Alpharetta Divorce Decree Search
Alpharetta divorce decree records are stored with the Fulton County Superior Court, which handles all divorce filings for Alpharetta residents as part of Fulton County's court system. If you need to find a past decree, request a certified copy, or understand how the process works for an Alpharetta case, this guide covers the court's details, what records contain, how Georgia divorce law applies, and where to get legal help.
Alpharetta Divorce Decree Quick Facts
Where Alpharetta Divorce Records Are Kept
Every divorce case filed by an Alpharetta resident is handled by the Fulton County Superior Court. The Clerk of Superior Court is at 136 Pryor Street SW, Suite C155, Atlanta, GA 30303. Phone: (404) 613-5313. The court website is fultoncountyga.gov/Superior-Court. The specific page for marriage and divorce records is at fultoncountycourt.us/divorce-records.
Alpharetta is in the northern part of Fulton County, roughly 25 miles north of downtown Atlanta where the courthouse is located. Even though Alpharetta has its own municipal court, that court does not handle divorce matters. All divorce filings for Alpharetta residents go to Fulton County Superior Court. That's true regardless of when the case was filed or whether it was contested or uncontested.
To search for a decree or request a copy, contact the clerk during business hours. Having the names of both parties and an approximate year is enough to start a search. A case number is even more helpful if you have it. Certified copies of decree pages cost $2.50 for the first certified page. The filing fee for a new divorce in Fulton County is $223. Call ahead to confirm current fees before visiting.
In-person visits to the downtown Atlanta courthouse are the most direct approach. Mail-in requests are also accepted. The clerk's office can walk you through the steps for either option.
The Fulton County divorce records page is the starting point for any Alpharetta divorce decree search or certified copy request.
The Fulton County marriage and divorce records page provides the process for searching and requesting Alpharetta divorce decree copies from the Fulton County Superior Court Clerk.
The Fulton County divorce records portal handles all Alpharetta cases and is the official source for decree copies and case information.
What an Alpharetta Divorce Decree Contains
A divorce decree is the court's final order ending a marriage. It sets binding legal terms. Both parties must follow it, and violations can be enforced through the court.
Most Alpharetta divorce decrees include the names of both spouses, the date the divorce was granted, the legal ground cited, child custody and visitation arrangements if children were part of the case, child support terms and payment schedules, any alimony or spousal support, a division of marital property and debts, and name change orders if requested. When parties reach a settlement before the hearing, that agreement is often incorporated directly into the decree as a court order.
People sometimes mix up a decree with a divorce certificate. The certificate is a brief state document that confirms the divorce happened. It's useful for name changes on a driver's license or showing proof of divorce to get a marriage license. But it doesn't contain custody details, support terms, or property division. Those only appear in the full decree. The Fulton County clerk is the only source for certified copies of Alpharetta divorce decrees.
As the Fulton County court has explained, "A divorce decree shows the specific terms of a divorce. A copy is required to help enforce court decisions about spousal support, custody and visitation, child support, and the division of a couple's debts and assets." That's why people need these documents long after a case closes.
Note: If modifications were made after the original decree, such as changes to child support or custody, those are separate orders filed under the same case number. Request all filings in the case if you need the complete current state of all terms.
Georgia Divorce Law and Alpharetta Cases
Georgia state law is the foundation for every Alpharetta divorce. Under OCGA 19-5-1, the Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over divorce cases in Georgia. The Fulton County Superior Court holds that authority for Alpharetta. No other court, including Alpharetta's own municipal court, can grant a divorce.
Before filing, at least one spouse must have been a Georgia resident for six consecutive months. That's the rule in OCGA 19-5-2. Once the petition is filed and served on the other party, Georgia law requires a 30-day waiting period before a final decree can be issued. After that period, uncontested cases can often be scheduled for a final hearing relatively quickly. Contested cases take longer based on what issues are disputed and how long it takes to resolve them.
Georgia recognizes 13 divorce grounds in OCGA 19-5-3. The vast majority of Alpharetta cases use the no-fault "irretrievably broken" ground, which doesn't require proving wrongdoing by either party. The petition must be a written document the filer verifies under oath, per OCGA 19-5-5.
Georgia's divorce statutes that apply to Alpharetta cases are publicly available, including the grounds, residency rules, and petition requirements.
The Georgia OCGA 19-5-3 statute page lists the 13 grounds for divorce that Fulton County courts apply to Alpharetta divorce decree cases.
The Georgia OCGA Chapter 5 divorce statutes govern all Alpharetta cases, covering the grounds, residency requirements, and petition process that the Fulton County court applies.
Public Access to Alpharetta Divorce Records
Alpharetta divorce decrees are public records under Georgia's Open Records Act, OCGA 50-18-70. Anyone can request a non-sealed decree from the Fulton County clerk. You don't need to be a party to the case or provide a reason. The law gives the public broad access to court records.
Some records are sealed. A judge can seal a case when it contains sensitive information that warrants protection. The clerk will tell you if a file is sealed. Access to sealed records requires a court order. Most Alpharetta divorce cases are not sealed and are available through a standard request.
For older divorces from 1952 to 1996, the Georgia DPH at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700, website dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords, can confirm a divorce occurred. The DPH itself notes that full copies of records are held by the county clerk where the divorce was granted. For Alpharetta cases, that's the Fulton County clerk.
Legal Help for Alpharetta Divorce Cases
Georgia Legal Services Program at glsp.org provides free legal help to qualifying residents. Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org has guides on divorce and family law in plain language, useful whether or not you plan to hire an attorney. The State Bar of Georgia at gabar.org has a referral service for finding private family law attorneys in the north Fulton and Alpharetta area.
Official Georgia divorce forms are at georgiacourts.gov/a2j/self-help-resources/family-law/divorce-forms/. These forms are used in Fulton County Superior Court for Alpharetta divorce cases. Make sure you use the current version and complete all fields before filing with the clerk. Incomplete or outdated forms get rejected, which delays the case.