Juvenile Court

statewide Judicial Emergency limiting all courts to essential functions only and tolling timeframes for almost everything.  These are unprecedented times.  THIS SHALL BE IN EFFECT FROM  MARCH 16, 2020 TO APRIL 12TH, 2020.

  • THESE ARE THE HEARINGS THAT WILL BE HELD: Delinquent Detention Hearing; Delinquent Adjudicatory Hearings( detained youth); Preliminary Protective Hearing; 10- Day Adjudicatory Hearing for Foster Care.
  • - Even with these limited hearings, people can participate by phone. Just contact our clerks & let them know whether you will be attending in person or by phone. We are encouraging people to participate by phone. - Please   don't  bring young kids to court. Older kids should be present – only if necessary & if they cannot meaningfully participate by phone. - Parents will not be produced from jail/prison for PPH or 10-Day hearings.
  • REGARDING RESETTING HEARINGS:
  • Right now, we are not resetting any hearings & giving out new dates. Minimally it will be 2 weeks before we resume normal operations, but it’s very likely it will be after Easter before we resume regular hearings. At this time, we are not sure when the next hearing will be, but it won’t be for another few weeks. The best thing to do is to contact the Juvenile Court Clerks’ office and give them your best contact information, including email address, so that when the hearing is set, you can be notified. The Clerks’ office is 770-443-7532. Attorneys, if your client provides their email address to the clerks office, we will include you & them on the COS for the Order Setting Hearing.

PAYMENTS


  • Under these unprecedented times, dropping your payment in the mail is a good way to go. We only accept money orders. In addition ,before you get your money order, please contact the clerk’s office for the discounted rate. The money orders needs to be made out to Paulding County Juvenile Court. Also, If you have taken the Driver’s Defense Course, please send the certificate in with the payment
  • Mailing Address: Paulding County Juvenile Court-  280 Constitution Blvd. Room: 2106 Dallas, Georgia 30132

Welcome

Welcome to the Paulding County Juvenile Court. This website will enable you to become aware of various resources and services available to you through this office.

The Paulding County Juvenile Court is organized under Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia.

Jurisdiction & Function

The Court is dedicated to serving the residents of Paulding County. The Court has jurisdiction over most children under the age of 17 who are charged with violating any law or are deemed runaways, ungovernable, or beyond parental control.

The Court also hears all cases involving allegations of deprivation of children under the age of 18 found within its jurisdictions.

  1. Documents & Forms

Forms Accepted in our office

  1. CHINS complaint.
  2. Financial Affidavit NEW 2020
  3. Records Request Form
  4. Criminal Background Check Form
  5. Updated Private Dependency Packet
  6. Updated Dependency Complaint
PLEASE NOTE: 
-For each dependency packet submission we require a criminal background check for each adult over the age of 18 living in the home. One has been included in the packet above, you may also print additional forms to turn in with the packet. 
-Criminal background checks are a fee of $10.00 per submission. Our office accepts money orders only. 
-Upon submission of a financial affidavit, you are required to submit the five most recent check stubs, w-2 form or bank statement showing your income.

Complaint Codes

Dependency Complaint Codes
-15-11-10 Purpose of article
The purpose of this article is:

(1) To assist and protect children whose physical or mental health and welfare is substantially at risk of harm from abuse, neglect, or exploitation and who may be further threatened by the conduct of others by providing for the resolution of dependency proceedings in juvenile court;

(2) To ensure that dependency proceedings are conducted expeditiously to avoid delays in permanency plans for children;

(3) To provide the greatest protection as promptly as possibly as possible for children;

(4) To ensure that the health, safety, and best interests of a child be the paramount concern in all dependency proceedings. 

CHINS Complaint Codes

-2018 Georgia Code Title 15-Courts. Chapter 11- Juvenile Code. Article 5- Child in Need of Services. Part 1- General Provisions

§ 15-11-381. Definitions

Universal Citation: GA Code § 15-11-381 (2018)

As used in this article, the term:

• (1) "Comprehensive services plan" means an interagency treatment, habilitation, support, or supervision plan developed collaboratively by state or local agency representatives, parties, and other interested persons following a court's finding that a child is incompetent to proceed.

• (2) "Habilitation" means the process by which a child is helped to acquire and maintain those life skills which will enable him or her to cope more effectively with the demands of his or her own person and of his or her environment and to raise the level of his or her physical, mental, social, and vocational abilities.

• (3) "Plan manager" means a person who is under the supervision of the court and is appointed by the court to convene a meeting of all relevant parties for the purpose of developing a comprehensive services plan.

• (4) "Runaway" means a child who without just cause and without the consent of his or her parent, guardian, or legal custodian is absent from his or her home or place of abode for at least 24 hours.

• (5) "Status offense" means an act prohibited by law which would not be an offense if committed by an adult.

• (6) "Truant" means having ten or more days of unexcused absences from school in the current academic year.


Judge Altman

Presiding Judge Carolyn Altman 

(770) 443-7532

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Staff Directory

Juvenile Court Directory   Phone Number
Senior Deputy Clerk Sherese Lackey 678-224-4255
Deputy Clerk Angie Chandler 678-224-4255
In-Court Deputy Clerk Jennifer Spoon 678-224-4260
Deputy Clerk/Reception Lindsey Brady 770-443-7532
Legal Assistant Vanessa Childers 678-224-4252
Treatment Service Coordinator Michele Freeman 678-224-4254

Contact Us

Juvenile Court Contacts Email
Dependency dependency@paulding.gov
Delinquency delinquency@paulding.gov
CHINS (Children In Need of Services) chins@paulding.gov
Conflicts and Leave of Absence conflictsandloa@paulding.gov
To Contact Judge Altman vanessa.childers@paulding.gov