Sandy Springs Divorce Decree Search
Sandy Springs divorce decree records are maintained by the Fulton County Superior Court, which handles all divorce filings for Sandy Springs residents as part of Fulton County's court system. This page covers how to find and obtain a divorce decree tied to a Sandy Springs case, what the records contain, how Georgia law applies, and where to get help if you need it.
Sandy Springs Divorce Decree Quick Facts
Getting Sandy Springs Divorce Records from Fulton County
Sandy Springs is in Fulton County, and every divorce case filed by a Sandy Springs 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's website is fultoncountyga.gov/Superior-Court, and the marriage and divorce records section is at fultoncountycourt.us/divorce-records.
Sandy Springs is one of the more populous cities in Fulton County, and the county court processes a high volume of cases. When you contact the clerk's office, have the names of both parties and the approximate year of the case ready. A case number, if you have it, makes the search faster. The clerk staff can usually locate a case with names alone if you give them a rough time frame.
Certified copies of divorce decrees cost $2.50 for the first certified page. The filing fee for a new divorce case in Fulton County is $223. These are the most recent figures available, but fees can change, so confirm with the clerk before your visit. Bring a valid photo ID for in-person requests. Mail requests are also accepted and the clerk can walk you through the process over the phone.
The court's description of why these records matter is useful: "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 exactly why people search for decrees years after a case closes.
The Fulton County Clerk of Superior Court website serves Sandy Springs residents seeking divorce decree copies or case information.
The Fulton County Clerk of Superior Court website provides access tools, fee information, and contact details for Sandy Springs area divorce decree records.
The Fulton County Clerk's website is the official source for Sandy Springs divorce records, offering both online tools and in-person request information.
What Sandy Springs Divorce Decrees Cover
A divorce decree is the final order from a Superior Court judge. It ends the marriage and sets the legal terms both parties must follow. It's not a summary. It's the actual binding document.
Most Sandy Springs divorce decrees include: the names and identifying information of both spouses, the date the court granted the divorce, the ground for divorce, child custody and visitation terms if children were part of the case, child support amounts and schedules, alimony or spousal support terms if awarded, the division of marital property and debts, and any court-ordered name change. Settlement agreements are often incorporated into the decree when parties resolve their issues before the hearing.
A short divorce certificate from Georgia's Department of Public Health is a different document. It confirms the divorce happened and gives basic facts. It works for some purposes, like updating a name with a state agency. But for anything involving legal enforcement, such as proving what custody schedule was ordered, what property was awarded, or what support must be paid, the full decree from the Fulton County clerk is what you'll need.
If post-decree modifications were made, such as a change in child support or custody, those are separate court orders filed under the same case. Always request the complete file if you need to know the current status of all terms.
Georgia Divorce Law for Sandy Springs Residents
Georgia law governs every Sandy Springs divorce. Under OCGA 19-5-1, only the Superior Court has jurisdiction to grant divorces in Georgia. The Fulton County Superior Court handles this for Sandy Springs and all other Fulton County cities. No city court can issue a divorce decree.
At least one spouse must be a Georgia resident for six months before filing, per OCGA 19-5-2. Once the petition is filed and served on the other party, the court must wait 30 days before entering a final decree. That waiting period applies to all Georgia divorces, including those in Sandy Springs. Uncontested cases can move quickly after the 30 days pass. Contested cases depend on how the parties resolve their disputes.
Georgia recognizes 13 grounds for divorce under OCGA 19-5-3. The no-fault ground, "irretrievably broken," is used in the vast majority of Sandy Springs cases. The petition must be a written document that the filer verifies under oath, as required by OCGA 19-5-5.
Note: Sandy Springs also has a City Court that handles some local matters, but divorce is not among them. All divorce filings go to Fulton County Superior Court regardless.
The Georgia DPH Vital Records page provides divorce verification services for older Sandy Springs-area cases between 1952 and 1996.
The Georgia DPH vital records request page outlines how to seek a divorce verification from the state for cases in the 1952-1996 window that may involve Sandy Springs residents.
Georgia DPH offers confirmation services for older divorce cases, but directs all full decree requests to the Fulton County Clerk of Superior Court for Sandy Springs cases.
Public Access to Sandy Springs Divorce Decrees
Georgia's Open Records Act, OCGA 50-18-70, makes divorce decrees accessible to the public. Anyone can request a non-sealed Sandy Springs divorce decree from the Fulton County clerk. You don't need to explain why you want it or show any connection to the case. The law gives the public access to most court records.
Sealed records are the exception. A judge can order a file sealed when sensitive information warrants it. The clerk will tell you if a record is sealed, but access to it requires a court order. Most Sandy Springs divorce cases are not sealed.
For divorces from 1952 to 1996, the Georgia DPH at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700, can provide a confirmation. But as they explain, full copies of records are held by the county clerk where the divorce was granted. For Sandy Springs cases, that's Fulton County.
Legal Help for Sandy Springs Divorce Cases
Georgia Legal Services Program at glsp.org offers free legal help to qualifying residents. Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org has online guides covering divorce and family law in plain language. The State Bar of Georgia at gabar.org has a lawyer referral service for finding private family law attorneys in the Sandy Springs and north Fulton area.
Self-represented litigants can get official Georgia divorce forms at georgiacourts.gov/a2j/self-help-resources/family-law/divorce-forms/. These forms are used in Fulton County Superior Court and cover both uncontested and contested divorces. Use the current version and make sure the form is complete before filing.