Lamar County Divorce Decree Records
Divorce decree records in Lamar County are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court in Barnesville, Georgia. The clerk's office is the primary source for certified copies of final divorce orders, full case files, and any documents submitted during a divorce proceeding. These records are public under Georgia law, and most people can access them without showing a special reason or connection to the case. This page covers how to request records, what those records contain, the fees involved, and where to find legal help if you need it in Lamar County.
Lamar County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Lamar County Divorce Decrees
The Lamar County Clerk of Superior Court is located at 326 Thomaston Street, Barnesville, GA 30204. You can reach the office by phone at (770) 358-5155. Their official website lists department contacts and may have updated hours. Visiting in person is the most direct way to request a certified copy of a divorce decree in Lamar County. Staff can search records by party name or case number on the spot.
When you go to the clerk's office, bring a photo ID and as much case information as you have. Full names of both parties and an approximate year of the divorce will speed up the search. If you know the case number, that makes things even faster. For mail requests, send a written request to the clerk's office at the address above. Include your contact information, the names involved, the approximate year, and a check or money order for the applicable copy fees. Ask about the current fee schedule when you call, since rates can change.
Note: Call the clerk's office before making the trip to confirm hours, since holiday schedules and staffing can affect availability.
What Lamar County Divorce Records Contain
A divorce decree is the court's final signed order ending a marriage. It lays out all the terms the judge approved, including how property and debts are divided, whether either spouse will pay or receive alimony, and custody and support arrangements if children are part of the case. The full case file at the Lamar County Clerk of Superior Court also holds the original petition, any answers filed by the other party, motions, financial affidavits, and temporary orders issued during the case.
There is an important distinction worth knowing. A divorce decree is not the same as a divorce certificate. The decree is the complete court order with all the case details. The certificate is a short summary document issued by the Georgia Department of Public Health that only confirms the divorce took place. If you need to prove the actual terms of a divorce, such as which party got the house or what the custody schedule says, you need the decree from the Lamar County courthouse. The DPH certificate will not show those details. The Georgia DPH Vital Records office at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700, keeps a statewide verification index covering divorces from 1952 to 1996. Outside that range, the county clerk is the only source.
Note: Parts of a divorce case file may be sealed, especially sections involving minors or sensitive financial disclosures ordered protected by the court.
Lamar County Divorce Decree Fees
Copy fees at the Lamar County Clerk of Superior Court generally fall in line with Georgia's standard court fee ranges. Plain copies typically run between $0.50 and $1.00 per page. Certified copies, which carry the clerk's official seal and signature, cost more and are required when you need the document for legal use, such as filing with another court, a government agency, or a financial institution. Always ask whether you need a certified or plain copy before you pay, since the price difference matters.
If you are looking for older records and only need to confirm a divorce happened rather than get the full decree, the Georgia Department of Public Health offers a verification service through their Vital Records office. This service covers divorces recorded statewide between 1952 and 1996. Contact DPH at (404) 657-2700 for fee and submission details. For anything outside that date range, the Lamar County clerk's office is your only option.
Georgia Divorce Laws in Lamar County
State law governs how divorce works in every Georgia county, including Lamar. The rules start with residency. At least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months before filing, as spelled out in OCGA 19-5-2. You file in the county where you or your spouse currently resides, not where the marriage took place. Lamar County Superior Court has jurisdiction over divorce cases for residents of the county under OCGA 19-5-1.
Georgia law lists 13 grounds for divorce under OCGA 19-5-3. The most common is the no-fault ground, which states the marriage is "irretrievably broken." Neither spouse has to prove the other did anything wrong; they only need to show the marriage cannot be saved. Other recognized grounds include adultery, desertion, cruel treatment, habitual intoxication, and mental incapacity. Most uncontested divorces filed in Lamar County use the irretrievably broken ground because it is straightforward and less contentious.
After a divorce petition is filed and the other party is served, Georgia law imposes a 30-day waiting period before a final decree can be signed. This minimum wait applies even when both parties agree on everything. The court cannot enter a final order until those 30 days have passed. Self-represented filers can download the needed forms from the Georgia Courts self-help portal.
For cases involving child custody or support, additional statutes come into play. Property division in Georgia follows equitable distribution principles, meaning fair but not always equal. A Lamar County judge has discretion to divide marital assets based on the specific facts of each case. The service of process rules under OCGA 19-5-5 set out how and when the other spouse must be formally notified of the divorce filing.
Public Access to Lamar County Divorce Records
The Lamar County Clerk of Superior Court website provides a starting point for information. Below is a screenshot from the county's official site, which offers contact details and department listings for the courthouse in Barnesville.
The Lamar County Georgia official website is shown here for reference.
The image above shows the Lamar County government site, which is where you can find clerk contact information and courthouse details before making your records request.
The Georgia Open Records Act gives the public the right to access most court records, including divorce decrees. You do not have to be a party to the case or explain why you want the record. Any person can walk into the Lamar County courthouse and ask to search for a divorce case. The clerk's staff will look up the case and provide copies for the applicable fee.
There are limits. Judges can seal records when public disclosure would harm minor children or when both parties agree sealing is necessary and the court approves. When a case is sealed, the clerk will confirm the case exists but cannot release its contents without a court order. Most routine divorces in Lamar County are not sealed. The general rule is that divorce decrees are open records once they are filed.
Legal Help in Lamar County
If you cannot afford a private attorney, several options exist in Georgia for people who need legal help with a divorce. The Georgia Legal Services Program serves rural and smaller counties across the state, including Lamar County. They handle family law cases including divorce and can help low-income residents understand their rights, fill out forms, and navigate the courthouse process. Income guidelines determine eligibility, and you can apply by phone or online.
Georgia Legal Aid offers online self-help resources, plain-language guides, and form checklists for people handling their own cases. Their tools are designed for people representing themselves in family court. If your divorce involves significant property, a business, retirement accounts, or a dispute over children, it may be worth consulting a private attorney. The State Bar of Georgia runs a lawyer referral service that can connect you with a licensed family law attorney who practices in the Lamar County area.
The Georgia Courts website has court directories, forms, and guidance for self-represented litigants. It is a useful first stop before you visit the courthouse.