Warner Robins Divorce Decree Records
Warner Robins divorce decree records are held by the Houston County Superior Court, the court with jurisdiction over all divorce cases filed in Warner Robins and Houston County. The courthouse is located in Perry, Georgia, not in Warner Robins itself. This guide covers where to go, how to get a certified copy of a decree, what the records contain, and what Georgia law says about the process.
Warner Robins Divorce Decree Quick Facts
Houston County Superior Court: Warner Robins Divorce Records
Every divorce case filed by a Warner Robins resident goes through the Houston County Superior Court. The Clerk of Superior Court maintains those records. Important: the courthouse is in Perry, the county seat, not in Warner Robins. The address is 201 Perry Parkway, Perry, GA 31069. Phone: (478) 218-4800. Houston County government information is at houstoncountyga.gov.
Warner Robins is the largest city in Houston County, but divorce jurisdiction follows the county, not the city. So even though Warner Robins is bigger than Perry, the courthouse in Perry is where you need to go for divorce records. Plan for the drive, which is about 15 miles south of Warner Robins on U.S. 41. Calling ahead is always a good idea to confirm hours and what you'll need to bring.
When you contact the clerk, have the names of both parties ready and the approximate year of the divorce or the case number if you have it. Certified copies carry the official court seal and are required when submitting a decree to another court, a financial institution, or a government agency. Plain copies cost less and are fine for personal reference. The clerk can tell you the current fee schedule when you call.
For divorces that happened between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia DPH at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700, can confirm the divorce occurred. But as the department notes, "copies of the records are held by the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted." For Warner Robins cases, that's the Houston County clerk in Perry.
The Houston County Clerk of Superior Court is the official keeper of Warner Robins divorce decrees, with offices in Perry, Georgia.
The Houston County government website provides contact information and resources for the Superior Court clerk who maintains Warner Robins divorce decree records.
The Houston County Clerk of Superior Court website is the official source for Warner Robins divorce records, with the clerk's office located in Perry at the county courthouse.
What Warner Robins Divorce Decrees Contain
A divorce decree is the final court order that ends a marriage. It's a binding legal document, not just a certificate. The decree lays out all the terms the court ordered, and those terms can be enforced if a party doesn't comply.
Most Warner Robins divorce decrees include the names of both spouses, the date the court granted the divorce, the legal grounds, child custody and visitation terms if children were involved, child support amounts and schedules, any alimony or spousal support, property division and debt allocation, and name change orders if granted. Incorporated settlement agreements are common in uncontested cases, where both parties agreed on all terms before the hearing.
People sometimes confuse a decree with a short divorce certificate from the state. The certificate just confirms the divorce happened. It works for basic administrative needs. But if you need to prove what custody schedule was ordered, enforce a support obligation, or show how assets were divided, the full decree is what you'll need. The Houston County clerk issues certified copies of Warner Robins divorce decrees, and they're the only source for official copies.
If post-decree modifications were made, such as changes to child support or custody, those orders are filed separately in the same case. Ask the clerk for all filings under a case number if you need the full picture, not just the original decree.
Georgia Divorce Law for Warner Robins Residents
Georgia state law controls every step of the divorce process for Warner Robins residents. Under OCGA 19-5-1, only the Superior Court can grant a divorce in Georgia. The Houston County Superior Court holds that authority for Warner Robins cases. No city court or any other local court can issue a divorce decree.
Before filing, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months. That's the residency requirement in OCGA 19-5-2. Residency in Houston County specifically is the basis for venue, meaning the case should be filed in the county where you live. Once the petition is served on the other party, a 30-day waiting period begins before the court can issue a final decree. After that 30 days, uncontested cases can often be heard quickly.
Georgia provides 13 grounds for divorce under OCGA 19-5-3. The "irretrievably broken" no-fault ground is the most common one used in Warner Robins. No misconduct needs to be proven. The petition must be a written document the filer verifies under oath, per OCGA 19-5-5.
Note: Warner Robins and Houston County have a strong military presence due to Robins Air Force Base. If one spouse is active military, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act may affect how the case proceeds and how the 30-day wait period applies.
Public Access and Open Records in Houston County
Divorce decrees in Houston County are public records under Georgia's Open Records Act, OCGA 50-18-70. Any member of the public can request a non-sealed Warner Robins divorce decree from the Houston County clerk without providing a reason. Georgia law gives broad public access to court records.
Records that a judge has sealed are not publicly accessible. If a file is sealed, the clerk will let you know. Gaining access to sealed records requires court approval. Most Houston County divorce cases are not sealed, and routine records requests are processed without issue.
For divorces between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia DPH can provide a confirmation. Their website is dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. But for the full decree, the Houston County Superior Court clerk in Perry is the only source. The DPH can confirm the event; they can't give you the legal document itself.
The Georgia DPH Vital Records main page explains the state's role in confirming older divorces for the Warner Robins area and directs full decree requests to the county court.
Georgia DPH Vital Records can confirm Warner Robins-area divorces from 1952-1996, but complete decree copies are held by the Houston County Clerk of Superior Court in Perry.
Legal Help for Warner Robins Divorce Cases
For legal assistance in the Warner Robins area, Georgia Legal Services Program at glsp.org offers free help to people who meet income guidelines. They handle family law matters including divorce cases, custody issues, and decree enforcement. The central Georgia region is covered by their offices.
Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org has online guides for divorce and family law that can help you understand the process before you decide whether to hire an attorney. The State Bar of Georgia at gabar.org offers a lawyer referral service for finding private family law attorneys in the Houston County and Warner Robins area.
Official Georgia divorce forms are at georgiacourts.gov/a2j/self-help-resources/family-law/divorce-forms/. These are used in the Houston County Superior Court. Make sure you use the current versions and complete all required fields before going to the clerk's office in Perry.