Dodge County Divorce Records
Dodge County divorce decree records are filed with and maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court in Eastman, Georgia. The clerk's office is the official source for certified copies of divorce decrees and case files in Dodge County. Under Georgia's open records law, most divorce records are available to the public. This page explains how to get Dodge County divorce records, what they include, what fees apply, and how to find legal help if you need it.
Dodge County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Divorce Decrees in Dodge County
The Dodge County Clerk of Superior Court handles all divorce records for the county. The office is at 5401 Anson Avenue, Eastman, GA 31023. Call (478) 374-2871 to confirm current hours and ask about fees before making the trip to Eastman. The Dodge County government website may have additional information on clerk services. Visiting in person is the most reliable way to get a certified copy of a divorce decree in Dodge County.
Bring as much information as you can when you visit the clerk's office. Full legal names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce are the most useful details. A case number, if you have one, will speed up the search. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff can search by name or case number and pull the file if it is stored on-site. For older records that may have been archived, ask the clerk in advance whether retrieval from storage takes extra time.
Mail requests are accepted at the Eastman address. Include all the case details you have, your contact information, and the correct fee. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of documents. Mail processing takes longer than in-person visits, so plan ahead if you need the record by a specific date. Calling ahead to confirm the fee amount before mailing payment avoids delays.
What Dodge County Divorce Records Contain
A Dodge County divorce decree is the Superior Court's final order ending a marriage. It identifies both parties by their full legal names, states the date the divorce was granted, and carries the judge's signature. All terms of the divorce are spelled out in the decree. These include how property and debts were divided, whether spousal support was ordered and in what amount, and, in cases involving children, custody arrangements, visitation terms, and child support obligations.
The decree is the most important document you walk away with from a divorce case. You will need a certified copy to remarry in Georgia or another state. Government agencies including Social Security, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and passport offices may require it. Courts use it to enforce any support or custody terms if one party does not comply. Keep at least one certified copy in a safe place. Getting extra copies at the time of the original request is easier and cheaper than going back for more later.
Beyond the final decree, the Dodge County case file may include the original divorce petition, financial disclosure documents, any motions filed, court orders issued during the case, and the final settlement agreement if there was one. These are generally public records. Some attachments may be restricted if the court ordered sealing, particularly financial records or documents related to minor children. Note: Ask the clerk whether any portion of the file you need is under a court seal before submitting your request.
Dodge County Divorce Record Fees
Copy fees for divorce records in Dodge County are set by the clerk's office and can change over time. Call (478) 374-2871 for current rates before your visit. Certified copies carry a higher fee per page than plain photocopies. The total cost depends on how many pages the decree and attached orders run. For most decrees, the cost is a manageable amount, but ask upfront if the file is lengthy.
When a divorce case is first filed in Dodge County Superior Court, a filing fee is charged. This fee is separate from the record copy fees paid when requesting documents later. If financial hardship is a concern, the clerk can tell you whether fee waiver options are available and what documentation is required. Georgia courts allow fee waivers in certain circumstances for qualifying individuals.
Note: Most Dodge County clerk offices accept cash, check, or money order for payments. Confirm accepted payment methods before visiting.
Georgia Divorce Laws That Apply in Dodge County
Georgia state law governs all divorces filed in Dodge County. The legal authority for divorce in Georgia flows from OCGA 19-5-1. Georgia recognizes both no-fault and fault-based divorce. The no-fault ground, irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, is the most common and does not require proof of wrongdoing by either party. Fault-based grounds listed in OCGA 19-5-3 include adultery, desertion, cruel treatment, habitual intoxication, and several others. Most people in Dodge County file using the no-fault approach.
At least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for a minimum of six months before the divorce petition can be filed, as required by OCGA 19-5-2. Once the case is filed in Dodge County Superior Court, a 30-day waiting period applies before the court can finalize the divorce. This period allows both parties to respond and lets the court confirm all requirements are met. If both spouses agree on all terms, the case can often wrap up at a brief hearing with no contested trial needed.
Once the decree is filed in Dodge County, it becomes a public record under the Georgia Open Records Act. Courts can seal specific documents, but open access is the default. Dodge County Superior Court follows Georgia open records law just like every other county.
Public Access to Dodge County Divorce Decree Records
Dodge County divorce decree records are public. Anyone can walk into the Clerk of Superior Court in Eastman, provide the names of the parties and the approximate date, pay the copy fee, and receive a certified copy if the record is available on-site. You do not need to be a party to the case to get access. This direct contact with the clerk's office is your most reliable option for Dodge County divorce records.
The Georgia Department of Public Health at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700, maintains divorce verification records for the state from 1952 through 1996. These are limited verification records, not complete decrees. For the full divorce record from Dodge County, the county clerk is the only source. The state DPH records can confirm a divorce happened, but for legal copies you need to contact the Eastman clerk's office directly.
Online access to Dodge County divorce records is very limited. The county does not currently offer a public-facing online case search portal for divorce records. In-person or mail contact with the clerk at 5401 Anson Avenue in Eastman is the standard approach. The Georgia Courts website has general information about Superior Court procedures across the state.
The image below is from the Georgia Department of Public Health vital records database, one secondary source for confirming divorce records in Georgia.
The Georgia DPH Vital Records office handles state-level divorce verifications for 1952 through 1996, while the Dodge County clerk handles all county-level decree copies.
For Dodge County divorce decrees outside the 1952-1996 state verification range, or for certified copies in general, contact the Clerk of Superior Court in Eastman directly.
Legal Help for Divorce in Dodge County
Georgia Legal Aid provides free legal services to qualifying residents of Dodge County and can help with divorce filings, procedures, and legal rights. Georgia Legal Services Program also serves rural middle Georgia counties and may offer assistance for eligible clients. For those who need a private attorney, the State Bar of Georgia runs a lawyer referral service to help you find someone with family law experience in the Eastman area.
Uncontested divorces where both parties agree on all terms can often be handled with self-help forms from the Georgia Courts self-help portal. These are designed for people who represent themselves. If your case involves contested property, child custody, or any fault-based grounds, consulting with an attorney before filing is strongly recommended.