Bryan County, Georgia, was founded in 1793. Its county seat is Pembroke, while the largest city is Richmond Hill. Data from the US Census Bureau shows that the county has more than 44,000 residents and covers a total land area of 437.6 square miles.

Courts in Bryan County

The Superior Court is Bryan County’s general jurisdiction trial court. Felony criminal proceedings are exclusive to the Superior Court. The court also handles civil cases involving domestic relations and equities. Divorce cases, child support/abuse matters, and paternity cases are within the jurisdiction of the Superior Court Family Court division.

Bryan County has a State Court tasked with resolving civil actions that are not exclusive to the Superior Court. Examples of civil cases within the State Court jurisdiction include breaches of contracts, foreclosures, medical/legal malpractices, and serious personal injuries. The court typically hears criminal trials such as misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and ordinance violations. State Court judges also hold pretrial hearings for felony-related cases and applications for search warrant issuance.

All cases related to minors or underaged persons are brought before the Bryan County Juvenile Court. The court exercises exclusive jurisdiction over delinquent children and mentally-retarded minors. Other cases handled by the Juvenile Court in Bryan County include juvenile traffic offenses, parental rights termination, and child support/custody. There is also a Probate Court in Bryan, where cases related to conservatorships, guardianships, and administration of estates are resolved.

Bryan County’s Magistrate Court typically settles civil disputes involving below $15,000 financial claims. Other civil cases handled at this court include landlord-tenant disputes and bad check claims. The criminal division of the Magistrate Court may preside over pretrial hearings and warrant applications. Pembroke and Richmond Hill in Bryan County have Municipal Courts that handle city ordinance violations and other lesser crimes.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Bryan County

Public court records created in Bryan County are available at the Clerk of Courts Office. Examples of accessible court records include the following:

• Transcripts
• Case dockets
• Plea bargains
• Motions and responses
• Notice of rights of involved parties
• Warrants and court injunctions
• Verdicts and judgments

Requesters can use the Case Management Web Search to find public court records online. Alternatively, they can request certified copies of court records by following the steps provided on the Clerk of Court website. Note that court records created at Bryan County Municipal Courts are not available in the county clerk's office. To access Municipal Court records, interested persons must visit the court that heard the case.

Types of Public Court Records in Bryan County

Requesters can find the following types of public court records in Bryan County:

• Civil Case Records
• Criminal Case Records
• Arrest Records
• Family Law Case Records
• Divorce Decrees
• Probate Case Records
• Traffic Case Records
• Small Claims Case Records
• Land and Property Records

Confidential Court Records in Bryan County

Confidential court records in Bryan County are those exempted from the Georgia Open Records Act. These records are not public due to various reasons such as personal privacy, public safety, confidentiality agreements, and other statutory protections. Examples of confidential records include the following:

• Medical records
• Records about ongoing investigations
• Confidential informant records
• Juvenile records
• Trade secrets and confidential commercial information
• Social security numbers
• Financial information
• Mental health records

Interested persons can only access these files by obtaining court orders. Some records may not be confidential but are sealed by the record holders. Accessing sealed records is also possible only by getting court orders.

Juvenile Delinquency in Bryan, GA

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

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

Government of Bryan County, GA

https://georgia.gov/

County Seat:	Pembroke
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1793
Total Square Miles:	454
2019 Population:	37,060
Persons/Square Mile:	0.01
County Contact:	PO BOX 430 County Courthouse Pembroke , GA 31321-0430 http://www.bryancountyga.org

Bryan County, GA Courts