Evans County Divorce Records
Evans County divorce decree records are filed with and maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court in Claxton, Georgia. The clerk's office serves as the official keeper of divorce case files and decrees for the county. Under Georgia's open records law, most divorce records are available to the public, and anyone can request a copy. This guide covers how to get Evans County divorce records, what they contain, what fees to expect, and where to find legal help.
Evans County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Evans County Divorce Decrees
The Evans County Clerk of Superior Court manages all divorce records for the county. The office is at 3 W. Main Street, Claxton, GA 30417. Call (912) 739-3868 to confirm current hours and ask about fees before making the trip to Claxton. The Evans County government website may have additional clerk contact information. Visiting the courthouse in Claxton in person is the most direct way to get a certified copy of a divorce decree in Evans County.
Bring the full legal names of both parties and the approximate year the divorce was filed when you visit. A case number helps staff find the record faster. Bring a valid photo ID. The clerk can search by name or case number. Evans County is a small county in southeast Georgia, so the clerk's office staff is limited. Calling ahead before your visit ensures the office is open and that staff can assist you when you arrive.
Mail requests are accepted at 3 W. Main Street. Write a clear request with all case details, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment for the copy fee. Confirm the fee by phone first, as amounts can change. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits. For older records that may have been archived, ask the clerk in advance whether retrieval takes extra time.
What Evans County Divorce Records Contain
An Evans County divorce decree is the Superior Court's final order ending a marriage. It identifies both parties by full legal name, states the date of the divorce, and carries the judge's signature. All terms approved by the court appear in the decree. These may include property division, debt allocation, spousal support, child custody arrangements, visitation terms, and child support amounts when those matters were part of the case. The decree is the binding document that governs both parties' post-divorce obligations.
Certified copies of the divorce decree serve many purposes after the marriage ends. You need one to remarry in Georgia. Government agencies, courts, and financial institutions use certified copies as legal proof of divorce. Name change requests at state agencies commonly require it. Keep your certified copy in a safe place and request extra copies while you are at the clerk's office to avoid a return trip to Claxton.
The full case file at the Evans County clerk's office includes the original petition, financial documents, motions, court orders, and any settlement agreement. These are generally public. Some documents may be restricted by court order. Note: Ask the clerk whether any portion of the file you need is sealed before making a full case request.
Evans County Divorce Record Fees
Copy fees for divorce records in Evans County are set by the clerk's office and can change. Call (912) 739-3868 before your visit to get the current rate. Certified copies cost more than plain photocopies. The total depends on how many pages the decree spans. Georgia county clerks typically charge a few dollars per page for certified copies, but Evans County may have a specific rate. Ask the clerk for an estimate when you call.
A filing fee is charged when a divorce case is first opened in Evans County Superior Court. This is separate from copy fees paid later when requesting records. If cost is a concern, ask the clerk whether fee waivers are available and what documentation is required. Georgia courts can waive fees for qualifying individuals facing financial hardship.
Note: Evans County clerk's office typically accepts cash, check, or money order. Confirm accepted payment types before visiting, as credit card processing may not be available.
Georgia Divorce Laws in Evans County
All Evans County divorces are governed by Georgia state law. Under OCGA 19-5-1, Georgia courts can grant divorces on multiple grounds. The most common is the no-fault ground of irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. Neither party has to prove wrongdoing to use this ground. Fault-based grounds under OCGA 19-5-3 include adultery, desertion, cruel treatment, and habitual intoxication. Most Evans County couples file on no-fault grounds.
At least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for a minimum of six months before filing for divorce, as required by OCGA 19-5-2. After the petition is filed in Evans County Superior Court, a 30-day waiting period applies before the court can issue the final decree. If both spouses agree on all terms, the case can often be resolved at a brief uncontested hearing. Evans County Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over divorce matters in the county.
Once the divorce decree is issued and filed, it becomes a public record under the Georgia Open Records Act. Open access is the default in Georgia. Courts can seal specific records by order, but that is not common for standard divorce decrees.
Public Access to Evans County Divorce Decree Records
Evans County divorce records are public under Georgia law. Any person can request a divorce decree from the Clerk of Superior Court in Claxton. You do not need to be a party to the case. Visit 3 W. Main Street, provide the party names and approximate filing date, pay the fee, and you can receive a certified copy if the record is on-site.
For state-level divorce verifications from 1952 to 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700, maintains a separate database. These records verify a divorce occurred but do not include the full decree. For complete certified copies of Evans County divorce decrees, the county clerk is the source. The Georgia Courts website has general information about Superior Court procedures statewide.
Evans County does not offer an online public portal for searching divorce records. In-person or mail contact with the clerk in Claxton is the standard approach. The image below shows the Georgia DPH vital records office, a secondary option for confirming historical divorce records in Georgia.
For state verifications, visit Georgia DPH Vital Records. For certified decree copies from Evans County, contact the clerk in Claxton.
For all Evans County divorce decree copies, contact the Clerk of Superior Court at 3 W. Main Street in Claxton, Georgia.
Legal Help for Divorce in Evans County
Georgia Legal Aid provides free legal services to qualifying Evans County residents and can help with divorce filings and court procedures. Georgia Legal Services Program also serves southeast Georgia counties and may assist eligible clients. The State Bar of Georgia lawyer referral service can help you find a private family law attorney in the Claxton or Savannah area if needed.
Self-help divorce forms for uncontested cases are available through the Georgia Courts self-help portal. For contested cases involving property, children, or fault grounds, consulting an attorney before filing is strongly recommended. The Evans County clerk can tell you which local forms to file but cannot provide legal advice.