Macon County Divorce Decree Records
Macon County divorce decree records are filed and held by the Clerk of Superior Court in Oglethorpe, Georgia. Macon County should not be confused with the city of Macon, which is located in Bibb County. The clerk in Oglethorpe is the official source for certified copies of final divorce orders, complete case files, and all documents submitted during divorce proceedings in Macon County. Most of these records are open to the public under Georgia law. This page explains how to get records, what they contain, the applicable fees, and where to find legal help in Macon County.
Macon County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Macon County Divorce Decrees
The Macon County Clerk of Superior Court is at 117 E. Lamar Street, Oglethorpe, GA 31068. Call (478) 472-7661 to reach the office. The Macon County website lists department contacts. Visiting the Oglethorpe courthouse in person is the most direct approach. Staff can search records by party name or case number while you wait.
When you visit, bring a valid photo ID. The full legal names of both parties and an approximate year of the divorce will help staff locate the case. A case number, if available, makes the search much faster. Mail requests are also accepted. Write to the clerk at the Oglethorpe address with your case details, return address, and payment for applicable fees. Call the office first to confirm current fee amounts before mailing.
One thing to be clear about: Macon County's seat is Oglethorpe. The city of Macon, which many people know, is the county seat of Bibb County. If you are looking for a divorce record from someone who lived in or near the city of Macon, you need to contact the Bibb County Clerk, not Macon County. If the person lived in Macon County's towns or rural areas, Oglethorpe is the right place.
Note: Macon County is rural and small. Staff often handle multiple court functions, so calling ahead to confirm hours and procedures before visiting is a good idea.
What Macon County Divorce Records Contain
A divorce decree from the Macon County Superior Court is the judge's final signed order closing a divorce case. It sets out all terms the court approved. These include how property and debts are divided, whether spousal support is ordered, and the custody and child support arrangement if children were involved. The full case file at the Macon County clerk's office includes the original petition, any answer filed by the other spouse, temporary orders, motions, financial affidavits, and all other documents submitted during the case.
Many people mix up a divorce decree and a divorce certificate. A decree is the court's full order with all the specific case terms. A certificate is a short document from the Georgia Department of Public Health that only confirms a divorce occurred. For Macon County divorce details, the Oglethorpe courthouse is your source. The Georgia DPH Vital Records office at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700, handles statewide verifications for divorces between 1952 and 1996. Outside that date range, the county clerk is your only option.
The image below is from the Macon County government website, showing the clerk's office information for Oglethorpe.
Visiting the Macon County official website can help you confirm current hours and any specific procedures before making your request.
Macon County Divorce Decree Fees
Copy fees at the Macon County Clerk of Superior Court are consistent with 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 when submitting the document to another court, a government agency, or a financial institution. Be clear about which type of copy you need before paying. Requesting the wrong type means an extra trip and additional cost.
The Georgia Department of Public Health offers a statewide verification service for divorces recorded from 1952 to 1996. Their request page explains the submission process and current fees. The DPH provides a confirmation letter, not the actual decree. For full copies of any Macon County divorce record, the Superior Court clerk in Oglethorpe handles all requests regardless of year.
Georgia Divorce Laws in Macon County
Georgia's divorce statutes apply uniformly to every county, including Macon. The threshold requirement is residency. 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. The Macon County Superior Court in Oglethorpe holds jurisdiction over divorce cases for county residents under OCGA 19-5-1.
Georgia recognizes 13 grounds for divorce under OCGA 19-5-3. The no-fault ground, that the marriage is irretrievably broken, is used in nearly all uncontested cases. It requires no proof of wrongdoing. Other grounds such as adultery, desertion, and cruel treatment are available but used far less often. Once a petition is filed and the other spouse is 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 available for download. The Georgia Open Records Act ensures divorce decrees are public records once they are filed with the court.
Public Access to Macon County Divorce Records
The Georgia Open Records Act gives any member of the public the right to request divorce records from the Macon County Superior Court in Oglethorpe. You do not need to be a party to the case or give a reason. The clerk will search the files and provide copies for the applicable fee. Online access to Macon County court records may be limited given the county's size; visiting or calling the courthouse directly is the most reliable approach.
Records can be sealed by court order. When a judge orders a file sealed, typically to protect minor children or when both parties agree to sealing and the court approves, the clerk will confirm the case exists but will not release the contents without a new court order. Most Macon County divorces are not sealed. Routine decrees are open records available to anyone who makes a valid request.
Legal Help in Macon County
Residents of Macon County who need legal help with a divorce have several options. The Georgia Legal Services Program serves rural Middle Georgia counties including Macon and offers free or low-cost family law assistance to eligible low-income residents. You can apply online or by phone based on income guidelines.
Georgia Legal Aid provides self-help tools and plain-language guides for people handling their own divorce cases in Georgia. For cases involving contested property, retirement accounts, or children's custody, speaking with a private attorney is the better path. The State Bar of Georgia operates a lawyer referral service that can connect you with a licensed family law attorney who practices in or near Macon County. The Georgia Courts website has court contact information and forms for self-represented litigants filing in Macon County Superior Court in Oglethorpe.