Bartow County Divorce Decree Search
Bartow County divorce decree records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court in Cartersville, Georgia. The clerk's office handles all divorce filings, stores final decrees and case files, and processes record requests from the public. Whether you need to find a past divorce case, obtain a certified copy of a decree, or verify the terms of a court order, the Cartersville courthouse is the primary source for Bartow County divorce records. Georgia's Open Records Act makes most of these records available without requiring any explanation for the request.
Bartow County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
Getting Bartow County Divorce Decrees
The Bartow County Clerk of Superior Court is at 135 W. Cherokee Avenue, Suite 243, Cartersville, GA 30120. Call the office at (770) 387-5025. The Bartow County official website has current hours and contact details for the courthouse. Visit in person for the fastest service. Bring photo identification and as much case information as you have, including both parties' full names and the approximate year the divorce was finalized.
For mail requests, write to the clerk at the Cartersville address. State what you need, who was involved, the year of divorce if known, and whether you want a plain copy or a certified copy. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. The clerk will respond with the documents or with a fee statement. Call ahead to confirm the current fee schedule before sending payment, as rates can change.
Bartow County is a growing northwest Georgia county. The Superior Court handles a high volume of family cases. Having accurate information ready before your visit helps speed up the search.
What Bartow County Divorce Records Contain
A Bartow County divorce decree is the court's final signed order dissolving the marriage. It addresses the core legal issues in the case. Property and debt division are addressed in virtually every decree. If one spouse is ordered to pay support to the other, that is included. Cases involving children include a custody arrangement, a parenting plan if applicable, and a child support order consistent with Georgia's income shares model.
The full case file at the Bartow County Superior Court Clerk contains everything submitted to the court during the case. That includes the original petition, the answer filed by the respondent if one was filed, any temporary orders entered while the case was open, financial affidavits both parties submitted, and all motions and supporting documents. Settlement agreements are incorporated into or attached to the final decree and are part of the file too.
The Georgia DPH Vital Records office maintains a statewide index covering divorces registered between 1952 and 1996. That index can confirm a divorce happened, but for the actual decree or case file, the Bartow County Clerk of Superior Court is the right source. Visit dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords for information on the DPH verification service.
Note: Some documents within a Bartow County divorce case file, particularly those relating to minor children, may be restricted from general public view by court order.
Bartow County Divorce Decree Fees
The Bartow County Clerk of Superior Court charges per-page copy fees in line with Georgia law. Plain copies of divorce records typically run between $0.50 and $5.00 per page. Certified copies, which include the clerk's seal and signature, cost more. Certified copies are needed for legal proceedings, official name changes, and submissions to other courts or agencies. For personal research or reference purposes, plain copies are usually sufficient.
The Georgia Department of Public Health provides a lower-cost divorce verification for the 1952 to 1996 period. Their Vital Records office is at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Phone: (404) 657-2700. The verification only confirms the fact of a divorce and does not provide the terms of the decree. For anything outside that date range or for the full decree, contact the Bartow County clerk directly.
Georgia Divorce Laws in Bartow County
Every divorce in Bartow County is governed by Georgia state law. Residency is required before filing. Under OCGA 19-5-2, one spouse must have lived in Georgia for at least six months. You file in Bartow County if you or your spouse lives here.
Georgia recognizes 13 grounds for divorce under OCGA 19-5-3. The no-fault ground, that the marriage is "irretrievably broken," is used in most cases across Georgia, including Bartow County. It is the simplest path because no proof of wrongdoing is needed. Fault-based grounds like adultery, desertion, habitual drug or alcohol use, and cruel treatment are still available and may influence alimony decisions in contested cases.
After a divorce petition is filed in Bartow County and served on the other party, a 30-day waiting period must pass before a final decree can be entered. The judge cannot bypass this period even if both spouses agree and everything is settled. The Superior Court's authority over Georgia divorces is grounded in OCGA 19-5-1. Divorce forms for self-represented parties are available at the Georgia Courts self-help page.
Public Access to Bartow County Divorce Records
Under the Georgia Open Records Act, divorce case files at the Bartow County Clerk of Superior Court are public records. Any person can request access and get copies by paying the standard fee. No explanation is required. This is the general rule under Georgia law.
Exceptions apply when a judge orders a record sealed or restricts access to specific documents. Sealed records cannot be shared with the public. Most routine Bartow County divorce cases are not sealed and remain accessible at the Cartersville courthouse. If you are unsure about a specific case, the clerk can tell you whether it is available when you make your request.
Legal Help for Divorce in Bartow County
Georgia Legal Services Program serves Bartow County and can provide free civil legal help to income-qualifying residents handling divorce, custody, or related family law matters. Contact them online or by phone to apply.
Georgia Legal Aid offers self-help tools and plain-language guides for those managing their own divorce cases. The State Bar of Georgia provides a referral service to connect you with a private family law attorney in the Cartersville area. The Georgia Courts website has court contacts, forms, and resources for self-represented parties filing in Bartow County Superior Court.
Bartow County Court Image
The Georgia DPH Vital Records database, shown below, is a statewide tool that covers divorce records registered in Georgia from 1952 to 1996. It can be useful if you are uncertain whether a Bartow County divorce is the right county to search or want to confirm a divorce at the state level before contacting the local clerk. Visit the DPH Vital Records page for request instructions.
For Bartow County divorce decrees themselves, the Clerk of Superior Court at 135 W. Cherokee Avenue in Cartersville is the correct contact. They hold all case files from cases filed in Bartow County Superior Court.