Monroe County Divorce Decree Records
Monroe County divorce decree records are held by the Clerk of Superior Court in Forsyth, Georgia. The clerk's office is the primary source for certified copies of final divorce orders, complete case files, and all documents submitted during divorce proceedings in Monroe County. Georgia law makes most of these records public, and any person can request them without a special reason. This page explains how to get Monroe County divorce records, what they include, applicable fees, Georgia statutes that govern these cases, and where to find legal help if you need it.
Monroe County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Monroe County Divorce Decrees
The Monroe County Clerk of Superior Court is at 1 Courthouse Square, Forsyth, GA 31029. Call (478) 994-6320 to reach the office. Check the Monroe County website for current hours and additional contact information. Visiting the Forsyth courthouse in person is the most direct approach for getting a certified copy of a divorce decree. Staff can search by party name or case number while you are present.
Bring a valid photo ID. The full legal names of both parties and an approximate year of the divorce help staff find the right case. A case number speeds things up further. Mail requests are accepted. Write to the clerk at the Forsyth address with your case details and payment for applicable fees. Call ahead to confirm current fee amounts before sending payment.
Note: Monroe County sits between Macon (Bibb County) and the Atlanta metro area. The Forsyth courthouse is the filing location for all Monroe County divorce cases regardless of which part of the county the filers live in.
What Monroe County Divorce Records Contain
A divorce decree from the Monroe County Superior Court is the judge's final signed order ending a marriage. It contains all the 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 Monroe County clerk's office includes the original petition, any answer or counterclaim, motions, temporary orders, financial affidavits, and the signed final decree.
Many people confuse a divorce decree with a divorce certificate. A decree is the court's full order. A certificate is a short document from the Georgia Department of Public Health that only confirms a divorce happened. If you need specific case terms from a Monroe County divorce, the Forsyth courthouse is where you look. The Georgia DPH Vital Records office at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700, handles statewide verifications for divorces from 1952 to 1996. For anything outside that window, or when the full decree is needed, the Monroe County clerk is your source.
The screenshot below shows the Georgia DPH Vital Records page, which is the state-level resource for confirming older divorces recorded statewide between 1952 and 1996.
For a complete Monroe County divorce decree, the Superior Court clerk in Forsyth is always the correct contact, regardless of the divorce year or whether a DPH record exists.
Monroe County Divorce Decree Fees
Copy fees at the Monroe County Clerk of Superior Court are consistent with 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. You need a certified copy when submitting the decree to another court, a government agency, or a financial institution. Always specify which type you need before paying to avoid having to make a second request.
For older records where only a confirmation is needed, the Georgia Department of Public Health offers a statewide verification service for divorces from 1952 to 1996. Visit their request page for details and current fees. The DPH provides a letter confirming a divorce occurred but does not include the actual decree. For full copies of any Monroe County divorce record, the Superior Court clerk in Forsyth handles all requests.
Georgia Divorce Laws in Monroe County
Georgia's divorce statutes apply uniformly across all counties. Under OCGA 19-5-2, at least one spouse must have been a Georgia resident for six months before filing. You file in the county where you or your spouse currently lives. The Monroe County Superior Court in Forsyth 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 no-fault ground, that the marriage is irretrievably broken, is the most common. Neither party has to prove wrongdoing. Other grounds including adultery, desertion, and cruel treatment are available but rarely used in Monroe County cases. After filing and serving the other party under OCGA 19-5-5, a 30-day waiting period applies before the court can enter a final decree. The Georgia Courts self-help portal has downloadable forms for self-represented parties. The Georgia Open Records Act governs public access to the resulting case files.
Public Access to Monroe County Divorce Records
The Georgia Open Records Act gives any person the right to request divorce records from the Monroe County Superior Court. No personal connection to the case is required and no reason needs to be stated. The clerk will search the files and provide copies for the applicable fee. Online access to Monroe County case records may be available; check the county website or ask the clerk's office about current options.
Records can be sealed. If a judge seals a file, usually to protect minor children or when both parties agree and the court approves, the clerk will confirm the case exists but will not release the contents without a new court order. Most Monroe County divorces are not sealed. Standard decrees are open public records available to any person who makes a request.
Legal Help in Monroe County
Residents of Monroe County who need help with a divorce have several options. The Georgia Legal Services Program serves Central Georgia including Monroe County and provides free or low-cost family law help to eligible low-income residents. Apply by phone or online to check your eligibility based on income.
Georgia Legal Aid provides self-help tools, plain-language guides, and form walkthroughs for people handling their own divorce cases. These are most useful for uncontested divorces where both parties agree on all terms. For cases involving disputed property, retirement accounts, or custody, consulting a private attorney is worthwhile. The State Bar of Georgia has a lawyer referral service that can connect you with a family law attorney in the Monroe County and Forsyth area. The Georgia Courts website also has court contact information and forms for self-represented filers in Monroe County Superior Court.