DeKalb County Divorce Decree Search

DeKalb County divorce decree records are managed by the Clerk of Superior Court in Decatur, Georgia. The clerk's office is the official source for certified copies of divorce decrees and maintains all divorce case files for the county. Access to these public records is available to anyone under the Georgia Open Records Act. This guide explains how to search for and obtain DeKalb County divorce records, what the documents contain, fees to expect, and where to find legal assistance.

How to Get DeKalb County Divorce Decrees

The DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court maintains all Superior Court records and divorce decrees for the county. The office is at 556 N. McDonough Street, Decatur, GA 30030. Reach them by phone at (404) 371-2261 or visit the DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk website for more details on services, hours, and how to submit requests. The clerk's office manages a Civil and Family Division that handles divorce case files specifically, along with an Archive and Records Request section for older records.

DeKalb County offers an eCertification portal that allows you to request certified copies of divorce decrees online. This is one of the more convenient options in the metro Atlanta area. You can search for a case and request a certified electronic copy without visiting the courthouse. For those who prefer in-person service, the Decatur courthouse is the primary location. Bring the full names of both parties, the approximate year of the divorce, and a valid photo ID. A case number speeds up the search but is not required.

Mail requests are also accepted. Send your written request with case details and the required fee to the clerk's office at 556 N. McDonough Street. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of documents. Mail processing takes longer than in-person or online requests. The clerk's Civil and Family Division handles divorce record requests, so address your letter specifically to that department if you want to help route it correctly.

DeKalb County is a large, densely populated county. The clerk's office processes a high volume of requests. Using the eCertification portal when possible can save time. For archive requests involving very old records, contact the clerk in advance to confirm availability and estimated retrieval time.

What DeKalb County Divorce Records Contain

A DeKalb County divorce decree is the court's final binding order that ends a marriage. It lists both parties' legal names, the divorce date, the judge's signature, and all terms the court approved. Property division, debt allocation, spousal support, child custody, visitation rights, and child support terms all appear in the decree when they were part of the case. The decree is what both parties and the court rely on to understand their post-divorce obligations.

Certified copies of the divorce decree are regularly required for legal and personal matters. Remarriage in Georgia and most other states requires proof that a prior marriage ended legally. Government agencies, financial institutions, and courts all accept a certified copy from the DeKalb County clerk as proof of divorce. Name change requests, Social Security updates, and passport applications may all require a copy. Keep your original certified decree in a secure location and order extras if you anticipate needing them for multiple purposes.

The full case file at the DeKalb clerk's office includes more than the final decree. It may contain the original petition, discovery documents, financial affidavits, motions, court orders issued during the case, and any settlement agreements. Most documents are public. Some financial records or documents related to minor children may be restricted if the court issued a sealing order. Note: Superior Court Rule 22 in DeKalb County may apply to specific records requests, so ask the clerk if any restrictions affect the file you need.

DeKalb County Divorce Record Fees

Fees for divorce decree copies in DeKalb County are set by the clerk's office. Call (404) 371-2261 or check the clerk's website for the current fee schedule before you request a copy. Certified copies cost more than plain photocopies. For uncertified copies, fees typically run a set amount per page. Certified copies add a certification fee on top of the per-page cost. The total depends on how many pages the decree and any attached orders span.

When a divorce case is first opened in DeKalb County Superior Court, a filing fee is charged. This is separate from the copy fees paid when requesting records later. DeKalb County may have its own fee schedule that differs from the state base rate. The clerk can give you current figures for both filing and copy fees. If you are using the online eCertification portal, fees for electronic certified copies may differ from paper copy fees.

Note: DeKalb County clerk's office generally accepts multiple payment methods. Check the current accepted payment types on the clerk's website or by calling before your visit.

Georgia Divorce Laws in DeKalb County

All divorces in DeKalb County follow Georgia state law. Under OCGA 19-5-1, Georgia courts are authorized to grant divorces on multiple grounds. No-fault divorce based on irretrievable breakdown of the marriage is the most common approach, and neither party has to prove fault for the court to grant it. Georgia's fault-based grounds under OCGA 19-5-3 include adultery, desertion, habitual intoxication, and cruel treatment, among others. Most DeKalb County couples use no-fault grounds.

Filing in DeKalb County requires that at least one spouse has lived in Georgia for six months before the petition is filed, as set out in OCGA 19-5-2. Once filed, a 30-day waiting period applies before the court can issue a final decree. This period allows both parties to respond and lets the court confirm that all legal requirements are satisfied. Contested cases involving property or custody disputes may take significantly longer.

DeKalb County Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over all divorce matters in the county. Once a divorce is granted and the decree is filed, it becomes part of the public court record. The Georgia Open Records Act ensures that public access to divorce records is the default, with narrow exceptions for sealed documents.

Public Access to DeKalb County Divorce Records

DeKalb County divorce records are public records under Georgia law. Any person can request a copy of a divorce decree from the Clerk of Superior Court, whether or not they were a party to the case. The clerk's office at 556 N. McDonough Street in Decatur is the primary access point. The eCertification portal on the clerk's website offers an online option for requesting certified copies without a courthouse visit.

The image below shows the DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk office, the official home of divorce decree records for the county.

The DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk website includes information about the eCertification portal, office hours, and how to submit records requests.

The DeKalb clerk's online portal allows residents and the public to search for divorce cases and request certified copies without visiting the Decatur courthouse in person.

The Georgia Department of Public Health holds divorce verification records from 1952 through 1996 at their office at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, reachable at (404) 657-2700. These are verifications only. For full decree copies, the DeKalb clerk is the source. The Georgia Courts website has general information about the Superior Court system that may help you understand how the process works before you submit a request.

Cities in DeKalb County with their own pages on this site include Stonecrest, Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Tucker, Chamblee, and Redan. All divorce cases for residents of these cities are handled by the DeKalb County Superior Court in Decatur.

Legal Help for Divorce in DeKalb County

DeKalb County residents have access to several legal resources for divorce. Georgia Legal Aid provides free services to qualifying low-income individuals and can assist with divorce filings and court procedures. Georgia Legal Services Program also serves the area. The State Bar of Georgia offers a lawyer referral service for those who need a private attorney experienced in DeKalb County family law matters.

For uncontested divorces where both parties agree on all terms, self-help forms are available through the Georgia Courts self-help portal. These forms are designed for people who handle their own case without a lawyer. Given the complexity of many DeKalb County cases, which may involve significant assets, children, or contested issues, legal advice from a licensed attorney is strongly recommended before filing.

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