Catoosa County Divorce Decree Records
Catoosa County divorce decree records are filed and maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court in Ringgold, Georgia. The clerk is the official keeper of all divorce case files in Catoosa County, and records are public under the Georgia Open Records Act. This page explains how to request a divorce decree in Catoosa County, what case files contain, the costs you can expect, how Georgia law shapes these cases, and where residents can turn for legal help.
Catoosa County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Catoosa County Divorce Decrees
The Catoosa County Clerk of Superior Court is located at 875 Lafayette Street, Ringgold, GA 30736. The phone number is (706) 935-4231. Visit the Catoosa County website for additional contact information and office details. Visiting the courthouse in Ringgold in person is the fastest method to request a divorce decree. Staff can usually search for a case and produce copies the same day if the record is on file and you have enough information to locate it.
Bring the full names of both spouses and an approximate filing year. A case number is very helpful if you have one. Staff will search the records index by name if no case number is available. For mail requests, write to the clerk's office with the case details and include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Contact the office ahead of time to ask about accepted payment methods and current copy fees. Do not send payment without confirming the amount first.
Note: Catoosa County is in northwest Georgia near the Tennessee state line. If you need records from a divorce filed before the county's current electronic system, older paper files may require additional search time.
What Catoosa County Divorce Records Contain
A divorce decree from the Catoosa County Superior Court is the court's final legally binding order ending a marriage. It covers every issue the court resolved: how real and personal property was divided, whether spousal support was awarded and on what terms, and child custody and visitation arrangements if children were part of the case. The decree is signed by the judge and filed with the clerk. Its terms can be enforced by law.
Beyond the decree itself, the full case file includes the original divorce petition, proof that the other spouse was served, financial affidavits both parties submitted, any temporary orders the court issued during the case, and the final settlement agreement for uncontested divorces. Contested cases may also have motion filings, attorney briefs, and the court's written decisions. This is entirely separate from the divorce certificate the Georgia Department of Public Health maintains. That certificate covers divorces from 1952 to 1996 and only confirms that a divorce occurred in Georgia. It contains no case terms and cannot substitute for the actual decree. For decree terms or for any case outside the 1952-1996 range, the Catoosa County clerk is the source.
Catoosa County Divorce Decree Fees
Copy fees at the Catoosa County Clerk of Superior Court follow Georgia's standard rate structure for court records. Plain copies typically run $0.50 to $1.00 per page. Certified copies, which carry the clerk's official seal and are needed for most legal purposes, cost more. The total cost depends on the length of the decree and the number of pages in the documents you request. Ask staff about current rates when you call or visit.
If you need only a basic confirmation that a divorce was registered in Georgia between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia DPH Vital Records office is an option. They are at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, and can be reached at (404) 657-2700. Their Vital Records page explains how to submit a verification request. For Catoosa County divorces outside that date window, or if you need the actual decree terms, only the county clerk can help.
Georgia Divorce Law and Catoosa County
The Georgia DPH Vital Records office, pictured at dph.georgia.gov, maintains statewide divorce verification records from 1952 to 1996. The screenshot below shows the public-facing access point for that database.
Georgia law governs every divorce filed in Catoosa County. The Superior Court holds jurisdiction under OCGA 19-5-1. At least one spouse must meet the six-month residency requirement before filing, as required by OCGA 19-5-2. You file in the county where you or your spouse lives, not necessarily where you married.
Under OCGA 19-5-3, Georgia allows 13 grounds for divorce. The overwhelming majority of Catoosa County cases use the no-fault ground, that the marriage is irretrievably broken. After the respondent is served, a 30-day waiting period begins. No final decree can be entered before that period ends, even when both parties are in full agreement. Divorce forms for self-represented litigants are available at the Georgia Courts self-help site.
Public Access to Catoosa County Divorce Decrees
Divorce decree records in Catoosa County are public records under the Georgia Open Records Act. Any person can submit a request to the Catoosa County Clerk of Superior Court and obtain copies. No special status or legal interest is required. The clerk is required by law to respond to public records requests.
Courts can restrict access in limited cases. Records involving minor children may be partially sealed. Financial disclosures that could enable fraud are sometimes protected. When both parties jointly agree to seal and the court agrees, records may be sealed in full. If a case is sealed, the clerk will confirm the case exists but will not hand over the sealed documents. This is not common in routine Catoosa County divorce cases. Most records can be accessed without restriction through a standard request to the clerk's office.
Note: Contact the clerk before submitting a request if you are searching for a case with an unusual spelling of a party's name, as index searches may not pick up common variations.
Legal Help for Divorce in Catoosa County
Catoosa County residents who need legal help with a divorce can reach out to Georgia Legal Services Program. They provide free civil legal assistance to low-income Georgians including those in northwest Georgia counties like Catoosa. Family law matters including divorce, custody, and support are within their scope of service. You will need to meet income eligibility standards to qualify.
For self-help, Georgia Legal Aid's website has plain-language guides and downloadable forms for people handling uncontested divorces without an attorney. If your case is contested or involves contested property or custody, the State Bar of Georgia's lawyer referral service can connect you with a licensed family law attorney. The Georgia Courts website has contact details and filing procedures for the Catoosa County Superior Court.