Jeff Davis County Divorce Decree Records
Jeff Davis County divorce decree records are on file at the Clerk of Superior Court in Hazlehurst, Georgia, and are open to the public under the Georgia Open Records Act. If you need a certified copy of a final divorce decree, want to confirm that a case was filed in Jeff Davis County, or need to search by name, the clerk's office in Hazlehurst is the right starting point. This page explains how to access those records, what they contain, what fees apply, and how Georgia law governs divorce proceedings in this county.
Jeff Davis County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Jeff Davis County Divorce Decrees
The Jeff Davis County Clerk of Superior Court handles all official divorce decree records for the county. The office is at 14 Jeff Davis Street, Hazlehurst, GA 31539. Phone: (912) 375-6610. The Jeff Davis County website may have current hours and additional contact details. In-person visits are the most direct way to get a certified copy on the same day.
Bring the full legal names of both spouses and the year of the divorce when you visit. A case number is helpful but not required. Photo ID is standard for records requests. If you cannot visit in person, written mail requests are accepted. Write to the clerk at 14 Jeff Davis Street, Hazlehurst, GA 31539. Describe what you need, include your contact information and a self-addressed stamped envelope, and call ahead to confirm current fees. Certified copies require an official seal and cost more than plain photocopies. The total depends on the page count of the file.
Jeff Davis County is a smaller, rural county in southeast Georgia. Staff may be limited, so a quick call before your visit or mailing is always worthwhile. It lets the office know what you are looking for and can save you time.
The Georgia Courts website provides background on how Superior Court cases, including divorce filings, are handled and stored across all Georgia counties. The same records rules apply in Jeff Davis County.
What Jeff Davis County Divorce Records Contain
The complete case file at the Jeff Davis County clerk's office includes all documents filed from the opening of the divorce case through the entry of the final order. That covers the original petition, any response from the other spouse, temporary orders entered during the case, financial affidavits, consent agreements, and the final signed decree. Each file is stored under the case number assigned at the time of filing.
The final decree is what most people need. It is the court's official order ending the marriage, signed by the Superior Court judge, and it includes the exact dissolution date. Property division, debt allocation, spousal support, child custody, and child support all appear in the decree or attached orders when those were issues in the case. Name restoration requests are noted in the decree as well. All of this is part of the public record in most cases. Sealing any portion requires a specific court order and does not happen automatically in Georgia.
For basic verification of divorces finalized between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health Vital Records office keeps a statewide index. Contact them at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, or call (404) 657-2700. They can confirm that a divorce took place in Georgia during that window but cannot provide a copy of the decree. For the actual document, or for divorces outside that date range, the Jeff Davis County clerk is the official source.
The Georgia Courts portal offers statewide information on Superior Court operations, filing requirements, and how to access public divorce decree records across all 159 Georgia counties.
Georgia Courts provides self-help forms, court location information, and filing guides useful to residents of Jeff Davis County and other rural Georgia counties seeking divorce records or filing a new case.
Jeff Davis County Divorce Decree Fees
Copy fees at the clerk's office cover the work of locating and reproducing records. Certified copies carry an official seal and cost more than plain photocopies. The exact amount depends on the page count of the file. Call (912) 375-6610 before your visit or mail request to confirm current pricing and what payment methods are accepted.
Filing a new divorce case in Jeff Davis County requires paying a Superior Court filing fee at submission. Georgia divorce filing fees generally run a few hundred dollars. If paying that fee is a financial hardship, Georgia courts allow petitioners to file a Pauper's Affidavit, a sworn statement of financial circumstances. If the court approves it, fees may be waived or reduced. The clerk can explain how to request one. Free, court-approved divorce forms are available through the Georgia Courts self-help page. Starting with the right forms avoids rejections at the counter and speeds up processing.
Georgia Divorce Law in Jeff Davis County
Georgia's divorce statutes apply uniformly in Jeff Davis County. Residency is the first requirement. Under OCGA 19-5-2, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months before filing. Jeff Davis County Superior Court has jurisdiction when the petitioning spouse has established residency here for that period before filing the petition.
Georgia allows thirteen grounds for divorce under OCGA 19-5-3. The no-fault ground, that the marriage is "irretrievably broken," is the most commonly used in Jeff Davis County as it is throughout Georgia. It requires no proof of misconduct by either party. Fault grounds like adultery, desertion, and cruel treatment are available but add legal complexity and time to the proceedings. They can factor into how courts decide property and support, but most couples pursuing an uncontested divorce use the no-fault approach because it is simpler and faster.
After the petition is filed and served, Georgia mandates a 30-day waiting period before the court can enter a final decree. OCGA 19-5-1 defines divorce under Georgia law, and OCGA 19-5-5 sets out what a petition must include and how proceedings are conducted. Uncontested cases with all issues settled and complete paperwork can finalize in Jeff Davis County Superior Court fairly quickly once that 30-day window has passed.
Public Access to Jeff Davis Divorce Records
Georgia's Open Records Act (OCGA 50-18-70) gives any member of the public the right to inspect and copy most government records. Divorce case files held by the Jeff Davis County Clerk of Superior Court are public records. You do not need to be a party to the case to request access or copies.
Limited exceptions apply. Records involving minor children can be partially sealed by court order. Certain financial exhibits may also carry access restrictions. But absent a sealing order, Jeff Davis County divorce records are open. If you want to search from outside the area, call the clerk at (912) 375-6610 to ask what remote or mail-based options exist for requesting records.
Legal Help in Jeff Davis County
Straightforward uncontested divorces can be filed without an attorney, especially using the free forms from the Georgia Courts site. When disputes exist over property, children, or support, legal help reduces the risk of costly mistakes.
The State Bar of Georgia runs a referral service that can connect residents with family law attorneys in southeast Georgia. For those who cannot afford private fees, Georgia Legal Services Program serves rural Georgia including this area and may assist qualifying Jeff Davis County residents. Georgia Legal Aid accepts online applications for family law matters. Both programs have income limits. Ask the Jeff Davis County clerk's office whether any self-help materials are available at the Hazlehurst courthouse for self-represented parties.