Rome Georgia Divorce Decree Records
Rome divorce decree records are held by the Floyd County Superior Court, which is located in Rome itself at 3 Government Plaza, making it easy for local residents to request records in person. Whether you need a certified copy of a decree, want to search for a past case, or are filing a new divorce in Floyd County, this guide covers how to get what you need, what Georgia law requires, and where to find help if you need it.
Rome Divorce Decree Quick Facts
Floyd County Superior Court in Rome
The Floyd County Superior Court Clerk's office is where all Rome divorce cases are filed and where all decrees are kept. The courthouse is at 3 Government Plaza, Rome, GA 30161. You can call at (706) 291-5190 or visit the county website at floydcountyga.gov.
Because Rome is both the county seat of Floyd County and a significant city in northwest Georgia, the courthouse is centrally located and accessible. In-person requests are the most direct way to get a certified copy of a divorce decree. Call ahead to confirm office hours and what you need to bring. Having both parties' full names and a rough idea of when the divorce was finalized will speed things up at the counter.
Certified copies are the standard form requested when you need the record for legal or official purposes. Plain copies cost less but may not carry the court seal. If you are using the copy to handle a name change, apply for a passport, or deal with a property matter, ask for a certified copy to avoid problems later.
The Floyd County government website, shown below, is the official resource for accessing Rome divorce decree information and court services. Go to floydcountyga.gov to find direct contact information for the Superior Court Clerk.
The screenshot shows the Floyd County website, which provides access to the Superior Court Clerk's contact details and information about requesting Rome divorce decree records.
What the Decree Covers
A divorce decree is a final court order. It is the document that ends the marriage legally. Every decree names both parties, records the date the divorce was granted, and states the court and judge who signed it. Beyond that, what the decree says depends entirely on what the case involved.
When children are part of the case, the decree establishes custody and a parenting plan. It will say which parent has legal custody, what the parenting schedule looks like, and how much child support one parent pays to the other. These terms are binding and enforceable. Property division is handled here too: the decree says who gets what when it comes to the house, cars, retirement accounts, and debts. Alimony, if the court ordered it, appears in the decree with specific terms about how much and for how long.
Some decrees are short. If both parties agreed on everything and filed an uncontested divorce, the final decree may be just a few pages confirming that the marriage is over and the agreed terms are the court's order. More complex cases produce longer documents. The case file behind the decree holds the full record: the petition, motions, agreements, financial disclosures, and every order the judge signed along the way. Note: Older files stored offsite may take extra time to retrieve; call the clerk ahead of your visit if you are searching for a case from more than 15-20 years ago.
Georgia Law and Rome Divorce Cases
Divorce law in Georgia is in Title 19, Chapter 5 of the state code. Under OCGA 19-5-1, only the Superior Court can grant a divorce in Georgia. All Floyd County divorces go through the court in Rome, regardless of where in the county the parties live.
The six-month residency requirement under OCGA 19-5-2 means at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months before filing. New arrivals to Rome who have not yet met that threshold will need to wait before filing here. The filing county is usually where one of the parties lives, so if both parties live in Rome, the case stays in Floyd County.
Georgia lists 13 grounds for divorce under OCGA 19-5-3. The no-fault ground, "irretrievably broken," covers most filings. It asks the court to recognize that the marriage has collapsed beyond repair without assigning blame to either party. After the defendant receives the divorce papers, the law sets a 30-day window before the court can enter a final decree. This gives the other party time to respond. The divorce petition must be in writing and signed under oath by the person filing, per OCGA 19-5-5.
The Georgia Courts website, shown below, covers statewide court procedures and self-help resources for divorce cases. Visit georgiacourts.gov to find information relevant to Floyd County Superior Court and cases in Rome.
The screenshot shows the Georgia Courts website, which provides statewide resources including court locations, procedures, and links to self-help forms used in Rome and Floyd County.
State Divorce Records and DPH Verification
Georgia's Department of Public Health maintains a statewide divorce index for records from 1952 through 1996. This index is useful if you need to confirm a divorce happened but are not sure which county handled the filing. The DPH can check the index and tell you which county to contact. But it does not send copies of decrees. The DPH notes that "copies of the records are held by the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted."
For Rome cases within that date range, the DPH index might help you confirm the county before you contact Floyd County. For the actual certified copy, you still come to the Floyd County Superior Court in Rome. The DPH is at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700, and their web portal is at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords.
Public Access to Rome Divorce Records
Floyd County divorce decrees are public records under Georgia's Open Records Act, OCGA 50-18-70. You do not need a legal reason to request a copy, and you don't need to be a party to the case. The clerk's office can provide records to any member of the public who makes a proper request.
Some files are sealed by court order. A judge may seal a file to protect sensitive information about children, financial data, or other matters where a party has raised valid privacy concerns. Sealed files are not open to the public without a court order. For most Rome divorce cases, though, the records are available and accessible through standard request procedures.
Legal Resources in the Rome Area
If you need free or low-cost legal help with a divorce or a records issue in Rome, start with the Georgia Legal Services Program at glsp.org. They assist income-eligible residents with civil legal matters including family law cases in northwest Georgia. Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org is another online resource with guides and referrals for unrepresented parties.
The State Bar of Georgia at gabar.org maintains a directory of licensed attorneys where you can search for family law representation in Floyd County. For those handling their own case, standardized divorce forms are available free at georgiacourts.gov. These forms work for simple, uncontested cases; more complex situations involving property or children often benefit from an attorney.