Access Liberty County Family Court Records

Liberty County family court records are filed at the Superior Court Clerk office in Hinesville, Georgia. The Atlantic Judicial Circuit covers all family law cases for Liberty County.

Liberty County Superior Court Clerk

Jennifer L. Durrence is the Clerk of Superior Court for Liberty County. The clerk office is at 201 S. Main Street in Hinesville. All family court records for Liberty County are stored here. Divorce filings, custody cases, child support orders, and protective order requests come through this office. Staff can search for records by name or case number.

Call (912) 876-3625 to ask about a case or check fees. Liberty County is part of the Atlantic Judicial Circuit, which covers Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Tattnall, and Wayne counties. Circuit judges rotate through these counties. Family court hearings in Liberty County are held on a set schedule at the courthouse in Hinesville.

Liberty County is home to Fort Stewart, one of the largest military installations in the eastern United States. A big portion of the county's population is tied to the Army base. This means Liberty County family court records include a significant number of military divorce and custody cases. Military families face extra rules, including the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which can delay proceedings if a service member is deployed or stationed far away.

Divorce Records in Liberty County

Divorce is the most common family court filing in Liberty County. Georgia law requires one spouse to have lived in the state for six months before filing. The case goes to the county where the other spouse resides. Both parties can agree to file in either county. The complaint is filed at the Liberty County clerk office, and the other spouse is served.

A 30-day waiting period starts from the filing. The court will not grant a divorce before that time runs out. Uncontested cases can wrap up fast in Liberty County once the wait ends. The final decree covers property, debts, custody, and support. It is a permanent public record at the clerk office in Hinesville.

Military divorces are common in Liberty County because of Fort Stewart. If one spouse is active duty and deployed, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act can put the case on hold. The deployed service member can ask for a stay of at least 90 days. These rules add time but do not change where the case is filed. For divorce verification from 1952 to 1996, check the Georgia Office of Vital Records.

Liberty County Custody Cases

Custody disputes create detailed family court records in Liberty County. These cases 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 bond with the child, school ties, and which parent supports the child's relationship with the other parent.

A child 14 or older picks which parent to live with. The court follows that choice in most cases. Children 11 to 13 can state a preference. The judge considers it but has the final say. Military transfers can complicate custody in Liberty County. If a parent gets orders to move to a new duty station, they may need to seek a modification. The court considers whether the move serves the child's best interest.

Custody records at the Liberty County clerk office include the petition, temporary orders, parenting plans, and the final order. Modifications are filed when circumstances change. The full file stays at the courthouse in Hinesville.

Searching Liberty County Records Online

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority covers Liberty County in its statewide database. A subscription is $14.95 per month. Each printed page is $0.50. Search by name or case type to find Liberty County family court records from home.

The GSCCCA portal is especially helpful for military families who may have moved away from Hinesville but still need records from Liberty County. Results show case numbers and filing dates. For full copies, contact the clerk office. Some older Liberty County records may not be online. The PeachCourt portal and Odyssey eFileGA are other tools for Georgia court records.

Child Support in Liberty County

Child support orders in Liberty County follow O.C.G.A. § 19-6-26. The income shares model is used. Both parents' incomes go into a state worksheet. Military pay, including base pay and housing allowances, counts as income. The court sets the base amount and adjusts for insurance, daycare, and other costs.

The Georgia Division of Child Support Services handles enforcement. DCSS can garnish wages, intercept tax refunds, and suspend licenses. For active duty members, DCSS can coordinate with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. Call 1-877-423-4746. To change a Liberty County support order, file a modification petition at the clerk office.

Protective Orders in Liberty County

Protective orders are filed in Liberty County under O.C.G.A. § 19-13-3. No filing fee is charged. The court can issue a temporary order the same day. A hearing within 30 days decides on a 12-month order. Military families at Fort Stewart can also access the installation's Family Advocacy Program for help with domestic issues.

Forms and steps are at the Georgia protective order page. The domestic violence hotline at 1-800-334-2836 runs any time. All protective order records stay at the Liberty County clerk office in Hinesville.

Getting Copies of Liberty County Records

Visit the clerk at 201 S. Main Street in Hinesville for copies. Certified copies carry the court seal. Plain copies cost less. Bring the case number or party names. Mail requests are accepted. Call (912) 876-3625 to check fees. This is especially useful for military families who have moved but need records from their Liberty County case.

Cities in Liberty County

Liberty County includes Hinesville, the county seat, along with other communities. All family court cases are filed at the courthouse in Hinesville.

Hinesville is the largest city in Liberty County. Other communities like Flemington, Walthourville, and Midway also file family court cases at the same courthouse.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Liberty County. Verify which county has jurisdiction before filing.