Find Family Court Records in Stewart County

Stewart County family court records are kept at the Superior Court Clerk office in Lumpkin, Georgia. The Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit covers all family law matters here. If you need to look up a divorce case, get a custody order, or find info on a protective order, the clerk office in Lumpkin is the place to start. Stewart County is one of the smaller counties in Georgia, and the clerk handles all types of court records from a single office.

Stewart County Clerk of Superior Court

The Clerk of Superior Court in Stewart County handles all family court filings and record keeping. The office sits on Broadway in Lumpkin. You can go in person to search for records or ask staff to pull a case file. Phone calls work for basic lookups too. The clerk deals with divorce papers, custody orders, child support filings, and protective order petitions in Stewart County.

If you need a certified copy of a family court order from Stewart County, bring your ID and the case number if you have it. Certified copies have the court seal and cost more than plain ones. But many agencies need the certified version. Walk-in service is the quickest way to get copies. You can also send a mail request with a check for the fees.

Family Court Case Types in Stewart County

Divorce cases come through the Stewart County court on a regular basis. O.C.G.A. § 9-10-91 requires that at least one spouse live in Georgia for six months before filing. The case typically goes to the county where the other spouse lives. Uncontested divorces move faster through the Stewart County system than contested ones.

Child custody disputes also fill the Stewart County family court docket. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-9-3, the judge looks at the best interest of the child. A child 14 and older can pick their custodial parent, and the court follows that choice most of the time. For kids between 11 and 13, the judge hears their wishes but makes the final call. Custody records in Stewart County show the terms, visit schedule, and any conditions.

Protective orders get filed in Stewart County as well. O.C.G.A. § 19-13-3 allows anyone to ask for a temporary protective order with no fee. The court can grant one on the same day. A full hearing must happen within 30 days. Final orders last up to one year and can be renewed for up to three years in some situations. These records are part of the family court files in Stewart County.

Searching Stewart County Records Online

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority has an online search tool that covers Stewart County. A regular account runs $14.95 per month plus $0.50 per printed page. You can search by name or case number from any computer.

The GSCCCA search portal is a good first step if you want to check Stewart County family court records without going to Lumpkin in person.

Attorneys who file family court cases in Stewart County can use Odyssey eFileGA to submit documents online around the clock. The system calculates fees and sends email updates. Self-represented parties must use paper filings at the Stewart County clerk office.

Child Support Records in Stewart County

Child support cases in Stewart County fall under O.C.G.A. § 19-6-26. The court that issued the order retains jurisdiction. This means the Stewart County court can modify or enforce its own orders as needed. All support records sit at the clerk office.

The Georgia Division of Child Support Services provides enforcement help for Stewart County residents. Call 1-877-423-4746 to open a case or ask about an existing one. DCSS can find a parent, set up paternity, and enforce payment orders. Office lobbies open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 AM to 3 PM. Appointments are needed on other days.

DCSS also runs a mobile app where you can make payments, view your case history, and track appointments. This tool works for anyone with a child support case in Stewart County or elsewhere in Georgia.

Adoption and Other Family Records in Stewart County

Adoption records in Stewart County are not public. They are sealed by law. O.C.G.A. § 19-8-2 gives the Superior Court exclusive power over adoptions. You need a court order to access any adoption file in Stewart County. The Putative Father Registry can help men protect their parental rights when a child may be placed for adoption.

Paternity cases in Stewart County are public records. A paternity filing establishes who the legal father is. This affects child support, custody, and other rights. These records can be pulled from the clerk office like any other family court file. The CourtTRAX website has info on fines and fees for Georgia courts if you need to plan for the costs of filing in Stewart County.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Stewart County. Make sure you file family court cases in the correct county based on where the parties reside.