Lincoln County Divorce Records
Lincoln County divorce decree records are held by the Clerk of Superior Court in Lincolnton, Georgia. The clerk's office is the official source for certified copies of final divorce orders, full case files, and all documents submitted during divorce proceedings in Lincoln County. Under the Georgia Open Records Act, most of these records are available to the public without needing any special status or explanation. This page explains how to get records, what they contain, what they cost, and what Georgia law requires for divorces filed in Lincoln County.
Lincoln County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Lincoln County Divorce Decrees
The Lincoln County Clerk of Superior Court is located at 210 S. Washington Street, Lincolnton, GA 30817. Reach the office by phone at (706) 359-5505. The Lincoln County website has department information and may list current office hours. Visiting the Lincolnton courthouse in person is the fastest way to get a certified copy of a divorce decree. Staff can run a records search by party name or case number on the spot.
Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. Having the full legal names of both parties and an approximate year of the divorce will help staff find the record quickly. A case number, if available, speeds things up further. Mail requests are also accepted. Send a written request to the clerk's address above, including all available case details and a check or money order for the applicable fees. Call ahead to confirm the current fee schedule before mailing.
Note: Lincoln County is a small rural county. The clerk's office handles a range of court functions, so calling ahead is a good way to confirm availability and current procedures.
What Lincoln County Divorce Records Contain
A divorce decree from the Lincoln County Superior Court is the judge's final signed order ending a marriage. It lays out all terms the court approved, including property and debt division, whether spousal support is owed, and the full custody and child support arrangement if children are involved. The complete case file held at the Lincoln County clerk's office includes the original petition, any answer filed by the other spouse, temporary orders, motions, financial disclosures, and the signed final decree.
A divorce decree is not the same as a divorce certificate. The decree is the full court order. A certificate is a short document from the Georgia Department of Public Health confirming only that a divorce occurred. For a verification of older divorces, the Georgia DPH Vital Records office in Atlanta covers records from 1952 to 1996. Contact them at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, or call (404) 657-2700. Outside that window, or when you need the actual decree, the Lincoln County clerk is your source.
The image below shows the Lincoln County Clerk of Superior Court website, your primary source for divorce decree records in Lincolnton.
Visiting the Lincoln County government website can help you find current contact details and confirm office hours before making your request in person or by mail.
Lincoln County Divorce Decree Fees
Copy fees at the Lincoln County Clerk of Superior Court are consistent with Georgia's standard schedule. Plain copies typically run $0.50 to $1.00 per page. Certified copies, which bear the clerk's seal and are required for most legal purposes, cost more. When you request a record, make clear whether you need a certified or plain copy. Submitting an uncertified copy where a certified one is required can mean an extra trip and extra payment.
For older records where you need only to confirm a divorce happened, the Georgia Department of Public Health offers a statewide verification service covering divorces from 1952 through 1996. Visit their records request page for submission instructions and current fees. This service provides a verification letter, not the actual decree. For a full copy of any Lincoln County divorce decree, the Superior Court clerk in Lincolnton is the appropriate contact.
Georgia Divorce Laws in Lincoln County
Georgia's divorce statutes apply to every county, including Lincoln. The starting point is the residency requirement in OCGA 19-5-2, which requires at least one spouse to have lived in Georgia for six months before filing. You file in the county where you or your spouse currently lives. The Lincoln County Superior Court in Lincolnton holds jurisdiction over all divorce cases filed by county residents under OCGA 19-5-1.
Georgia recognizes 13 grounds for divorce under OCGA 19-5-3. The most widely used is the no-fault ground, that the marriage is irretrievably broken. No proof of wrongdoing is needed. Both parties simply state the marriage cannot continue. Other grounds including adultery, desertion, and cruel treatment are available but far less commonly used in Lincoln County or elsewhere in Georgia. Once the petition is filed and the other spouse served under OCGA 19-5-5, Georgia law requires a 30-day waiting period before a final decree can be entered. The Georgia Courts self-help portal has forms for people who want to handle their own case.
Public Access to Lincoln County Divorce Records
The Georgia Open Records Act gives any member of the public the right to request divorce records from the Lincoln County Superior Court. You do not need to show any personal connection to the case or explain your reason for requesting the records. The clerk will search the files and provide copies for the applicable fee. Online case lookup options for smaller counties like Lincoln can be limited, so contacting the clerk's office directly, by phone or in person, is usually the most efficient approach.
Records can be sealed by court order. If a file is sealed, typically to protect minor children or at the joint request of both parties with the court's approval, the clerk will confirm the case exists but will not release the contents without a new order from the court. Most divorce cases in Lincoln County are not sealed. Routine decrees are open records available to anyone who asks and pays the applicable fee.
Legal Help in Lincoln County
If you cannot afford a private attorney, free and reduced-cost legal help is available. The Georgia Legal Services Program serves Lincoln County and can assist eligible residents with divorce filings, custody issues, and other family law matters. Eligibility is based on income. Apply online or by phone to see if you qualify.
Georgia Legal Aid provides online guides, plain-language resources, and form walkthroughs for people who want to handle their own divorce. For more complex cases involving significant assets, retirement accounts, or contested custody, speaking with a private attorney is advisable. The State Bar of Georgia offers a lawyer referral service connecting people with licensed family law attorneys in Georgia. The Georgia Courts website also lists court contacts and provides forms for self-represented litigants filing in Lincoln County Superior Court.