Long County Family Court Records
Long County family court records are stored at the Superior Court Clerk office in Ludowici, Georgia. The Atlantic Judicial Circuit handles family law cases for Long County.
Long County Quick Facts
Long County Clerk of Superior Court
The Superior Court Clerk in Long County manages all family court records for the county. The office is at 38 N. Macon Street in Ludowici. Every family law filing comes through here. Divorce cases, custody petitions, child support orders, and protective order requests are all stored at this location. Staff can look up records by name or case number.
Call (912) 545-2135 for questions about a case or to check fees. Long County is part of the Atlantic Judicial Circuit along with Liberty, McIntosh, Tattnall, and Wayne counties. The circuit judge rotates through these counties. Family court hearings in Long County happen on a schedule at the courthouse in Ludowici.
Long County is a small, rural county in southeast Georgia. It sits just west of Liberty County and Fort Stewart. Some military families live in Long County but work at the base. These families still file their family court cases through the Long County clerk office in Ludowici, not in neighboring Liberty County. Make sure you know which county you actually live in before filing.
| Address | 38 N. Macon Street, Ludowici, GA 31316 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (912) 545-2135 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Circuit | Atlantic Judicial Circuit |
Divorce Records in Long County
Divorce is the most common family court filing in Long County. Georgia law says one spouse must have lived in the state for six months. The case gets filed where the other spouse lives. Both parties can agree to file in either county. The complaint goes to the Long County clerk office, and the other spouse gets served.
A 30-day waiting period follows. The court will not grant a divorce before that time ends. Uncontested cases move quickly in Long County once the wait is done. The final decree covers property, debts, custody, and support. It is a public record. You can get a copy from the clerk on Macon Street in Ludowici.
Contested cases take more time. Motions, hearings, and discovery add papers to the file. All of it stays at the Long County courthouse. For divorce verification certificates from 1952 to 1996, the Georgia Office of Vital Records is another source.
Long County Custody Cases
Custody disputes in Long County follow O.C.G.A. § 19-9-3. The court puts the child's best interest first. The judge looks at each parent's home, the child's bonds, school ties, and which parent best supports the child's relationship with the other. Health of all parties is considered too.
A child 14 or older picks which parent to live with. The court follows that pick in most cases. Children 11 to 13 can state what they want, but the judge makes the call. Long County custody records include the petition, any temporary orders, parenting plans, and the final order. If a parent wants to change the arrangement, they file a modification petition showing that things have changed.
All custody records are at the clerk office in Ludowici. Both parents can get copies. Public parts of the case file are available to anyone who asks at the courthouse.
Searching Long County Records Online
The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority covers Long County in its statewide search. A subscription is $14.95 per month. Printed pages cost $0.50 each. Search by name or document type. Results show case numbers and dates for Long County family court records.
This online search is the fastest way to check for Long County records without driving to Ludowici. For full copies, you may need to contact the clerk directly. Some older Long County family court records might not be in the system yet. The PeachCourt portal may have some case data as well.
Child Support in Long County
Child support orders in Long County follow O.C.G.A. § 19-6-26. Both parents' incomes go into a state worksheet. The court sets the amount and can adjust for insurance, daycare, and other factors. All support orders are on file at the Long County clerk office in Ludowici.
The Georgia Division of Child Support Services enforces orders for Long County residents. DCSS can garnish wages, take tax refunds, and suspend licenses. Call 1-877-423-4746 to reach them. To change a Long County support order, file a modification petition at the clerk office.
Protective Orders in Long County
Family violence protective orders are filed in Long County under O.C.G.A. § 19-13-3. There is no fee. A temporary order can be granted the same day. A hearing within 30 days decides on a longer order. If the judge grants it, the order lasts up to 12 months. These records stay at the clerk office in Ludowici.
Visit the Georgia protective order page for forms. Call the domestic violence hotline at 1-800-334-2836 any time. Long County protective order filings are part of the family court records at the courthouse.
Getting Copies of Long County Records
The clerk office at 38 N. Macon Street in Ludowici provides both plain and certified copies. Certified copies have the court seal. You need them for legal use. Plain copies cost less. Bring the case number or party names. Mail requests are accepted. Call (912) 545-2135 to check fees. Attorneys can e-file through Odyssey eFileGA.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Long County. Check jurisdiction before filing a family court case.