Carrollton Divorce Decree Records
Carrollton divorce decree records are filed and maintained at the Carroll County Superior Court, which is the court of record for all divorce cases in Carrollton and throughout Carroll County. If you need to search for a divorce decree, get a certified copy, or check whether a divorce was granted in a Carrollton case, this guide covers where to go, what the records contain, the Georgia statutes that apply, and resources available to help you.
Carrollton Divorce Decree Quick Facts
Carroll County Superior Court: Carrollton Divorce Records
The Carroll County Superior Court is the official keeper of all Carrollton divorce records. The courthouse is right in Carrollton at 323 Newnan Street, Carrollton, GA 30117, which is convenient for local residents. The Clerk of Superior Court maintains the case files, indexes, and certified copies. Reach the clerk by phone at (770) 830-5830. The county's official website is carrollcountyga.gov.
Carroll County has a clear open records policy for court searches. The first 15 minutes of a staff search and the first 20 pages of copies are free. After that, copying costs $0.10 per page. The search fee is non-refundable once staff begin the search. For certified copies of a divorce decree, fees apply separately and the clerk can confirm the current amount when you contact the office. These are among the more transparent fee structures in Georgia's court system.
When visiting in person, bring a valid photo ID and any case information you have. Knowing the names of both parties and the year the divorce was finalized will help staff locate the file quickly. For mail-in requests, call the clerk's office to confirm their process and current fees before you send anything.
The Carroll County government website screenshot below shows the official county portal for Carrollton residents seeking clerk contact information and divorce decree record access.
The site includes contact details, office hours, and information on how to reach the Clerk of Superior Court for Carroll County record requests.
What Carrollton Divorce Decree Records Contain
A divorce decree is the judge's final order. It ends the marriage and records all the terms the court ruled on. For a Carroll County case, the decree will set out how marital property and debts are divided between the spouses. If alimony is ordered, it will spell out the amount and duration. For cases with children, the decree will include custody arrangements, a parenting plan, and child support terms.
The full case file stored at the Carroll County clerk's office contains more than just the final decree. It includes the original petition for divorce, the other party's response, any temporary orders entered while the case was active, financial disclosure forms, and the written settlement agreement if the couple resolved the case without a trial. All of these are public court records, accessible through the clerk.
Courts can restrict access to specific portions of a file. Records involving personal information about minor children or protective matters may be sealed by a judge. If you're looking for a document and it isn't there, ask the clerk whether any part of the file carries a restriction.
Note: The divorce decree from Carroll County Superior Court is a separate document from a state-issued divorce certificate. The decree is the complete court order. A DPH certificate is a short summary used for identification only and doesn't substitute for the full case record.
Georgia Divorce Law for Carrollton Cases
Georgia law gives Superior Courts sole authority to grant divorces under OCGA 19-5-1. Every divorce filed in Carrollton is handled exclusively by the Carroll County Superior Court. No other local court has jurisdiction over these matters.
The residency requirement under OCGA 19-5-2 says at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months before filing. For Carrollton residents, that means six continuous months of Georgia residency. Once the residency requirement is met, either spouse can file, in whichever county either of them lives.
Georgia law lists 13 grounds for divorce in OCGA 19-5-3. The no-fault ground, which states the marriage is irretrievably broken, is the most commonly used in Carroll County and across the state. It's simpler to use than fault grounds and doesn't require proof of wrongdoing. Fault grounds like adultery or desertion are available and can affect alimony outcomes, but they add complexity to the case.
After the respondent is served with the divorce petition, Georgia requires a minimum 30-day wait before a final decree can be entered. Contested cases take longer. The original petition must be written and signed under oath per OCGA 19-5-5. All of these rules apply to every Carrollton divorce case filed in Carroll County.
Georgia DPH and Older Carrollton Divorce Cases
The Georgia Department of Public Health maintains a statewide index of divorces granted from 1952 through 1996. If you're trying to verify an older Carrollton divorce and don't know the case details, the DPH index can confirm that a divorce occurred and identify the county that handled it. But DPH cannot provide a certified copy of the actual decree. For that, you need to contact the Carroll County Superior Court clerk.
DPH Vital Records is at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Call them at (404) 657-2700 or visit dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. The department is direct about what it provides: "Although the department can confirm divorces, copies of the records are held by the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted." For any divorce filed after 1996, contact the Carroll County clerk directly.
The Georgia DPH Vital Records database screenshot below shows the state's portal for submitting divorce verification requests for older Carrollton area cases from the 1952 to 1996 period.
The site explains what verification information DPH can provide and how to submit a request for a statewide divorce record search.
Public Access to Carrollton Divorce Records
Carroll County divorce decrees are public records under Georgia's Open Records Act, OCGA 50-18-70. Any person can request access to a divorce case file through the Carroll County Superior Court clerk. You don't need to be a party to the case or have a special reason to view or copy these records. Carroll County's fee structure, with the first 15 minutes of search and 20 pages free, makes initial access relatively low cost.
Courts can seal certain portions of a case file. Records involving minor children's personal details or protective matters may be restricted. Even when parts of a file are sealed, the case name and basic information usually remain in the public index. If a document you're looking for isn't accessible, ask the clerk about any restrictions on that file.
Georgia Courts provides court information and self-help materials at georgiacourts.gov. Divorce forms are at georgiacourts.gov/a2j/self-help-resources/family-law/divorce-forms/. These forms help you understand what documents make up a typical Georgia divorce case file.
Legal Help for Carrollton Divorce Cases
Georgia Legal Services Program at glsp.org provides free legal help for low-income Carroll County residents, including assistance with family law matters and divorce cases. Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org has a statewide directory of legal resources searchable by county. The State Bar of Georgia at gabar.org maintains a lawyer referral service for those who want to hire a private family law attorney.
Many attorneys in the Carroll County area offer free initial consultations. If both spouses agree on all the terms of the divorce, using the Georgia Courts self-help forms to file an uncontested divorce without an attorney is a realistic and commonly used option. The forms are designed to be accessible without a law degree, though complex situations may still benefit from legal advice before filing.