Laurens County was formed in 1807 in central Georgia. Its total land area is 807 square miles, making it the fourth-largest county in Georgia. As of the last census in 2020, Laurens County has more than 49,000 residents. Its county seat is Dublin.

Courts in Laurens County

The Superior Court is the general jurisdiction trial court in Laurens County. It typically presides over all felony criminal proceedings within the county. Non-jury and jury trials are brought before the Superior Court judge. The court also hears civil cases involving divorce, domestic relations, child support, paternity, and equities.

Laurens County has a Juvenile Court that handles all cases related to minors or underaged persons. The court exercises exclusive jurisdiction over juvenile delinquency, juvenile traffic offenses, and mentally-retarded minors. Residents may also approach the Juvenile Court in Laurens County to resolve parental rights termination and child support/custody. The Probate Court in Laurens handles cases related to guardianships, conservatorships, and administration of estates.

In Laurens County, the Magistrate Court typically settles civil disputes involving below $15,000 monetary settlements. Other civil cases handled at this court include landlord-tenant disputes, personal injury lawsuits, and bad check claims. The criminal division of the Magistrate Court often hears marijuana violations, shoplifting crimes, felony pretrial hearings, and warrant applications. There are two Municipal Courts in Laurens County where city ordinance violations and other lesser crimes are resolved.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Laurens County

The Laurens County Clerk of Courts provides access to the public court records containing the following information:

• Dockets and court calendars showing hearing schedules
• Written and audio transcripts
• Case filings showing complaints, petitions, briefs, motions, and names of parties involved
• Evidence lists
• Jury list
• Court verdict

Requesters can obtain these documents by contacting the court clerk via mail, email, or telephone. They can also use Georgia’s E-Access to Court Records portal to find public court records online. Note that the Clerk of Court does not maintain court records created at Laurens County Municipal Courts. Interested persons must visit local courts where cases were filed to obtain the records.

Types of Public Court Records in Laurens County

In Laurens County, court clerks are responsible for maintaining the following case files:

• Civil case files
• Criminal case files
• Probate case files
• Traffic citations and records

Confidential Court Records in Laurens County

According to the Georgia Open Records Act, confidential court records contain sensitive information that violates individuals’ privacy. Such records are available to only the record holders and legal representatives whose names appear on the documents. Examples of confidential records include the following:

• Medical records
• Records showing psychological evaluations
• Records pertaining to ongoing investigations
• Confidential informant records
• Juvenile records
• Trade secrets
• Sealed records
• Personal identifying information showing:
  • Social Security numbers
  • Driver’s license numbers
  • Banking details

Juvenile Delinquency in Laurens, GA

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Laurens County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Georgia often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

A lot of counties, including, Laurens County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Laurens County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Laurens County, GA

https://georgia.gov/

County Seat:	Dublin
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1807
Total Square Miles:	818
2019 Population:	47,330
Persons/Square Mile:	0.02

Laurens County, GA Courts