Greene County Divorce Decree Records
Greene County divorce decree records are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court in Greensboro, Georgia, and are open to the public under the Georgia Open Records Act. Anyone who needs a certified copy of a divorce decree, wants to look up a case by name, or needs documentation that a divorce was finalized in Greene County can contact the clerk's office directly. This page explains how to request those records, what they contain, what fees to expect, and how Georgia law applies to divorce cases filed in Greene County.
Greene County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Greene County Divorce Decrees
The Greene County Clerk of Superior Court is the official office for all divorce decree records in the county. You will find the office at 113 N. Main Street, Greensboro, GA 30642. The phone number is (706) 453-3340. The Greene County website may have current hours and any changes to services. In-person visits are the most direct way to request a certified copy of a divorce decree.
When you arrive, bring the full names of both spouses and the year the divorce was filed or finalized. A case number helps clerks locate the record faster, but it is not required if you have the names. Photo ID is expected for most records requests. If you cannot visit in person, the clerk accepts written requests. Mail to 113 N. Main Street, Greensboro, GA 30642, include a description of what you need, your contact details, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call ahead to confirm current fees and whether payment must accompany the request. Certified and plain copies are priced differently, and the fee depends on page count.
The Georgia Courts website is a good resource for understanding how Superior Court cases are filed and organized in Georgia. Divorce is handled as a civil matter, so the same general rules apply across the state, including Greene County.
What Greene Divorce Records Contain
The full case file for a Greene County divorce is stored at the clerk's office and includes every document submitted from the opening petition through the final decree. That means the original petition, the other spouse's response if one was filed, any temporary orders, financial disclosures, consent agreements, and the final signed order. Each file is indexed under its assigned case number and can be retrieved by name or number.
The final decree is what most people need. It carries the judge's signature and the official dissolution date. It covers all terms the court resolved or the parties agreed to: division of property and debts, spousal support, and, if there were minor children, custody and child support. If one spouse asked to resume a prior name, that is in the decree too. All of these details are part of the public record in the absence of a specific court order sealing them. Sealing is the exception, not the rule, and requires active legal action to restrict access.
The Greene County Clerk of Superior Court in Greensboro is the official records office for divorce decrees, certified copies, and full case files for all divorces filed in the county.
The Greene County courthouse in Greensboro houses Superior Court operations and stores divorce case records accessible to the public under the Georgia Open Records Act.
For divorces finalized between 1952 and 1996, you can also check with the Georgia Department of Public Health Vital Records office, which keeps a statewide verification index for that period. The address is 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, and the phone is (404) 657-2700. They can confirm whether a divorce occurred in Georgia during that window but cannot provide a certified copy of the actual decree. For that, and for divorces outside the 1952-1996 range, the Greene County clerk is the right place to go.
Greene County Divorce Decree Fees
Fees at the clerk's office cover the cost of pulling and copying court records. Certified copies require an official seal and signature, so they cost more than plain photocopies. The exact fee depends on page count. Call (706) 453-3340 before your visit to confirm current rates. Having a case number in hand helps you estimate the total before you arrive.
Filing a new divorce case in Greene County involves a filing fee paid to the clerk at submission. Georgia Superior Court filing fees for divorce cases generally run a few hundred dollars depending on the type of filing and any additional motions. Financial hardship is not a reason to forgo filing. Georgia courts allow petitioners to submit a Pauper's Affidavit, which is a formal sworn statement of financial need. If the court approves it, fees can be reduced or waived. Ask the clerk to explain how to request a fee waiver when you contact the office. Free, court-approved divorce forms are available at the Georgia Courts self-help page.
Georgia Divorce Law and Greene County Cases
Georgia's divorce statutes apply uniformly across all counties. Before filing in Greene County, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for a full six months. This requirement comes from OCGA 19-5-2. Greene County Superior Court has jurisdiction when the petitioner has established residency here and that six-month period has passed prior to filing.
Georgia recognizes thirteen grounds for divorce under OCGA 19-5-3. The no-fault ground, stating the marriage is "irretrievably broken," is by far the most common used across Georgia, including in Greene County. It requires no proof of wrongdoing by either party, which keeps the process simpler and shorter for most couples. Fault-based grounds like adultery, desertion, and cruel treatment exist but add legal complexity and are less frequently pursued. They can, however, influence how a judge handles property and support decisions.
Once the petition is filed and served on the other spouse, Georgia imposes a mandatory 30-day waiting period before the final decree can be entered. OCGA 19-5-1 sets the legal foundation for divorce in Georgia, and OCGA 19-5-5 governs what must be in a divorce petition and how the process unfolds in court. For uncontested cases where all issues are settled, Greene County Superior Court can finalize the divorce without a full hearing once that waiting period has passed.
Public Access to Greene Divorce Records
Georgia's Open Records Act (OCGA 50-18-70) entitles any member of the public to inspect and copy most government records. Divorce case files at the Greene County Clerk of Superior Court fall within this right. You do not have to be a party to the case to view the record or request copies.
There are narrow exceptions. Records involving minor children may be partially sealed by court order. Certain financial exhibits can be restricted as well. But absent a specific sealing order, Greene County divorce records are open to anyone who requests them. If you want to search from outside the area, contact the clerk's office at (706) 453-3340 to ask whether remote or phone-based search options are available. Not all smaller Georgia counties maintain online case search portals, so an in-person or mail request may be necessary.
Legal Help in Greene County
Simple uncontested divorces can be handled without an attorney, especially when both spouses agree on all terms and you use the free forms available through the Georgia Courts self-help page. When issues like children, property, or debt division are in dispute, legal help reduces the risk of errors that could affect the outcome.
The State Bar of Georgia provides a lawyer referral service for residents looking for a family law attorney. For those who cannot afford legal fees, Georgia Legal Services Program and Georgia Legal Aid both serve rural Georgia and may be able to assist qualifying Greene County residents. Income limits apply to both programs. The clerk's office in Greensboro can also direct you to self-help materials available at the courthouse for those handling their own cases.