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Long County Court Information & Georgia Judicial System Guide

You will find specific contact information for the various courts in Long County via the links in the menu. Each page includes the details necessary to connect you with the department handling your case.

Important Notice: Please be aware that the Long County Sheriff's Office cannot provide information regarding court dates, case status, or specific legal details. For these inquiries, you must contact the specific court, the District Attorney's Office, or the Public Defender's Office directly.

To help you determine which office you need to contact, please refer to the guide below regarding the structure and function of the Georgia court system.

Overview of the Georgia Judicial System

The judicial system in Georgia is structured into two main levels: Appellate Courts (which review decisions) and Trial Courts (where cases are first heard). Most citizens interact with the Trial Courts.

1. Trial Courts

These courts hear evidence, witness testimony, and arguments to reach a decision in civil and criminal cases.

  • Magistrate Court ("The People's Court")

    • Function: Handles smaller civil claims and minor criminal offenses. This is often where you go for small claims without a lawyer.

    • Typical Cases: Civil suits under $15,000, landlord-tenant disputes (evictions), county ordinance violations, bad checks, and the issuance of arrest and search warrants.

    • Jury: No jury trials; cases are decided by the judge.

  • Probate Court

    • Function: Handles administrative legal matters, often related to families and estates.

    • Typical Cases: Wills and administration of estates, appointment of guardians for minors or incapacitated adults, marriage licenses, and weapons carry licenses. In some counties (without a State Court), they may hear traffic violations and misdemeanors.

  • Juvenile Court

    • Function: Dedicated to cases involving children under the age of 18.

    • Typical Cases: Delinquency (acts that would be crimes if committed by adults), dependency (cases involving abuse or neglect), and traffic violations involving minors.

  • State Court

    • Function: Established in certain counties to take the burden off the Superior Court.

    • Typical Cases: Misdemeanor criminal cases (such as traffic tickets and DUIs) and civil actions that do not specifically belong to the Superior Court.

  • Superior Court

    • Function: The highest-ranking trial court with general jurisdiction.

    • Typical Cases: Serious criminal cases (felonies), divorce, adoption, title to land disputes, and equity matters. They may also hear appeals from lower courts like the Probate or Magistrate courts.

2. Appellate Courts

If a party is dissatisfied with a trial court's decision, they may appeal to these courts to review the case for legal errors.

  • Court of Appeals of Georgia: The first level of review for most civil and criminal cases.

  • Supreme Court of Georgia: The state's highest court. It reviews decisions from the Court of Appeals and has exclusive jurisdiction over cases involving the constitutionality of state laws, election contests, and death penalty cases.