DeKalb County Family Court Guide
DeKalb County covers Decatur, much of eastern Atlanta, and a large slice of the metro's population. Divorce, custody, visitation, and family violence cases for DeKalb residents are heard by the Superior Court of DeKalb County in downtown Decatur.
At a glance
Court: Superior Court of DeKalb County (domestic relations / family cases)
Location: DeKalb County Courthouse, 556 N. McDonough Street, Decatur, GA 30030
Clerk of Superior Court: main line commonly listed as (404) 371-2836
Addresses, room numbers, and phone numbers change — verify with the court before visiting or filing.
What the court handles
DeKalb County Superior Court has jurisdiction over all domestic relations matters for people who live in the county, including:
- Divorce, separate maintenance, and annulment
- Child custody and visitation (parenting time), including modifications
- Child support and contempt/enforcement actions
- Legitimation (the process by which an unmarried father establishes legal rights) and paternity
- Family violence protective orders (temporary protective orders, or "TPOs")
- Adoptions and name changes
Juvenile matters — including dependency cases involving DFCS — are handled separately by the DeKalb County Juvenile Court. If DFCS is involved in your situation, see our Georgia DFCS guide for how those cases interact with custody disputes.
How a custody or visitation case typically flows
- Filing with the clerk. A complaint for divorce, custody, or legitimation is filed with the Clerk of Superior Court. Filing fees apply; a fee waiver (pauper's affidavit) may be available if you cannot afford them.
- Service on the other party. The respondent must be served by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office or an approved process server, or sign an acknowledgment of service.
- Temporary hearing. Either side may request temporary orders on custody, support, and use of the home while the case is pending.
- Discovery, guardian ad litem, evaluations. In contested custody matters the judge may appoint a guardian ad litem to investigate and make recommendations, or order psychological or custody evaluations.
- Mediation. DeKalb, like the other metro counties, routinely sends contested domestic cases to mediation through the court's ADR program before setting trial.
- Final hearing. If no settlement is reached, the assigned judge holds a final hearing and enters a decree with a parenting plan, custody designation, visitation schedule, and support order.
Parenting seminar requirement
DeKalb County generally requires divorcing or contesting parents of minor children to complete a court-approved parenting seminar before the final decree. Ask the clerk or your judge's case manager which classes are currently accepted, and see our co-parenting resources page for what to expect from these seminars.
Supervised visitation in DeKalb cases
When a DeKalb judge has concerns about unsupervised contact — because of safety allegations, a long gap in the parent-child relationship, substance abuse issues, or simply the need for a neutral record — the court can order that visits be supervised by an approved third party or professional provider. Our supervised visitation explainer covers the formats courts use, and our provider guide explains how to locate and vet a provider serving DeKalb and the wider Atlanta metro.
Practical tips for the Decatur courthouse
- The courthouse sits on the Decatur square; MARTA's Decatur station is roughly a block away, which is often easier than parking.
- Allow time for security screening; no weapons of any kind are permitted.
- Check your judge's standing order (usually available from the clerk or the court's website) — each judge has specific rules about scheduling, conflict letters, and courtroom conduct.
- Bring certified copies of any prior orders from other counties or states if you are asking DeKalb to modify or enforce them.