Access Johnson County Divorce Decree Records
Johnson County divorce decree records are filed and maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court in Wrightsville, Georgia, and are available to the public under the Georgia Open Records Act. If you need a certified copy of a final divorce decree, want to search a case by name, or need documentation that a divorce was finalized in Johnson County, the clerk's office in Wrightsville is where you start. This page covers how to request those records, what they contain, what fees apply, and how Georgia law governs divorce cases in this county.
Johnson County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Johnson County Divorce Decrees
The Johnson County Clerk of Superior Court is the official keeper of all divorce decree records in the county. The office is at 2557 E. Elm Street, Wrightsville, GA 31096, and can be reached by phone at (478) 864-3484. The Johnson County website may have current hours and additional contact information. Visiting the Wrightsville courthouse in person is the most direct way to get a certified copy of a divorce decree.
When you come in, bring the full legal names of both spouses and the year of the divorce. A case number speeds up the search, but the clerk can locate records by name if you do not have one. Photo ID is standard. For those who cannot make an in-person visit, the clerk accepts written mail requests. Write to 2557 E. Elm Street, Wrightsville, GA 31096. Include a description of the record you need, your contact information, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call ahead to confirm current fees and payment requirements. Certified copies carry an official seal and cost more than plain photocopies. The total depends on how many pages are in the file.
Johnson County is a small, rural county. Calling before your visit is always a good idea to confirm hours and prepare the office for your request. Mail requests can take longer to process than in-person visits, so plan ahead if you are working toward a deadline.
For general guidance on how Superior Court records work in Georgia, the Georgia Courts website is a useful resource. The same records structure applies in Johnson County as across all 159 Georgia counties.
What Johnson County Divorce Records Contain
The complete case file at the Johnson County clerk's office includes all documents filed from the opening of the case through the entry of the final order. That covers the original petition for divorce, any response from the other spouse, temporary orders issued while the case was pending, financial affidavits, consent agreements, and the final signed decree. Each file is indexed under the case number assigned at the time of filing.
The final decree is the most requested document. It is the court's official order dissolving the marriage, signed by the Superior Court judge. It names both parties and states the exact date the marriage ended. Property division, debt allocation, spousal support, child custody, and child support are all reflected in the decree or in attached orders when those issues were part of the case. Name restoration, if requested, appears in the decree as well. These details are part of the public record in most cases. A court order is required to seal any portion of the file, and sealing does not happen automatically.
For verification of divorces finalized between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health Vital Records office maintains a statewide index. Their address is 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700. They can confirm that a divorce occurred during that period but cannot provide the actual decree. For the document itself or for divorces outside that date range, the Johnson County clerk is the right contact.
The Georgia Courts portal provides statewide guidance on Superior Court operations, including how to file for divorce and access public court records across all 159 Georgia counties.
Georgia Courts offers self-help forms, court location information, and filing guides for residents of Johnson County and all other Georgia counties navigating divorce records or new case filings.
Johnson County Divorce Decree Fees
The clerk's office charges fees for locating and reproducing court records. Certified copies are more expensive than plain photocopies because of the official seal and signature attached to them. The total depends on how many pages are in the file. Call (478) 864-3484 before visiting or mailing to confirm current pricing and acceptable payment methods.
Filing a new divorce case in Johnson County requires paying a Superior Court filing fee at the time of submission. Georgia divorce filing fees generally run a few hundred dollars depending on the case type. If cost presents a hardship, Georgia courts allow petitioners to submit a Pauper's Affidavit, a sworn statement of financial circumstances. If the court approves it, fees may be reduced or waived. Ask the clerk's office how to request one. Free, court-approved divorce forms are available through the Georgia Courts self-help page. Using the right forms from the start prevents unnecessary delays at the filing counter.
Georgia Divorce Law in Johnson County
Georgia's divorce laws apply the same way in Johnson County as everywhere in the state. The first step is satisfying the residency requirement. Under OCGA 19-5-2, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months before filing. Johnson County Superior Court has jurisdiction when the petitioning spouse has established residency here for that period. The six months must pass before the petition is filed, not before the case concludes.
Georgia recognizes 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 Johnson County as it is throughout Georgia. It requires no proof of misconduct by either party. Fault grounds like adultery, desertion, and cruel treatment are legally available and can factor into property and support decisions, but they add legal complexity. Most uncontested cases use the no-fault ground because it is simpler and faster.
After filing and service, Georgia imposes a mandatory 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 governs what a petition must contain and how the proceedings work. Uncontested cases in Johnson County with all issues agreed upon and correct paperwork can finalize fairly quickly after that 30-day window closes.
Public Access to Johnson 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 at the Johnson County Clerk of Superior Court are public records. Anyone can request access. You do not have to be a party to the case.
Limited exceptions exist. Records involving minor children may be partially sealed by court order. Some financial exhibits may also carry access restrictions. But in the absence of a sealing order, Johnson County divorce records are open. Contact the clerk at (478) 864-3484 to ask what remote or mail-based options exist for searching and copying records without making a trip to Wrightsville.
Legal Help in Johnson County
Simple uncontested divorces can be handled without an attorney, particularly with the free forms and guides available through the Georgia Courts site. When there are disputes over property, children, or support, professional help can prevent costly errors.
The State Bar of Georgia operates a referral service that can connect you with a family law attorney who handles Johnson County cases. For residents who cannot afford private fees, Georgia Legal Services Program serves rural Georgia counties and may be able to assist qualifying Johnson County residents. Georgia Legal Aid accepts online applications for family law matters. Income limits apply to both. Ask the Johnson County clerk's office if any self-help materials are available at the Wrightsville courthouse for those representing themselves.