Find Lumpkin County Divorce Decrees
Lumpkin County divorce decree records are stored at the Clerk of Superior Court in Dahlonega, Georgia. The clerk is your direct source for certified copies of final divorce orders, complete case files, and any documents filed during divorce proceedings in Lumpkin County. Georgia's Open Records Act makes most of these records available to any member of the public. This page covers how to request Lumpkin County divorce records, what those records contain, the applicable fees, and where to find legal help if you need it.
Lumpkin County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Lumpkin County Divorce Decrees
The Lumpkin County Clerk of Superior Court is at 99 Courthouse Hill, Dahlonega, GA 30533. Call (706) 864-3736 to reach the office. The Lumpkin County website has department information and current contact details. Visiting the Dahlonega courthouse in person is the most direct way to get a certified copy of a divorce decree. Staff can search records by party name or case number while you are there.
Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. The full legal names of both parties and an approximate year of the divorce will help staff locate the right record. A case number makes the search faster. Mail requests are accepted. Write to the clerk at the Dahlonega address with your case details and payment for the applicable fees. Call ahead to confirm current fee amounts before sending any payment.
Note: Lumpkin County is a growing North Georgia mountain county. The clerk's office handles both older historical records and more recent filings, so having detailed case information speeds up the search considerably.
What Lumpkin County Divorce Records Contain
A divorce decree from the Lumpkin County Superior Court is the judge's final signed order ending a marriage. It sets out all terms the court approved: property and debt division, whether alimony is ordered, and any custody and child support arrangement if children were involved. The full case file at the clerk's office also holds the original petition, any answer filed by the other spouse, motions, temporary orders, financial affidavits, and the signed final decree.
A divorce decree and a divorce certificate are different documents. The decree is the full court order with all case terms. A certificate is a brief document from the Georgia Department of Public Health that only confirms a divorce happened. If you need to verify the specific terms of a Lumpkin County divorce, such as custody language or property awards, you need the decree from the Dahlonega courthouse. The Georgia DPH Vital Records office at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700, maintains statewide confirmation records for divorces from 1952 to 1996. Outside that range, or when you need the actual decree, the county clerk is your source.
The screenshot below is from the Lumpkin County Clerk of Superior Court website, which is the official source for divorce decree records in Dahlonega.
Checking the Lumpkin County website before your visit or mail request can help you confirm hours and any specific procedures the clerk's office may follow.
Lumpkin County Divorce Decree Fees
Copy fees at the Lumpkin County Clerk of Superior Court follow Georgia's general schedule. Plain copies run $0.50 to $1.00 per page. Certified copies, which carry the clerk's official seal and signature, cost more and are required for most legal uses. Be specific about which type of copy you need. Submitting a plain copy where a certified copy is required means you have to request again and pay a second time.
For older divorces where only a confirmation is needed, the Georgia Department of Public Health provides a statewide verification service for records from 1952 to 1996. Visit the DPH Vital Records page for submission details and current fees. The DPH issues a confirmation letter, not a copy of the actual decree. For any full Lumpkin County divorce decree, the Superior Court clerk in Dahlonega handles all requests.
Georgia Divorce Laws in Lumpkin County
Georgia's divorce statutes govern every case filed in Lumpkin County. The residency requirement comes first. Under OCGA 19-5-2, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months before a divorce petition can be filed. You file in the county where you or your spouse currently resides, not necessarily where you married. The Lumpkin County Superior Court in Dahlonega holds jurisdiction over all county resident divorce cases under OCGA 19-5-1.
Georgia lists 13 grounds for divorce in OCGA 19-5-3. The no-fault ground, that the marriage is irretrievably broken, covers the vast majority of cases. It requires no proof of fault or wrongdoing by either party. Other grounds include adultery, desertion, cruel treatment, and mental incapacity, but they are used far less often in Lumpkin County and statewide. Once a petition is filed and the other party is served under OCGA 19-5-5, Georgia law requires a 30-day waiting period before a final decree can be issued. The Georgia Courts self-help portal has divorce forms. The Georgia Open Records Act makes final decrees available to the public once filed.
Public Access to Lumpkin County Divorce Records
Georgia's Open Records Act gives any person the right to request divorce decree records from the Lumpkin County Superior Court. No special reason is required and no personal connection to the case is needed. The clerk will search for the case and provide copies for the applicable fee. Online access may be available through the clerk's office or a statewide records system; check the county website to see what is currently available.
Records can be sealed by court order. If a judge seals a file, usually to protect the interests of minor children or when both parties agree and the court approves, the clerk will confirm the case exists but will not share the contents without a new court order. Most routine divorces in Lumpkin County are not sealed. Decrees and case files are open public records that anyone can request.
Legal Help in Lumpkin County
Residents of Lumpkin County who need legal help with a divorce have multiple options. The Georgia Legal Services Program serves North Georgia including Lumpkin County and offers free or low-cost family law assistance to eligible residents. Income limits apply. You can apply online or by phone to see if you qualify.
Georgia Legal Aid offers online resources and guides for self-represented filers. The tools are written in plain language and useful for uncontested divorces. For more involved cases with contested property, retirement funds, or custody disputes, consulting a private attorney is advisable. The State Bar of Georgia operates a lawyer referral service that can connect you with a family law attorney serving the Lumpkin County area. The Georgia Courts website also lists court contacts and forms for self-represented litigants in Lumpkin County Superior Court.