Murray County Divorce Decree Records
Murray County divorce decree records are held by the Clerk of Superior Court in Chatsworth, Georgia. The clerk's office is the direct source for certified copies of final divorce orders, complete case files, and all documents submitted during divorce proceedings. Under Georgia's Open Records Act, most of these records are public and can be requested by any person. This page explains how to access Murray County divorce records, what they contain, the applicable fees, and what legal resources are available if you need help with a divorce in Murray County.
Murray County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Murray County Divorce Decrees
The Murray County Clerk of Superior Court is at 121 N. 3rd Avenue, Chatsworth, GA 30705. Call (706) 695-2412 to reach the office. The Murray County website may have current hours and department contacts. Visiting the Chatsworth courthouse in person is the most direct way to request certified copies of divorce records. Staff can search the court's files by party name or case number while you wait.
Bring a valid photo ID when you go. The full legal names of both parties and an approximate year of the divorce will help staff find the case quickly. A case number, if available, speeds the search. Mail requests are also accepted. Write to the clerk at the Chatsworth address with case details and payment for applicable fees. Always call ahead to confirm current fee amounts before mailing payment.
Note: Murray County is in North Georgia near the Tennessee border. The Chatsworth courthouse handles all divorce records for the county regardless of which town in Murray County the parties lived in when they filed.
What Murray County Divorce Records Contain
A divorce decree from the Murray County Superior Court is the judge's final signed order closing a divorce case. 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 full case file at the clerk's office also includes the original petition, any answer or counterclaim filed by the other party, motions, temporary orders, financial affidavits, and the signed final decree.
A divorce decree is not the same as a divorce certificate. A decree is the court's complete 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. If you need the actual terms of a Murray County divorce, the Chatsworth 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. Outside that date range, or when the full decree is needed, the county clerk is your only option.
The screenshot below shows the Georgia DPH Vital Records page, the state-level source for older divorce verifications recorded in Georgia from 1952 through 1996.
For full Murray County divorce decree copies, the Superior Court clerk in Chatsworth is always the right contact regardless of the divorce year or whether a DPH verification record exists.
Murray County Divorce Decree Fees
Copy fees at the Murray 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. You need a certified copy when submitting the decree to another court, a government agency, or a financial institution. Be specific about which type you need before paying to avoid making a second request.
For older records where only confirmation of a divorce is needed, the Georgia Department of Public Health offers a statewide verification service for divorces between 1952 and 1996. Visit their request page for submission details and current fees. The DPH provides a confirmation letter, not the actual decree. For full copies of any Murray County divorce record, the Superior Court clerk in Chatsworth handles all requests.
Georgia Divorce Laws in Murray County
Georgia's divorce statutes apply throughout the state, including Murray County. 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 lives, not where the marriage took place. The Murray County Superior Court in Chatsworth holds jurisdiction over all divorce cases for county residents 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 nearly all cases filed in Murray County and statewide. Neither party has to prove wrongdoing. Other grounds including adultery, desertion, and cruel treatment are available but rarely used. 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 forms for self-represented filers. The Georgia Open Records Act ensures final decrees are public records once filed.
Public Access to Murray County Divorce Records
The Georgia Open Records Act gives any member of the public the right to request divorce records from the Murray County Superior Court. No personal connection to the case is required and no reason needs to be given. The clerk will search the files and provide copies for the applicable fee. Online access for Murray County court records may be available; check with the clerk's office about current systems and availability.
Records can be sealed by court order. 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 Murray County divorces are not sealed. Routine decrees are open public records that anyone can request by contacting the clerk in Chatsworth.
Legal Help in Murray County
Residents of Murray County who need legal assistance with a divorce have several options. The Georgia Legal Services Program serves North Georgia including Murray County and offers free or low-cost family law help to eligible low-income residents. Apply through their website or by phone to check eligibility based on income.
Georgia Legal Aid provides self-help tools and plain-language guides for people handling their own divorce cases in Georgia. These resources work well for straightforward uncontested divorces where both parties agree. For contested cases involving significant property, retirement accounts, or custody disputes, a private attorney is advisable. The State Bar of Georgia operates a lawyer referral service that can connect you with a licensed family law attorney serving the Murray County area. The Georgia Courts website also has court contacts and forms for self-represented filers in Murray County Superior Court.