Athens Divorce Decree Lookup
Athens divorce decree records are held by the Clarke County Superior Court, the court with jurisdiction over all divorce cases filed in Athens-Clarke County. If you need to look up a divorce case, get a certified copy of a decree, or understand how the records process works in Athens, this guide covers the court's contact details, what Georgia law says, what decrees contain, and what help is available locally.
Athens Divorce Decree Quick Facts
Clarke County Superior Court: Athens Divorce Decree Records
The Clarke County Superior Court handles all divorce cases in Athens and stores the resulting decrees. The Clerk of Superior Court's office is at 325 E. Washington Street, Athens, GA 30601. Phone: (706) 613-3190. General Athens-Clarke County government information is at athensclarkecounty.com.
Athens operates as a unified city-county government, similar to how Columbus and Macon work. But for divorce purposes, the structure is straightforward: all filings go through the Clarke County Superior Court, and the Clerk of Superior Court maintains those records. That's true regardless of when the case was filed or whether it was contested or uncontested.
To request records, contact the clerk by phone or visit in person during regular business hours. Bring the names of both parties and the approximate year of the case. A case number is helpful but not always required. Staff can search available indexes with the names alone in most situations. Certified copies carry the court's official seal and are required when submitting a decree to another court or government agency. Plain copies are cheaper and work fine for personal reference.
For Athens-area divorces from 1952 to 1996, the Georgia DPH at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700, can confirm a divorce occurred. But as the DPH makes clear, full copies stay with the county clerk. The Clarke County clerk is the right contact for any complete Athens divorce decree.
Note: Fees for certified copies and records searches are set by the clerk's office and can be confirmed when you call ahead.
The Athens-Clarke County website connects visitors to the court system and government offices handling local divorce records.
The Athens-Clarke County unified government website provides links to court information and other government services relevant to Athens divorce decree records.
The Athens-Clarke County website is the central hub for local government information, connecting users to the Superior Court and other agencies that handle Athens divorce decree cases.
What Athens Divorce Decrees Contain
A divorce decree is the court's final written order. It's a binding legal document that both parties must follow after the divorce is final. The decree sets out every term the court ordered, not just the fact that the marriage ended.
Typical contents include the full names of both spouses, the date the divorce was granted, the legal ground cited (almost always "irretrievably broken" for uncontested cases), custody arrangements and visitation schedules if children were involved, child support amounts and payment rules, alimony terms if awarded, property division orders, debt allocation, and any court-ordered name change. Settlement agreements that both parties reached independently are often incorporated into the decree as well.
People often confuse the decree with the short divorce certificate the state issues. The certificate confirms the divorce and gives basic data. It works for administrative needs like name changes on a driver's license. But when legal enforcement is the issue, such as proving what custody arrangement a court ordered or showing a bank what the property division terms were, you need the full decree. Get it from the Clarke County clerk.
Georgia Divorce Law in Athens-Clarke County
Georgia state law controls the entire divorce process in Athens. Under OCGA 19-5-1, only the Superior Court can grant a divorce in Georgia. The Clarke County Superior Court holds that exclusive authority for Athens cases. A city court or magistrate court cannot issue a divorce decree.
The residency requirement under OCGA 19-5-2 says at least one spouse must have been a Georgia resident for six months before filing. Once the petition is filed and served on the other party, a 30-day waiting period begins. The court can't finalize the divorce until that period passes. After 30 days, an uncontested case can often be set for a quick final hearing. Contested cases depend on how long the parties take to resolve disputed issues.
Georgia law provides 13 divorce grounds in OCGA 19-5-3. The no-fault ground, "irretrievably broken," is by far the most common in Athens cases. The filing must be a written, verified petition under OCGA 19-5-5, meaning the petitioner confirms under oath that the facts stated are true.
Georgia Courts provides statewide resources for divorce proceedings, including forms and information applicable to Athens Clarke County cases.
The Georgia Courts website covers Superior Court procedures across the state, including the Clarke County court that handles Athens divorce decree cases.
Georgia Courts is the central state resource for court information, forms, and guidance on divorce proceedings that apply directly to Athens cases in Clarke County.
Public Access to Athens Divorce Records
Georgia's Open Records Act, OCGA 50-18-70, makes divorce decrees public records. You don't need to be a party to the case to request one. Any person can submit a request for a non-sealed Clarke County divorce decree. The clerk will process your request and provide copies for the applicable fee.
Sealed records are the exception. A judge can seal a divorce file when it contains sensitive information that warrants it. If a file is sealed, the clerk will let you know. Gaining access to sealed records requires a court order. For most Athens divorce cases, records are not sealed and are available to the public without restriction.
The request process is simple. Identify the case, submit your request, and pay the copy fee. In-person requests at the Clarke County courthouse are the most direct route. The clerk can also tell you about mail-in options if you're not local.
Legal Help for Athens Divorce Cases
Need help with a divorce decree matter in Athens? Georgia Legal Services Program at glsp.org serves people who qualify for free legal assistance based on income. They cover family law matters including divorce, child custody, and decree enforcement. For online guides in plain language, Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org is a useful resource for understanding your options.
The State Bar of Georgia at gabar.org has a referral service if you want to hire a private attorney. The Athens area has family law attorneys who handle divorce filings, modifications, and enforcement actions. If you're going the self-help route, download the official Georgia divorce forms at georgiacourts.gov/a2j/self-help-resources/family-law/divorce-forms/. These are the forms the Clarke County court uses. Filing an incorrect or outdated form can delay your case.