Coffee County Divorce Decree Records
Coffee County divorce decree records are filed with the Clerk of Superior Court in Douglas, Georgia. The clerk is the official keeper of all divorce case files in Coffee County, and these records are public under the Georgia Open Records Act. This page explains how to request divorce decrees in Coffee County, what the records contain, the costs you can expect, how Georgia law applies to these cases, and where county residents can find legal help.
Coffee County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Coffee County Divorce Decrees
The Coffee County Clerk of Superior Court is at 101 S. Peterson Avenue, Douglas, GA 31533. The office phone is (912) 384-5227. The Coffee County government website has additional contact details for the court. Visiting the Douglas courthouse is the most direct way to request a copy of a divorce decree. Staff can usually search for a case and provide copies on the same visit if you have the right information.
Bring the full legal names of both spouses and the approximate filing year. A case number helps narrow the search considerably. Bring valid photo ID. For mail-in requests, write to the clerk with clear case details and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Always call ahead to confirm current fees and payment methods before sending anything by mail. Coffee County is a regional center for south-central Georgia, so the courthouse in Douglas handles records requests from the surrounding area as well.
Note: Call the clerk's office in Douglas before visiting, especially for records from older cases that may require extra time to retrieve from archived storage.
What Coffee County Divorce Records Contain
A Coffee County Superior Court divorce decree is the final legal order that ends a marriage. It covers all terms the court resolved: property and debt division, spousal support if ordered, and child custody and visitation arrangements. The decree is signed by the judge and filed with the clerk. Both parties are legally bound by it, and either party can return to court to enforce the terms if needed.
The full case file includes the original petition, proof that the respondent was served, financial affidavits, temporary orders if any were entered, and the final agreed order for uncontested divorces. Contested cases may have motion filings and the judge's written decisions. This is a very different document from the Georgia DPH divorce certificate, which only confirms a divorce occurred in Georgia between 1952 and 1996 and has no case terms or filing details. For Coffee County divorces outside that date range or if you need the actual decree, the county clerk is your source. DPH is at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, (404) 657-2700, or dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords.
Coffee County Divorce Decree Fees
The Coffee County Clerk of Superior Court charges copy fees in line with Georgia's standard rate structure for court records. Plain copies are typically $0.50 to $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry the clerk's official seal and cost more. If you need a certified copy for a legal filing, a name change application, or to prove marital status to a government agency, request it specifically when you contact the clerk. The exact cost depends on the number of pages in the decree and whether certification is required.
For state-level verification of a divorce from 1952 to 1996, the DPH Vital Records office has a separate fee structure. Their service confirms a divorce occurred but does not provide decree terms. Visit dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords for details. For all other Coffee County divorce record needs, the county clerk in Douglas handles the request.
Georgia Divorce Law in Coffee County
The Georgia DPH Vital Records database at dph.georgia.gov maintains the state's divorce registration index from 1952 to 1996. The image below shows that resource as it appears to users searching for statewide records.
Georgia law applies uniformly across all 159 counties. The Superior Court holds jurisdiction 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.
Georgia recognizes 13 grounds for divorce under OCGA 19-5-3. The no-fault ground, that the marriage is irretrievably broken, is the most commonly used in Coffee County and statewide. After service on the respondent, a 30-day waiting period must pass before the judge can sign the final decree. Free divorce forms for self-represented filers are available at the Georgia Courts self-help portal.
Public Access to Coffee County Divorce Records
The Georgia Open Records Act makes divorce decree records in Coffee County available to the public. Any person can submit a request to the Coffee County Clerk of Superior Court without being a party to the case. No legal interest or stated reason is required. The clerk must respond and provide copies for the applicable fee.
Limited exceptions apply. Courts can seal records when disclosure would harm minor children or when both parties request sealing and the court finds good cause. Sealed records are not available without a court order. This is uncommon in routine Coffee County divorce cases. Most divorce decrees are publicly accessible through a standard request. If you are not sure whether a specific record is sealed, call the clerk's office before visiting or submitting a formal request.
Note: If your search involves a common surname, bringing additional identifying information, such as a date of birth or former address, helps staff locate the correct case faster.
Legal Help for Coffee County Divorce
Georgia Legal Services Program provides free civil legal assistance to qualifying low-income Georgians. Coffee County residents can apply for help with divorce, custody, and support matters. Apply by phone or online. Eligibility is based on income and household size.
Georgia Legal Aid has free online tools and plain-language guides for people handling Georgia divorces without an attorney. For uncontested cases in Coffee County, these resources can walk you through the filing steps. For contested matters or complex cases, the State Bar of Georgia offers a lawyer referral service to connect you with a licensed family law attorney. The Georgia Courts website provides contact and filing information for the Coffee County Superior Court in Douglas.