Find Divorce Decrees in Brooks County
Brooks County divorce decree records are filed and held at the Clerk of Superior Court in Quitman, Georgia. The clerk's office is the official source for all divorce cases and final decrees in Brooks County. If you need to locate a past divorce case, request certified copies of a decree, or review case documents, the Quitman courthouse is where you start. Georgia's Open Records Act gives any member of the public access to most divorce decree records held by the Brooks County Clerk of Superior Court without requiring any special justification.
Brooks County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Brooks County Divorce Records
The Brooks County Clerk of Superior Court is at 100 S. Madison Street, Quitman, GA 31643. Call the office at (229) 263-4747. Visit the Brooks County official website for current hours and contact information. In-person requests are the fastest way to get copies. Bring photo ID and the names of both parties in the divorce case. Knowing the approximate year of the divorce or the case number helps staff find the record quickly.
Mail requests are accepted by the Brooks County Clerk. Write to the office at the Quitman address. Include both parties' full names, the approximate year of divorce, any case number you have, and whether you need plain copies or certified copies. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call first to confirm the current fee schedule so you can include the correct payment with your request or know what to expect when the clerk responds.
Quitman is a small county seat in southern Georgia. The clerk's office may have limited hours. Always call before driving out to make sure someone is available to help.
What Brooks County Divorce Decrees Contain
A Brooks County divorce decree is the judge's final signed order dissolving the marriage. It covers the legally binding terms of the case. Property division is addressed in virtually every decree, laying out how assets and debts are split. Spousal support, if ordered, is included along with payment terms. Decrees involving minor children specify custody arrangements, a parenting plan, and a child support order based on Georgia's income shares guidelines.
Beyond the final decree, the full case file at the Brooks County courthouse contains the original petition for divorce, any answer filed by the other party, proof of service, temporary orders issued during the pendency of the case, and financial affidavits from both parties. Settlement agreements are incorporated into the final decree if the parties resolved issues before trial. All of this is in the public record for standard Brooks County divorce cases that were not sealed by court order.
If you only need to verify that a divorce occurred in Georgia between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health can help. Their Vital Records page at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords explains how to submit a verification request. That service confirms the fact of a divorce without providing case file contents or decree terms.
Note: Some parts of a Brooks County divorce case file may be restricted by court order; the clerk will advise you on what is accessible for a specific case when you inquire.
Brooks County Divorce Decree Fees
Copy fees at the Brooks County Clerk of Superior Court follow Georgia's standard rate schedule. Plain copies of divorce records run between $0.50 and $5.00 per page. Certified copies, which carry the clerk's official seal and signature, cost more and are required for legal use. If you need the document for a court filing, a name change, or submission to a government agency, specify that you need a certified copy. For personal reference, a plain copy is adequate.
The Georgia Department of Public Health processes divorce verifications for records from 1952 to 1996. Their Vital Records office is at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Phone: (404) 657-2700. This is useful for confirming a divorce from that period without needing to contact Brooks County directly, especially when you are unsure of the filing county.
Georgia Divorce Laws in Brooks County
Brooks County divorces are governed by Georgia state law. The six-month residency requirement in OCGA 19-5-2 applies: at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months before a petition can be filed. You file in the county where you or your spouse lives, not necessarily where you were married.
Georgia has 13 grounds for divorce under OCGA 19-5-3. No-fault divorce, that the marriage is irretrievably broken, is the most common ground in Brooks County as in the rest of Georgia. It is simple, requires no proof of fault, and is the standard choice for uncontested cases. Fault-based grounds including adultery, cruel treatment, desertion, and habitual intoxication are still available and can affect alimony decisions in contested divorces. After filing and service, Georgia's 30-day waiting period applies before a final decree can be signed.
The Superior Court's jurisdiction over divorce actions in Georgia is established in OCGA 19-5-1. Free divorce forms are available through the Georgia Courts self-help page for self-represented parties.
Public Access to Brooks County Divorce Records
The Georgia Open Records Act gives any member of the public the right to request and receive copies of court records, including divorce case files, held by the Brooks County Clerk of Superior Court. You do not need to be a party to the case. Pay the copy fee and the clerk provides the public record documents.
Sealed records cannot be accessed without a court order. The clerk will acknowledge a sealed case exists but will not share the sealed contents. Most routine Brooks County divorce cases remain in the public file and can be requested at the Quitman courthouse by anyone who asks. If you have any doubt about a specific record's availability, call the clerk's office before your visit.
Legal Help for Divorce in Brooks County
Brooks County residents who need help with a divorce can contact Georgia Legal Services Program. They serve rural Georgia counties and offer free civil legal assistance to those who meet income requirements. Their services include family law matters such as divorce and custody.
Georgia Legal Aid provides self-help guides and step-by-step instructions online. For contested or complex cases, the State Bar of Georgia has a referral service to find a licensed attorney in the Brooks County area. The Georgia Courts website offers Superior Court contacts, family law forms, and resources for self-represented parties filing in Brooks County.
State Resources for Brooks County Divorces
The Georgia DPH Vital Records database, shown below, is a statewide tool that can confirm divorces registered in Georgia from 1952 to 1996. If you are uncertain which county handled a divorce, the state index is a useful first step. The DPH Vital Records page has instructions for submitting a verification request.
For Brooks County divorce decrees and full case file access, the Clerk of Superior Court at 100 S. Madison Street in Quitman is the primary source for all divorce records filed in Brooks County Superior Court.