Clarke County Divorce Decree Search
Clarke County divorce decree records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court in Athens, Georgia. The clerk holds all divorce case files for the county, including final decrees, petitions, and associated documents. These records are public under the Georgia Open Records Act. This page explains how to request Clarke County divorce decree records, what they contain, what fees to expect, how Georgia divorce law applies, and where residents of Athens-Clarke County can find legal assistance.
Clarke County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Clarke County Divorce Decrees
The Clarke County Clerk of Superior Court is at 325 E. Washington Street, Athens, GA 30601. Call (706) 613-3190 to ask about current hours, online access options, and records procedures. The Athens-Clarke County unified government website provides contact information for the Superior Court clerk. Athens is a larger city with a busy courthouse. Visiting in person is still a reliable method, and the clerk handles a high volume of public records requests.
Bring the full legal names of both spouses and the approximate filing year when you visit. A case number is helpful if you have one. Staff will search the index by name. Valid photo ID is standard. For mail requests, write to the clerk with clear case details, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and confirm payment method ahead of time. For more recent cases, Clarke County's court system may have electronic records accessible through the courthouse terminal or potentially online. Call ahead to ask about digital access options before visiting.
Note: Athens-Clarke County operates under a unified city-county government. The Superior Court Clerk handles court records separately from the general county government functions.
What Clarke County Divorce Records Contain
A Clarke County divorce decree is the Superior Court's final order that legally ends a marriage. It covers every issue the court resolved: division of marital property, assignment of debts, alimony if ordered, and child custody and visitation arrangements. The decree is signed by the judge and filed with the clerk. Both parties are bound by its terms, and violations can be addressed back in court through enforcement proceedings.
The complete case file at the Clarke County clerk includes the original divorce petition, proof of service, financial affidavits from both parties, any temporary orders entered during the proceedings, and the final agreed order or decree. Contested cases may also have motion filings, attorney briefs, and the judge's written rulings. This is distinct from the short divorce certificate the Georgia DPH issues. That certificate covers only divorces registered in Georgia between 1952 and 1996 and only confirms the divorce occurred. It has no case details, no property terms, and no custody information. For everything else, the Clarke County clerk is your source. Reach DPH at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, (404) 657-2700, or at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords.
Clarke County Divorce Decree Fees
The Clarke County Clerk of Superior Court charges copy fees in line with Georgia's standard court rate structure. Plain copies typically run $0.50 to $1.00 per page. Certified copies, which carry the clerk's official seal and are required for legal filings, name changes, and proof of marital status, cost more. Total cost depends on document length. Ask staff for the current fee schedule when you call or visit the Athens courthouse.
For a simple confirmation that a divorce was registered in Georgia between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia DPH Vital Records office handles this at a lower cost than pulling a full court file. Their Vital Records page outlines the verification request process. For Clarke County cases outside that date range or if you need the actual decree terms, the county clerk is the right place to go.
Georgia Divorce Law in Clarke County
The Georgia DPH Vital Records database at dph.georgia.gov provides statewide verification for divorces from 1952 to 1996. The image below shows that database as it appears to users searching for records.
Georgia divorce law applies uniformly across all counties. The Superior Court holds jurisdiction over divorce actions under OCGA 19-5-1. At least one spouse must have been a Georgia resident for six months before filing, per OCGA 19-5-2. The petition is filed in the county where either spouse currently lives.
Under OCGA 19-5-3, Georgia recognizes 13 grounds for divorce. The no-fault ground, that the marriage is irretrievably broken, is used in most Clarke County cases. After service on the respondent, a 30-day waiting period must pass before the final decree can be entered. This applies even when both parties agree on every term. The Georgia Open Records Act makes Clarke County divorce decrees public. Self-represented filers can access free forms at the Georgia Courts self-help portal.
Public Access to Clarke County Divorce Records
Divorce decree records in Clarke County are public under the Georgia Open Records Act. Any person can request copies from the Clarke County Clerk of Superior Court without being a party to the case. No legal interest or stated reason is required. The clerk must respond to requests and provide copies for the applicable fee.
Limited exceptions apply. Courts seal records to protect minor children or prevent harm from disclosing financial information. Sealed records are not available without a court order. Routine Clarke County divorces are almost never sealed, and the full case file is accessible to any person who submits a request. Athens-Clarke County's unified government structure means some administrative functions are combined, but court records remain under the Superior Court Clerk's jurisdiction and access rules.
Note: Clarke County serves a large university community. If you are searching for records involving students or younger adults, name searches should include any nickname or abbreviated name used in documents.
Legal Help for Divorce in Clarke County
Georgia Legal Services Program provides free legal assistance to qualifying low-income Georgians. Clarke County residents can apply for help with divorce, custody, and support matters. Contact them by phone or online to check eligibility. Income limits based on household size apply.
Georgia Legal Aid has extensive online self-help tools for Georgia divorce cases. Uncontested divorces in Clarke County where both parties agree on all issues can often be managed with these resources. For contested cases, complex asset division, or custody disputes, the State Bar of Georgia offers a lawyer referral service to connect you with a licensed family law attorney practicing in the Athens area. Athens has a substantial legal community given the presence of the University of Georgia School of Law nearby. The Georgia Courts website has contact and filing information for the Clarke County Superior Court.