Find Colquitt County Divorce Decrees
Colquitt County divorce decree records are held at the Clerk of Superior Court in Moultrie, Georgia. The clerk's office is the official source for all divorce case filings in Colquitt County, and records are publicly accessible under the Georgia Open Records Act. This page explains how to request a Colquitt County divorce decree, what case files contain, the applicable fees, how Georgia law governs these cases, and where residents can find legal help.
Colquitt County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Colquitt County Divorce Decree Records
The Colquitt County Clerk of Superior Court is at 101 S. Main Street, Moultrie, GA 31768. Call the office at (229) 616-7420 for current hours, search procedures, and fee information. The Colquitt County government website has additional contact details for the court. Visiting the Moultrie courthouse in person is the most direct way to request a certified copy of a divorce decree. Staff can usually search for a case on the same visit if you have sufficient information to identify it.
Bring the full legal names of both parties and the approximate year of filing. A case number helps. Bring valid photo ID. For mail requests, write to the clerk with the case details, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and confirm payment method before including any payment. Colquitt County serves as a regional hub for southwest Georgia, and the clerk's office handles records requests for both local residents and people searching from out of the area.
Note: Call before visiting to confirm current office hours and whether walk-in requests are processed immediately or require an appointment.
What Colquitt County Divorce Records Include
A divorce decree from the Colquitt County Superior Court is the court's final legally binding order ending a marriage. The decree spells out every term the court resolved: how property and debts are divided, whether alimony applies and for how long, and the child custody and visitation schedule if children are involved. Once signed by the judge and filed with the clerk, the decree is enforceable. Either party can go back to court to enforce its terms.
The full case file at the Colquitt County clerk includes the original divorce petition, proof of service on the respondent, financial affidavits, temporary orders if any were entered, and the final settlement agreement for uncontested cases. Contested cases will have more filings, including motions and the court's written decisions. This is entirely different from the short certificate the Georgia DPH issues. That document only confirms a divorce was registered in Georgia between 1952 and 1996 and contains no case terms. For Colquitt County decrees or cases outside the DPH window, the county clerk is your source. DPH is at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, (404) 657-2700, or at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords.
Colquitt County Divorce Decree Fees
The Colquitt County Clerk of Superior Court, accessible through the county website, manages all local court filings and records requests. The image below shows the public-facing portal for the county's court records system.
Copy fees at the Colquitt County Clerk of Superior Court follow Georgia's standard rate structure. Plain copies typically run $0.50 to $1.00 per page. Certified copies, which carry the clerk's official seal, cost more and are required for most legal purposes. Ask staff for the current fee schedule when you call (229) 616-7420 or visit the Moultrie courthouse. Always confirm the fee before sending payment for a mail request.
The Georgia DPH Vital Records office handles divorce verification for the 1952-1996 period at a separate cost from county court records. Their service at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords explains the request process and what the verification covers.
Georgia Divorce Law and Colquitt County
Georgia law governs every divorce case filed in Colquitt County. The Superior Court holds jurisdiction under OCGA 19-5-1. Before filing, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six continuous months, per OCGA 19-5-2. The petition is filed in the county of residence of either spouse.
Under OCGA 19-5-3, Georgia recognizes 13 grounds for divorce. The no-fault ground, that the marriage is irretrievably broken, is the most common in Colquitt County. No proof of wrongdoing is required. After service on the respondent, a 30-day waiting period applies before the final decree can be entered. This applies even in fully uncontested cases. Self-represented filers can access free forms at the Georgia Courts self-help portal.
The Georgia Open Records Act makes Colquitt County divorce decree records publicly accessible upon a standard request to the clerk's office.
Public Access to Colquitt County Divorce Decrees
Colquitt County divorce records are public under the Georgia Open Records Act. Any person can request a copy from the clerk's office. You do not need a legal relationship to the parties or a stated reason. The clerk is required to respond to requests and provide copies for the applicable fee.
Courts can seal records in limited cases, typically to protect minor children or when both parties jointly request sealing and the court finds good cause. Sealed records are not accessible without a court order. This is uncommon in standard Colquitt County divorce cases. Most files can be obtained through a routine request at the Moultrie courthouse or by mail.
Note: If you are searching for a record involving parties with very common names, bring additional identifying details to help the clerk distinguish between cases with similar names.
Legal Help for Colquitt County Divorce Cases
Georgia Legal Services Program serves Colquitt County and covers southwest Georgia with free legal assistance for qualifying low-income residents. Family law matters including divorce, custody, and support cases fall within their service. Apply by phone or online to check eligibility based on income and household size.
Georgia Legal Aid offers free online resources and plain-language guides for people handling their own Georgia divorce. Uncontested cases where both parties agree on all terms can often be completed using the self-help tools without hiring an attorney. For contested matters or cases involving significant disputes over property or children, the State Bar of Georgia offers a lawyer referral service to connect you with a licensed family law attorney in the area. The Georgia Courts website has contact and filing information for the Colquitt County Superior Court in Moultrie.