Family Law Section • Bench Information

Division 5: Judge Gregory A. Adams

Administrative

April Jeffries, Staff Attorney
404.371.2342   
Fax: 404.371.3062
adjeffri@dekalbcountyga.gov

Sharyn Belisle, Judicial Assistant
404.371.2211   
Fax: 404.371.3062
sbelisle@dekalbcountyga.gov

Carol Jennings, Case Manager
404.371.4707   
Fax: 404.371.3062

Kelly Carpenter, Court Reporter
404.371.2995
Fax: 404.371.3062

Proposed orders may be sent to April Jeffries via email following hearings or upon request. 
Faxed conflict letters are accepted. Other documents may be faxed if they are specifically requested by staff. Faxed orders will not be executed. 

Phone conferences are permitted to address with Carol Jennings the issue of scheduling a hearing.     

Contempt Hearings
A rule nisi can be issued by contacting Carol Jennings.

Temporary Hearings/Emergency Hearings
Yes, our division will schedule temporary hearings.  Please contact Carol Jennings to obtain a court date.  Requests for emergency hearings may be granted depending upon the information presented in the motion.
 

Domestic Violence Issues
Magistrate judges are designated to hear petitions for temporary protective orders.
 

Motions for Judgment on the Pleadings
Our division does accept such motions.
 

Mediation
In some instances, cases are automatically referred to mediation.  Generally, counsel can call Carol Jennings to request an order for mediation.
  

Discovery Disputes
In all cases a motion should be filed so that a hearing can be scheduled on the motion.  The Court will not conduct a phone conference to resolve the dispute.
  

Pre-Trial
Pre-Trial orders are required for jury trials and must be submitted prior to trial (at the latest by noon on the Friday immediately preceding the start of trial).  Please use the Superior Court form for pre-trial orders.  Counsel may request in a letter or by telephone a date for a pre-trial conference prior to the start of a jury trial.  No pre-trial conferences will be held on the day of a scheduled jury trial.  For bench trials, the attorneys may orally request a pre-trial conference on the day of the trial.  Requests for status conferences will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Final Hearings
Please contact Carol Jennings for a final hearing date.  We hold uncontested calendars twice a month at 8:30 a.m.  Requests to be placed on an uncontested calendar may be made by telephone.
 

GAL
GALs can be appointed without the need for a hearing on the request if both counsel consent to an appointment.  (If only one side moves for appointment of a GAL, then a hearing may be scheduled on the motion). The Court chooses the GAL.  Each side is required to pay a deposit of $1000.00 into the Court Registry before the GAL will commence any work.  Usually, the parties are equally responsible for payment of any expenses not covered by the deposit.  (The Court may consider a request for one person to bear more of the cost depending upon the financial circumstances of the parties).
 

Court Reporters
Kelly Carpenter is the court reporter assigned to our division and she is available for criminal and civil cases.  There is no need to request a court reporter ahead of the hearing.