Brantley County Divorce Decree Records
Brantley County divorce decree records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court in Nahunta, Georgia. The clerk's office is the official source for all divorce filings and final decrees in Brantley County. If you need to find a divorce case, get a copy of a final decree, or review the case file, the Nahunta courthouse is where you go. Georgia's Open Records Act makes most Brantley County divorce decree records accessible to any member of the public who makes a proper request, whether or not they were a party to the case.
Brantley County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
Getting Brantley County Divorce Decrees
The Brantley County Clerk of Superior Court is at 234 Brantley Street, Nahunta, GA 31553. Contact them at (912) 462-6280. Visit the Brantley County official website for current hours and any office updates. In-person requests work best. Bring photo ID and the names of both parties along with the approximate year of the divorce or the case number if you have it.
Brantley County is a smaller rural county in southeast Georgia. The courthouse is in Nahunta. Calling before you visit is a good idea to confirm the office is open and staff are available to handle your request. Mail requests are also accepted. Write a letter stating what you need, include both parties' names and the approximate year of the divorce, and specify whether you need plain copies or certified copies. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and call ahead to verify current fees before sending payment.
What Brantley County Divorce Records Contain
A divorce decree from Brantley County Superior Court is the judge's final order dissolving the marriage. It covers the binding terms of the dissolution, including how property and debt are divided, whether one spouse owes support to the other, and, when children are involved, the custody arrangement and child support order. The decree is the document both parties must follow after the case is final.
The full case file at the Brantley County courthouse contains more than just the final decree. You will find the initial petition, proof that the other party was served, any answer filed by the respondent, temporary orders issued while the case was pending, financial affidavits from both parties, and all other court submissions. Settlement agreements, if any were reached before trial, are incorporated into the final decree and are part of the file. All of this material is generally in the public record for standard unsealed Brantley County divorce cases.
If you only need to confirm whether a divorce occurred in Georgia between 1952 and 1996 without needing the decree itself, the Georgia Department of Public Health can help. Their Vital Records page is at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. For the actual Brantley County divorce decree, the Superior Court Clerk in Nahunta is the source.
Note: Some documents in Brantley County divorce files may be restricted by court order, especially those involving minor children's custody and personal identifying information.
Brantley County Divorce Decree Fees
Copy fees at the Brantley County Clerk of Superior Court follow Georgia's standard rate. Plain copies of divorce records typically cost between $0.50 and $5.00 per page. Certified copies, which include the clerk's official seal, cost more and are needed for legal use. If you plan to use the copy in another legal proceeding, a name change, or a government submission, ask for a certified copy. For personal use or reference, a plain copy is sufficient.
The Georgia Department of Public Health at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700, provides divorce verifications for the 1952 to 1996 period. This is a lower-cost option if you only need to confirm a divorce occurred and do not need the full case file or the terms of the decree.
Georgia Divorce Laws in Brantley County
Brantley County divorces follow Georgia state law. Under OCGA 19-5-2, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months before a divorce petition can be filed. You file in the county where you or your spouse currently lives. No local filing requirement goes beyond what state law sets.
Georgia recognizes 13 grounds for divorce listed in OCGA 19-5-3. The most common in Brantley County and across Georgia is no-fault: the marriage is irretrievably broken. This ground requires no proof of wrongdoing. Fault-based grounds like adultery, cruel treatment, and habitual intoxication are available but require more evidence. After the petition is filed and the respondent is served, Georgia's 30-day waiting period must pass before a final decree can be entered. This applies even when both spouses agree on all terms.
The Superior Court's authority over Georgia divorce cases comes from OCGA 19-5-1. Self-represented parties can get forms from the Georgia Courts self-help portal.
Public Access to Brantley County Divorce Records
Under the Georgia Open Records Act, divorce case files at the Brantley County Clerk of Superior Court are generally public records. Any person can request access and receive copies by paying the fee. No connection to the case is required under Georgia law. This openness is the standard rule for court records in Georgia.
Sealed records are the exception. When a judge orders a file sealed, the clerk cannot share those materials without a court order. Most standard Brantley County divorce cases are not sealed and remain accessible to anyone who requests them at the Nahunta courthouse. If you are uncertain about a specific case, call the clerk's office before making the trip.
Note: Online access to Brantley County Superior Court records may not be available; contacting the clerk's office directly in Nahunta is the most reliable method for searching.
Legal Help for Divorce in Brantley County
Free legal help for Brantley County residents is available through Georgia Legal Services Program. They serve rural Georgia and assist with divorce, custody, and other family law matters for those who qualify based on income. Apply online or by phone to check eligibility.
The Georgia Legal Aid website provides self-help guides and plain-language instructions for common divorce situations. For contested cases, the State Bar of Georgia has a referral service to connect you with a licensed family law attorney. The Georgia Courts website provides Superior Court contacts and family law forms for Brantley County cases.
State Divorce Database for Brantley County
The Georgia DPH Vital Records database, shown below, is a statewide resource that covers divorces registered in Georgia from 1952 to 1996. If you are unsure whether a divorce was filed in Brantley County or a neighboring county, the state index can help narrow your search before you contact a specific county clerk. Visit the DPH Vital Records page for request instructions.
For Brantley County divorce decrees and full case file access, contact the Clerk of Superior Court at 234 Brantley Street in Nahunta, which is the primary source for all divorce records in Brantley County Superior Court.