Polk County Divorce Decree Lookup
Polk County divorce decree records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court in Cedartown, Georgia, and are open to the public under the Georgia Open Records Act. The clerk's office is your official source for certified copies of divorce decrees, case file reviews, and index searches for divorces filed and finalized in Polk County. This guide covers how to request records, what they include, expected fees, the Georgia laws that govern these cases, and where to get legal help in the area.
Polk County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Obtain Polk County Divorce Decrees
The Polk County Clerk of Superior Court is located at 144 W. Ave., Cedartown, GA 30125. You can call the office at (770) 749-2114 or visit the Polk County website for hours and service details. Visiting in person is the quickest way to get a certified copy of a divorce decree. Staff can search the case index and pull files while you wait. A photo ID and the full names of both parties are the minimum you need to get started. Adding the approximate year of the divorce speeds up the search.
For mail requests, write to the clerk at the Cedartown address above. Include both spouses' full legal names, the year the divorce was finalized, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Including a money order for the estimated copy fee helps move the request forward without delays. Call ahead to confirm the current fee schedule and what payment the office accepts. Remote requests take longer than in-person visits. For time-sensitive needs, make the trip to Cedartown. For older records from the 1970s or earlier, ask about format and availability when you call, since some older files may be in paper ledger form only.
What Polk County Divorce Records Contain
A divorce decree from Polk County Superior Court is a final court order that ends a marriage under Georgia law. The decree identifies both parties, states the date the divorce was granted, and records the judge's decisions on all issues the case raised. Property division, debt, alimony, child custody, and child support, when applicable, are resolved in or alongside the final decree. The decree is the document most courts, agencies, and institutions ask for when they need proof of divorce.
The full Polk County case file includes much more than the final decree page. It begins with the original divorce petition. The responding spouse's answer is included if one was filed. Temporary orders issued during the pending case, sworn financial statements from both parties, and any settlement agreements reached before or during the hearing are all in the file. If minor children were involved, you will find a parenting plan and child support worksheet. After the case closes, all of these documents make up the permanent public court record stored at the Cedartown courthouse. These records can be reviewed and copied during normal business hours. Some content related to minor children may be restricted under Georgia court rules, but the final decree itself is available to any member of the public who requests it. No special authorization is required.
Polk County Divorce Decree Fees
The Polk County Clerk of Superior Court charges fees for copies of divorce records. Certified copies, which carry the clerk's official seal and signature, cost more than plain photocopies. Most legal purposes require certified copies. Call (770) 749-2114 before you visit to confirm current copy and certification fees. Fees are set by the clerk within limits defined by Georgia law.
You can view records in person at the courthouse without paying any fee. The charge applies only to copies. If you need several certified copies of the same decree, ask whether the clerk offers volume pricing for multiple copies ordered at once. Cash and check are typically accepted at the counter. Mail requests generally require a money order. Confirm when you call which payment methods the office accepts.
Georgia Divorce Laws in Polk County Cases
Divorce cases in Polk County follow the same Georgia statutes that govern divorce statewide. At least one spouse must have been a Georgia resident for six months before filing, as required by OCGA 19-5-2. The case must be filed in the proper county, typically where the defendant spouse lives. Georgia provides thirteen recognized grounds for divorce under OCGA 19-5-3.
The no-fault ground of irretrievable breakdown of the marriage is the most used option in Polk County. Neither party has to show that the other did something wrong. The twelve fault-based grounds, including adultery, habitual intoxication, and abandonment, are available and can affect how the court divides property and decides on alimony. They also make cases harder to litigate. After the judge signs the final decree, both parties have 30 days to appeal. Once that period ends without an appeal, the divorce is fully final. The scope and legal effect of a Georgia divorce is defined in OCGA 19-5-1. Polk County divorce records are public under the Georgia Open Records Act.
Accessing Polk County Divorce Records Online
The Georgia Courts website is the best starting point for finding online court record resources across the state. Whether Polk County Superior Court has an active online docket search for divorce cases is something to confirm directly with the clerk's office. Some Georgia counties offer web-based case lookup by name or number, while others, particularly smaller counties, require in-person access.
The image below shows the Georgia Courts divorce forms database, a free resource for anyone who needs standard Georgia divorce forms for a Polk County case.
For divorces between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health offers divorce verification at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700, web dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. DPH confirms whether a divorce was recorded but does not issue copies of decrees. The Polk County clerk is the only source for a certified copy of the actual court order.
Legal Help in Polk County
Polk County residents who need assistance navigating a divorce can contact Georgia Legal Aid or the Georgia Legal Services Program. Both programs offer free legal help to eligible low-income individuals and cover family law, including divorce. Income and other eligibility criteria apply, but if you qualify, these organizations can help you file paperwork and understand court procedures.
The Georgia Courts self-help forms provide free, court-approved divorce packets for uncontested cases. These forms are accepted in Polk County Superior Court and guide you through the full process from petition to final hearing. They work best when both parties agree on all terms. For contested cases or those with children, significant assets, or a difficult opposing party, private legal counsel will serve you much better. The State Bar of Georgia operates a lawyer referral service to help connect you with a family law attorney who handles Polk County matters. The clerk's staff in Cedartown are not permitted to give legal advice, but they can process your filings and answer procedural questions.