Carroll County Divorce Decree Search
Carroll County divorce decree records are kept at the Clerk of Superior Court in Carrollton, Georgia. The Clerk of Court for Carroll County handles divorce cases along with other civil matters, and all records are public under both state law and Carroll County's own open records policy. This page covers how to request divorce decree records in Carroll County, what those records include, applicable fees, relevant Georgia statutes, and where to find legal help in the area.
Carroll County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Carroll County Divorce Decree Records
The Carroll County Clerk of Superior Court is at 323 Newnan Street, Carrollton, GA 30117. Call them at (770) 830-5830 to ask about hours and search procedures. The Carroll County government website lists the clerk's office details and may have information on online access. In person is still the best way to request records for a specific case, especially if you are not sure which year the divorce was filed.
Carroll County treats its court records as public records. The county has stated plainly that "the records of Carroll County are public records" and that citizens have the right to inspect and receive copies under the Georgia Open Records Act. When you visit the clerk's office to request divorce case records, bring the full names of both parties and the approximate year of filing. A case number speeds the search. Bring photo ID. For mail requests, write to the clerk with the relevant details, a self-addressed envelope, and payment confirmation.
Note: The first 15 minutes of staff time and the first 20 pages of copies are provided at no charge under Carroll County's records policy. After that, copies cost $0.10 per page.
What Carroll County Divorce Records Contain
A Carroll County divorce decree is the Superior Court's final order that legally ends a marriage. The decree covers all matters the court resolved, including property division, debt allocation, spousal support, and child custody and visitation if children were involved. Every term in the decree is enforceable. If one party fails to follow what the decree says, the other can go back to court.
The Clerk of Court in Carrollton handles divorce cases as part of a broader set of filings that also includes real estate documents, name changes, civil cases, and tax liens. The divorce case file will have the original petition, proof of service, any temporary orders entered while the case was pending, financial affidavits from both parties, and the final decree. For contested cases, it may also include motions and the court's written rulings. The state-level DPH certificate is a different and much shorter document. It only confirms that a divorce was registered between 1952 and 1996. It does not contain case terms. For everything else, the Carroll County clerk has what you need.
Carroll County Divorce Decree Fees
Carroll County has a clear open records fee structure. The first 15 minutes of staff time to locate and prepare records costs nothing. The first 20 pages of copies are also free. After those initial amounts, copies cost $0.10 per page. This is notably lower than fees charged in some other Georgia counties. Certified copies, which carry the clerk's official seal, may have a different fee schedule than plain copies. Ask when you call or visit.
Carroll County also has a dedicated open records process. The county's Open Records Request page lets you submit a formal request online or find out how to submit one by mail. This can be a useful option if you are not local to Carrollton and want to start the process before making a trip.
For divorce verification from the state level, the Georgia DPH Vital Records office at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, handles requests by phone at (404) 657-2700. Their service at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords covers the 1952-1996 window only.
Carroll County Divorce Records: Georgia Law and Open Records
The Carroll County Clerk of Court maintains its records portal at carrollcountyga.gov. The image below shows the public-facing courthouse records interface.
Carroll County also maintains a dedicated open records portal. The county's own policy affirms that the Georgia Open Records Act entitles citizens to inspect and copy records from any public office or agency. Divorce case records from the Clerk of Court fall squarely within that category.
Georgia's divorce law framework under OCGA 19-5-1 gives the Superior Court jurisdiction over all divorce actions. Filing requires at least one spouse to have lived in Georgia for six months, as set out in OCGA 19-5-2. The 13 recognized grounds for divorce appear in OCGA 19-5-3. Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, the no-fault ground, is the most common in Carroll County. A 30-day waiting period applies to every case before the final decree can be entered. Free divorce forms for self-represented filers are at the Georgia Courts self-help portal.
Public Access to Carroll County Divorce Decrees
The Georgia Open Records Act and Carroll County's own stated records policy make divorce decree records available to any member of the public. You do not need a legal reason or a relationship to the parties. The open records framework treats court filings as public documents that any citizen can inspect and copy for the applicable fee.
Records can be sealed in limited circumstances. If a judge orders sealing to protect minor children or to prevent disclosure of sensitive financial data, those sealed documents are not available without a court order. In Carroll County, as in other Georgia counties, routine uncontested divorces are virtually never sealed. The case file is public, and anyone can request it through the clerk's office or through the county's open records process. If you are not sure whether a specific record is sealed, call the clerk's office before submitting a formal request.
Note: If you need a certified copy of a decree for legal purposes such as remarriage, filing in another court, or updating government records, make sure to request a certified copy specifically. A plain copy will not carry the clerk's seal.
Legal Help in Carroll County for Divorce
Carroll County residents have access to several free and low-cost legal resources. Georgia Legal Services Program serves west-central Georgia including Carroll County. Eligible low-income residents can get help with divorce, custody, and related family law issues. Contact them to check your eligibility. Their services are free to those who qualify.
Georgia Legal Aid has an online library of guides and forms for people handling their own divorces in Georgia. For straightforward uncontested cases, especially if both parties agree on all terms, the self-help tools are often enough to navigate the filing process in Carroll County Superior Court. If your situation is more complex, involving property disputes, contested custody, or support disagreements, the State Bar of Georgia lawyer referral service can match you with a licensed family law attorney. Residents of Carrollton also have access to local legal professionals familiar with the Carroll County courthouse.
The Georgia Courts website provides contact information and filing guidance for every Superior Court in the state, including Carroll County's court in Carrollton.