Newnan Divorce Decree Search

Newnan divorce decree records are filed with the Coweta County Superior Court, which handles all divorce cases for residents throughout Coweta County. The courthouse is located right in Newnan, so in-person record requests are straightforward for local residents. This page covers how to search for and obtain divorce decrees in Newnan, what those records include, how Georgia law shapes the process, and what free resources are available if you need legal help.

Coweta County Superior Court: Newnan Divorce Records

All Newnan divorce decrees are stored by the Coweta County Superior Court Clerk. The office is at 72 Greenville Street, Newnan, GA 30263. Phone: (770) 253-2500. County website: coweta.ga.us. Because the courthouse is in Newnan itself, residents have easy walk-in access during regular business hours without a long commute to a separate county seat.

To find a divorce decree, you'll need to provide both parties' names and ideally the approximate year the case was filed. A case number speeds things up considerably, but the clerk can search the index by name if you don't have it. Walk-in searches of the public index are permitted. For mail requests, contact the office before you send anything to confirm current fees, the required information, and acceptable payment methods.

Certified copies of decree pages are available from the clerk's office. These carry an official court seal and are the standard format required by courts, agencies, and other institutions that need to verify what a decree says. Uncertified copies are fine for personal reference but typically won't be accepted as legal proof of the decree's terms by any outside party.

This screenshot shows the Georgia DPH Vital Records portal, which can be used to verify older Coweta County divorces before requesting the full decree copy from the Newnan courthouse.

What a Newnan Divorce Decree Contains

A divorce decree is the actual court order, not a brief summary. It's the full document signed by the judge that ends the marriage and sets out every term the court ordered. Banks, courts, government agencies, and other institutions ask for certified copies because those terms remain legally binding after the case is closed.

In a typical Newnan divorce decree, you'll find both parties' full legal names, the date the divorce was granted, the grounds cited in the petition, the division of marital property and debts, any alimony terms, and all custody and child support arrangements if the couple had children. If either party asked the court to restore a former name, that order appears here as well. Settlement agreements negotiated before the final hearing are often incorporated directly into the decree as enforceable court orders.

Modifications after the original decree are separate documents. If custody or support was changed after the original judgment, those modification orders are filed in the same case file but as additional records. The original decree doesn't disappear; the modifications update it. Ask the clerk whether any modifications exist if you need to know the current status of any term.

Georgia Divorce Law in Coweta County

Georgia law gives exclusive jurisdiction over divorce cases to Superior Courts. Under OCGA 19-5-1, only the Superior Court can grant a divorce. In Coweta County, that's the court in Newnan. No municipal court, magistrate court, or probate court in Georgia has authority to handle a divorce case.

The residency requirement must be met before filing. At least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six continuous months, per OCGA 19-5-2. Once the petition is served, a 30-day waiting period begins before the court can enter the final decree. This period is mandatory across all Georgia divorces, regardless of whether both parties agree on every term. Once those 30 days pass and everything is in order, the judge can sign the final decree.

Georgia provides 13 grounds for divorce under OCGA 19-5-3. The no-fault ground that the marriage is "irretrievably broken" is used in most Coweta County filings. Fault-based grounds still exist but aren't common. The divorce petition must be a written, verified document as required by OCGA 19-5-5. Free official forms are at georgiacourts.gov/a2j/self-help-resources/family-law/divorce-forms/.

Georgia Courts Self-Help Resources for Newnan

The Georgia Courts website at georgiacourts.gov provides statewide resources including approved divorce forms, plain-language guides to the divorce process, and links to county court information. For Newnan residents handling a case without an attorney, the self-help section is one of the most practical tools available. It walks through each stage of the process in clear terms and points you to the official documents you need.

Official divorce forms from the site are accepted by the Coweta County Superior Court. Using them reduces the risk of a filing being rejected for formatting or content issues. The forms cover both contested and uncontested divorces and can be completed at home before you go to the courthouse.

This screenshot shows the Georgia Courts divorce forms section, where Newnan residents can download official forms needed to file a divorce case in Coweta County.

Open Records Access in Newnan

Divorce decrees filed with the Coweta County Superior Court are public records. Georgia's Open Records Act at OCGA 50-18-70 gives any member of the public the right to access court records. You don't need to be a party to the case. You don't need a reason. Walk into the Newnan courthouse, ask for the record, and pay the applicable copy fee.

The exceptions are narrow. If a judge sealed portions of a case, or if certain exhibits were filed under a protective order at the time of the divorce, those parts aren't accessible. Some records involving minor children may also have restrictions. But a standard Coweta County divorce decree is fully open to the public. If you find a restricted record, the clerk can explain what portion of the file is available for review.

Note: The clerk's public index can be searched by party name during walk-in hours. Knowing both parties' names is usually enough to find a case, even without a case number.

Legal Help for Newnan Divorce Cases

The Georgia Legal Services Program provides free civil legal assistance to low-income Georgians throughout the state, including Coweta County. They handle family law matters like divorce. Their website is glsp.org. If cost is a concern, contacting them early in the process is a good idea since they may have waitlists depending on current demand.

Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org has free guides written in plain language that cover the Georgia divorce process step by step. These resources are open to anyone, not just those who qualify for income-based legal aid. The site explains what forms to file, how to get them to the court, and what happens if the other party doesn't respond.

For private legal help, the State Bar of Georgia at gabar.org has a lawyer referral service and attorney directory. If your Newnan case involves contested custody, significant marital assets, or a non-cooperative spouse, professional legal representation is likely worth the cost.

Nearby Cities