Search Camden County Divorce Decrees
Camden County divorce decree records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court in Woodbine, Georgia. The clerk's office is the official keeper of all divorce case files in Camden County, from the original petition through the final signed decree. Under Georgia's Open Records Act, most divorce records are available to the public. This page explains how to request records in person or by mail, what the records contain, the costs involved, and what legal help is available to Camden County residents.
Camden County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Camden County Divorce Decree Records
The Camden County Clerk of Superior Court handles divorce decree records for the county. The office is located at 205 E. 4th Street, Woodbine, GA 31569. You can call them at (912) 576-5600. The Camden County government website has additional contact details and may list current office hours. In-person visits to the Woodbine courthouse are the fastest way to obtain a copy of a divorce decree.
When you arrive, bring the full names of both spouses and the approximate year of the divorce. A case number, if you have one, speeds up the search considerably. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff will locate the file and let you know how much the copies will cost. For mail requests, send a written request to the clerk's office with the names, year, and any case number you have. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and contact them first about payment. Personal checks are sometimes accepted; money orders are safer for mail-in requests.
Note: Call before visiting to confirm current office hours and whether the clerk handles walk-in requests or requires appointments.
What Camden County Divorce Records Contain
A divorce decree issued by the Camden County Superior Court is the final court order that formally ends a marriage. The decree is detailed. It spells out exactly how the court resolved each issue: division of real property and personal property, allocation of debts, spousal support if any was awarded, and custody and visitation terms for children. These terms are legally binding and enforceable. If either party fails to comply, the other can return to court to seek enforcement.
The case file attached to a Camden County divorce decree is a full record of the litigation. It includes the original complaint, the summons served on the respondent, any temporary orders entered during the case, financial affidavits from both parties, and the final settlement agreement if the case was uncontested. For contested cases, you may find motions, responses, hearing transcripts, and the judge's written rulings. This is different from the short divorce certificate the Georgia Department of Public Health issues. That certificate only confirms the fact of divorce for records between 1952 and 1996. It has no case terms or filing details. If you need the actual decree, come to the Camden County courthouse.
Camden County Divorce Decree Fees
Copy fees at the Camden County Clerk of Superior Court follow standard Georgia court rates. Plain copies typically cost $0.50 to $1.00 per page. A certified copy, which bears the clerk's official seal, costs more. Certified copies are required for many legal uses, such as updating court records in another jurisdiction or proving your marital status to a government agency. Ask staff which type of copy you need before they start pulling the file.
The Georgia Department of Public Health charges separately for divorce verifications. Their Vital Records office is at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Call them at (404) 657-2700 or visit dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. The DPH index covers 1952 through 1996 only. A DPH verification confirms a divorce occurred; it does not provide case documents or decree terms. For Camden County divorces outside that date range, the county clerk is the only source.
Camden County Divorce Decrees and Georgia Law
The Camden County Superior Court Clerk's office, accessible through the county portal, manages all local divorce filings. The screenshot below shows the public-facing interface for the county's court records system.
Georgia divorce law applies uniformly across all 159 counties, including Camden. Jurisdiction for divorce cases rests with the Superior Court under OCGA 19-5-1. Before a petition can be filed, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for at least six months, per OCGA 19-5-2. Filing happens in the county of residence of either spouse.
Georgia law under OCGA 19-5-3 recognizes 13 grounds for divorce. The no-fault ground, stating the marriage is irretrievably broken, is the most common by far. No proof of wrongdoing is needed. The 30-day waiting period after service on the respondent applies to every divorce filed in Camden County. Even cases where both parties sign an agreed settlement must wait the full 30 days before a judge can sign the final decree. Free forms for standard uncontested divorces are available through the Georgia Courts self-help portal.
Public Access to Camden County Divorce Records
Georgia's Open Records Act makes divorce decree records accessible to the public. You do not need to be a party to the case, a lawyer, or a relative to request a copy. Any person can submit a request to the Camden County Clerk of Superior Court and get a copy for the applicable fee. The clerk is legally required to respond to public records requests.
Exceptions exist. A court can seal all or part of a case file when public disclosure would harm minor children, expose confidential financial data in ways that could enable fraud, or when both parties jointly ask the court to seal and the judge finds good cause. If a file is sealed, the clerk will tell you the case exists but cannot hand over the sealed documents. This happens rarely in routine divorce cases. Most Camden County divorce decrees are public and can be pulled without any special authorization.
Note: If you need a record for an older case from the 1980s or earlier, allow extra time as older files may be stored in archives rather than active filing systems.
Legal Help in Camden County for Divorce
Residents of Camden County who need help with a divorce have several options for free or low-cost legal services. Georgia Legal Services Program serves rural southeast Georgia counties including Camden. They assist eligible low-income residents with family law matters such as divorce filings, custody disputes, and support modifications. You can apply by phone or through their website to see if you qualify.
Georgia Legal Aid's website has self-help guides written in plain language. If your divorce is uncontested and both parties agree on all issues, the guides and downloadable forms may be enough to file on your own. For contested matters or cases involving significant property or custody disputes, the State Bar of Georgia offers a lawyer referral service to help you find a licensed family law attorney in your area.
The Georgia Courts website provides a directory of Superior Court clerks, judges, and filing requirements for every county. Use it to confirm current filing procedures in Camden County.