Find Morgan County Divorce Decrees
Morgan County divorce decree records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court in Madison, Georgia. The clerk's office is the official source for certified copies of final divorce orders, complete case files, and all documents submitted during divorce proceedings in Morgan County. Most of these records are available to the public under Georgia law. This page explains how to request Morgan County divorce records, what they contain, the applicable fees, and where to find legal help if you need it.
Morgan County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Morgan County Divorce Decrees
The Morgan County Clerk of Superior Court is at 384 Hancock Street, Madison, GA 30650. Call (706) 342-3605 to reach the office. The Morgan County website has department information and may have updated hours. Visiting the Madison courthouse in person is the most efficient approach for getting a certified copy of a divorce decree. Staff can search by party name or case number on the spot.
When you visit, bring a valid photo ID. Having both parties' full legal names and an approximate year of the divorce helps staff locate the record faster. A case number makes the search faster still. Mail requests are accepted. Write to the clerk at the Madison address with case details, a return address, and payment for applicable fees. Call ahead to confirm current fee amounts before sending a check.
Note: Morgan County's county seat of Madison sits along I-20 between Atlanta and Augusta, making the courthouse relatively accessible. Call ahead to confirm hours before visiting.
What Morgan County Divorce Records Contain
A divorce decree from the Morgan County Superior Court is the judge's final signed order ending a marriage. It contains all terms the court approved: how property and debts are divided, whether spousal support is ordered, and the full custody and child support arrangement if children are involved. The complete case file includes the original petition, any answer or counterclaim filed by the other party, motions, temporary orders, financial affidavits, and the final signed decree itself.
A divorce decree is different from a divorce certificate. The decree is the full court order. A certificate is a brief document from the Georgia Department of Public Health confirming only that a divorce occurred. If you need specific terms from a Morgan County divorce, the Madison 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 from 1952 to 1996. For anything outside that window, or when the full decree is needed, the county clerk is your only option.
The image below is from the Morgan County Clerk of Superior Court website, the primary source for divorce decree records in Madison, Georgia.
The Morgan County website provides contact information and department listings for the courthouse in Madison before you make your request in person or by mail.
Morgan County Divorce Decree Fees
Copy fees at the Morgan 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 seal and signature. Certified copies are required when the document must be accepted as a legal instrument by a court, agency, or financial institution. Always specify which type you need before paying to avoid a second trip or extra cost.
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 the DPH request page for submission details and current fees. The DPH provides a letter confirming a divorce but does not include the decree. For any full Morgan County divorce record, the Superior Court clerk in Madison handles all requests regardless of year.
Georgia Divorce Laws in Morgan County
Georgia's divorce statutes apply throughout the state, including Morgan County. The residency requirement comes from OCGA 19-5-2: at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months before filing. You file in the county where you or your spouse currently resides. The Morgan County Superior Court in Madison holds jurisdiction over all 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, covers most cases filed in Morgan County. Neither party needs to show wrongdoing. Other grounds including adultery, desertion, and cruel treatment remain on the books but are used far less often. 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. The Georgia Courts self-help portal has downloadable forms. The Georgia Open Records Act ensures the resulting case files are public records once filed with the clerk.
Public Access to Morgan County Divorce Records
Georgia's Open Records Act gives any person the right to request divorce records from the Morgan County Superior Court. No special connection to the case is needed and no reason has to be given. The clerk will search for the case and provide copies for the applicable fee. Online access to Morgan County court records may be available; check the county website or ask the clerk's office what systems are currently in place.
Records can be sealed by court order. If a judge seals a file, typically 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. Routine Morgan County divorces are generally not sealed. Standard decrees are open public records that any person can request.
Legal Help in Morgan County
Morgan County residents who need legal help with a divorce have solid options. The Georgia Legal Services Program serves Northeast and Central Georgia, including Morgan County, and provides free or low-cost family law help to eligible low-income residents. Apply online or by phone to check eligibility based on income.
Georgia Legal Aid offers self-help tools and plain-language guides for people handling their own divorce. These resources are most useful for uncontested cases where both parties agree on all terms. For complex cases involving property, retirement accounts, or custody disputes, a private attorney is worth consulting. The State Bar of Georgia runs a lawyer referral service that can connect you with a family law attorney in the Morgan County area. The Georgia Courts website also lists court contacts and forms for self-represented litigants filing in Morgan County Superior Court in Madison.