Madison County Divorce Records
Madison County divorce decree records are held by the Clerk of Superior Court in Danielsville, Georgia. The clerk's office is the direct source for certified copies of final divorce orders, full case files, and all documents submitted during divorce proceedings in Madison County. Most of these records are public under Georgia law and can be requested by anyone. This page covers how to access Madison County divorce records, what they contain, what fees to expect, and what Georgia law governs divorce cases filed in the county.
Madison County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Madison County Divorce Decrees
The Madison County Clerk of Superior Court is located at 91 Albany Avenue, Danielsville, GA 30633. Call (706) 795-6310 to reach the office. The Madison County website has department contacts and may list current hours. In-person visits to the Danielsville courthouse are the most direct way to request certified copies of divorce records. Staff can search by name or case number while you are there.
Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. Having the full legal names of both parties and an approximate year of the divorce will speed up the search. A case number, if you have one, makes things faster. Mail requests are also accepted. Write to the clerk at the address above, include your case details, return address, and payment for applicable fees. Call ahead to confirm current fees before mailing.
Note: Madison County is a smaller Northeast Georgia county. Calling before visiting to confirm hours and any current procedures is a smart step.
What Madison County Divorce Records Contain
A divorce decree from the Madison County Superior Court is the judge's final signed order ending a marriage. It contains all terms the court approved: property and debt division, whether alimony is ordered, and the full custody and child support arrangement if children are involved. The complete case file at the clerk's office includes the original petition, any answer or counterclaim, motions, temporary orders, financial affidavits, and the final signed decree.
A divorce decree is not the same as a divorce certificate. The decree is the court's complete order. A certificate is a short document from the Georgia Department of Public Health that only confirms the divorce occurred. For specific terms from a Madison County divorce, the Danielsville courthouse is where you look. The Georgia DPH Vital Records office at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700, maintains statewide records for divorces from 1952 to 1996. Outside that date range, or when you need the actual decree, the Madison County clerk is your source.
The screenshot below is from the Georgia DPH Vital Records page, which handles statewide divorce confirmations covering the 1952-1996 period.
The DPH service is useful for confirming a divorce occurred but does not replace the full decree that can only be obtained from the Madison County Superior Court clerk in Danielsville.
Madison County Divorce Decree Fees
Copy fees at the Madison County Clerk of Superior Court follow Georgia's general schedule. Plain copies run $0.50 to $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost more and carry the clerk's official seal and signature. Certified copies are required when submitting the decree to another court, a government agency, or a financial institution. Always specify which type you need to avoid making a second request.
For older records where only a confirmation is needed, the Georgia Department of Public Health provides a statewide verification service for divorces from 1952 to 1996. Visit their request page for submission details and current fees. The DPH issues a letter confirming a divorce; it does not provide the decree. For full copies of any Madison County divorce record, contact the Superior Court clerk in Danielsville.
Georgia Divorce Laws in Madison County
Georgia law governs every divorce filed in Madison County. The starting point is residency. Under OCGA 19-5-2, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months before filing for divorce. You file where you or your spouse currently lives. The Madison County Superior Court in Danielsville has 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 most cases. Neither party needs to prove any wrongdoing. Other grounds including adultery, desertion, and cruel treatment remain available but are far less commonly used. After filing and serving the other party under OCGA 19-5-5, Georgia law requires a 30-day waiting period before a final decree can be entered. This waiting period applies to all divorces, including uncontested ones. The Georgia Courts self-help portal has downloadable forms for self-represented parties.
Public Access to Madison County Divorce Records
The Georgia Open Records Act makes divorce decrees and related case files public records. Any person can request these records from the Madison County Clerk of Superior Court without showing a personal connection to the case or explaining a reason. The clerk will search and provide copies for the applicable fee. Online access for smaller counties like Madison can be limited; visiting or calling the clerk in Danielsville is typically the most efficient approach.
Records can be sealed. If a judge orders a file sealed, usually to protect minor children or when both parties agree and the court approves, the clerk will acknowledge the case exists but will not release its contents without a court order. Most routine Madison County divorces are not sealed. Standard divorce decrees are open records available to any person who requests them.
Legal Help in Madison County
Madison County residents who need help with a divorce have several options. The Georgia Legal Services Program serves Northeast Georgia including Madison County and provides free or low-cost family law help to low-income residents. Apply through their website or by phone based on income eligibility.
Georgia Legal Aid offers self-help tools, plain-language guides, and form walkthroughs for people handling their own divorce. These are most useful in uncontested cases where both parties agree on all terms. For contested divorces involving property, retirement accounts, or custody disputes, consulting a private attorney is worth the effort. The State Bar of Georgia has a lawyer referral service that can connect you with a family law attorney in the Madison County area. The Georgia Courts website also provides court contact information and forms for self-represented filers in Madison County Superior Court.