Union City Divorce Decree Records
Union City divorce decree records are maintained by the Fulton County Superior Court, which is the court of record for all divorce filings in Union City and throughout Fulton County. If you need to find a divorce decree connected to a Union City case, get a certified copy, or verify that a divorce was finalized, this guide covers where to search, what the records include, the Georgia statutes that apply, and where to find legal assistance if you need it.
Union City Divorce Decree Quick Facts
Fulton County Superior Court: Union City Divorce Records
Union City is in Fulton County, and every divorce case filed by a Union City resident goes through the Fulton County Superior Court. The Clerk of Superior Court maintains all divorce records at 136 Pryor Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303. You can reach the clerk by phone at (404) 613-5313. The official court website is fultoncountyga.gov/Superior-Court, and the divorce and marriage records section is at fultoncountycourt.us/divorce-records.
For in-person visits, plan to travel to downtown Atlanta since that's where the Fulton County courthouse is located. Bring a valid photo ID and whatever case information you have. Knowing the names of both parties and the approximate year the divorce was granted helps staff locate the right file. Certified copies are available for a fee and carry the court's official seal. Call the clerk to confirm current fees before your visit.
If an in-person trip to Atlanta isn't feasible, call the clerk's office at (404) 613-5313 to ask about submitting a request by mail. Include names, dates, and any case number you have in your written request, along with payment for applicable fees.
The Fulton County Superior Court website screenshot below shows the official court portal where Union City residents can find divorce record resources and contact information for the clerk's office.
The site links to the divorce and marriage records section, case search tools, and clerk contact information for Fulton County divorce decree requests.
What Union City Divorce Decree Records Contain
A divorce decree is the court's final order. It ends the marriage and lays out all the terms both parties are legally bound by going forward. For a Union City case handled in Fulton County, the decree will address property and debt division, alimony if ordered, and, where children are involved, the custody arrangement, a parenting plan, and child support terms.
The case file at the Fulton County clerk's office holds more than the decree itself. It contains the original petition, the other party's answer, any temporary orders entered while the case was pending, financial affidavits, and the settlement agreement if the parties resolved the matter before trial. Every one of those documents is a public court record held by Fulton County.
Some portions of a case file can be restricted. Records with personal information about minor children or sensitive protective matters may be sealed. If a document you're looking for isn't accessible, ask the clerk whether the file has any sealed sections.
Note: A divorce decree is not the same as a Georgia state divorce certificate issued by the Department of Public Health. The decree is the full court order. A DPH certificate is a brief administrative summary used for identification purposes and is not a substitute for the actual case record.
Georgia Divorce Statutes That Apply to Union City Cases
Georgia's Superior Courts hold exclusive jurisdiction over divorce under OCGA 19-5-1. No other court in the state can grant a divorce. Every Union City divorce, regardless of how simple the case may be, goes through the Fulton County Superior Court.
Under OCGA 19-5-2, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months before a divorce petition can be filed. For Union City residents, that means six continuous months of Georgia residency. Once that condition is met, either spouse can file, choosing the county where either of them lives.
The Georgia OCGA divorce statutes screenshot below illustrates the key provisions that govern all Fulton County divorce cases, including those filed by Union City residents.
The statutes cover all 13 grounds for divorce, the six-month residency requirement, the 30-day waiting period after service, and the verification requirements for petitions filed in Georgia courts.
Georgia recognizes 13 grounds for divorce under OCGA 19-5-3. The no-fault ground, irretrievably broken marriage, is used in the vast majority of Fulton County cases. It's straightforward, avoids the need to prove wrongdoing, and is accepted without dispute in most situations. Fault grounds like adultery or cruel treatment exist and can affect alimony decisions, but they require evidence and typically complicate the process.
After the respondent is served, a minimum 30-day waiting period must pass before the court can finalize the case. Contested matters take longer. The original petition must be in writing and signed under oath, as required by OCGA 19-5-5. These rules apply to every Union City divorce case filed in Fulton County.
Public Access to Union City Divorce Records
Fulton 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 Fulton County Superior Court clerk. You don't need to be a party to the case or have any particular legal interest to view or copy public court records.
Courts can restrict specific portions of a case file. Records with details about minor children or domestic violence matters may be sealed by a judge. Even when parts of a file are sealed, the case name and basic information typically appear in the public index. If you can't find something you expected, ask the clerk what parts of the file are available.
Georgia Courts provides self-help resources and court information at georgiacourts.gov. Divorce forms for use in Georgia Superior Courts are at georgiacourts.gov/a2j/self-help-resources/family-law/divorce-forms/. Reviewing these forms gives you a clear sense of the documents you're likely to find in a Fulton County divorce case file.
Legal Help for Union City Residents
If you need help with a divorce in Union City, Georgia Legal Services Program at glsp.org provides free legal assistance for low-income Fulton County residents. They handle family law matters including divorce filings, forms, and related questions. Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org has a directory of resources searchable by county across the state.
The State Bar of Georgia at gabar.org operates a lawyer referral service for those who want to hire a private attorney. Many family law attorneys in Fulton County and the Atlanta metro area offer initial consultations at reduced or no cost. For straightforward uncontested divorces where both parties agree on all terms, using the Georgia Courts self-help forms to file without an attorney is a practical and widely used option.