spouse to have lived in the state for six months. The case is filed where the other spouse lives. If both agree, they can file in either county. The complaint goes to the Lee County clerk office in Leesburg, and the other spouse gets served.

A 30-day wait starts from the filing date. The court will not finalize a divorce before that time is up. Uncontested cases move fast in Lee County after the wait ends. The final decree covers everything: property, debts, custody, and support. It is a public record. You can get a copy from the clerk.

Contested divorces take longer. They may involve motions, hearings, and discovery that add bulk to the file. All documents stay at the Lee County clerk office in Leesburg. For divorce verification from 1952 to 1996, try the Georgia Office of Vital Records.

Lee County Custody Cases

Custody disputes in Lee County follow O.C.G.A. § 19-9-3. The child's best interest is the standard. The judge looks at each parent's home, the child's bonds, school stability, and each parent's ability to support the child's relationship with the other parent.

Children 14 and older pick which parent to live with. The court follows that choice unless there is a strong reason not to. Kids 11 to 13 can state a preference. The judge weighs it but keeps the final word. Lee County custody records include petitions, temporary orders, parenting plans, and the final custody order. Modifications get filed when circumstances change enough.

All custody records stay at the Lee County clerk office. Both parents can get copies. Public portions of the case are available for anyone to view at the courthouse in Leesburg.

Searching Lee County Records Online

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority includes Lee County in its statewide search. A subscription is $14.95 per month. Printed pages are $0.50 each. Search by party name or case type. Results show case numbers and filing dates for Lee County family court records.

This tool saves a drive to Leesburg. But for full copies, contact the clerk. Some older Lee County records may not be indexed online. The PeachCourt portal is another option. Attorneys can use Odyssey eFileGA for electronic filing in Lee County.

Child Support in Lee County

Child support in Lee County follows O.C.G.A. § 19-6-26. Georgia uses the income shares model. Both parents' incomes go into a state worksheet. The court sets the base and adjusts for insurance, daycare, and other costs. All support orders are on file at the Lee County clerk office.

The Georgia Division of Child Support Services enforces orders for Lee County residents. DCSS can garnish wages, take tax refunds, and suspend licenses. Call 1-877-423-4746. To change a Lee County support order, file a modification at the clerk office. You need to show that things have shifted since the last order.

Protective Orders in Lee County

Family violence protective orders are filed in Lee County under O.C.G.A. § 19-13-3. There is no fee. The court can grant a temporary order the same day. A hearing within 30 days decides on a longer order. If granted, it lasts up to 12 months. These records are kept at the clerk office in Leesburg.

Visit the Georgia protective order page for forms. The domestic violence hotline at 1-800-334-2836 runs around the clock. Lee County protective order filings are part of the family court records at the courthouse.

Getting Copies of Lee County Records

Visit the clerk at 100 Leslie Highway in Leesburg for copies. Certified copies carry the court seal and are needed for legal matters. Plain copies cost less. Bring the case number or party names. Mail requests work too. Call (229) 759-6018 to check fees before mailing your request. Processing takes about a week by mail.

Cities in Lee County

Lee County includes Leesburg and several smaller communities. All family court cases are filed at the courthouse in Leesburg. Lee County is near Albany in Dougherty County, and some residents may confuse the two. If you live in Lee County, your family court records go through the Leesburg clerk office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lee County. Check which county has jurisdiction before starting a case.