Quitman County Divorce Decree Records
Quitman County divorce decree records are filed with and kept by the Clerk of Superior Court in Georgetown, Georgia, and are open to the public as required by the Georgia Open Records Act. The clerk's office is the official source for certified copies of divorce decrees and index searches for divorces finalized in Quitman County. This page explains the request process, what records contain, fee information, the Georgia statutes that govern local divorces, and legal resources available to residents of this small southwest Georgia county.
Quitman County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Quitman County Divorce Decrees
The Quitman County Clerk of Superior Court is at 1111 E. Main Street, Georgetown, GA 39854. The phone number is (229) 334-2157. Check the Quitman County website for current office hours. Quitman County is one of the smallest counties in Georgia, and the clerk's office has limited staff. Call ahead before you visit to make sure someone is available to assist you with a record search. When you go in person, bring photo ID and the full names of both parties in the divorce. The approximate year of the divorce is helpful too.
Mail requests are an option if you cannot travel to Georgetown. Write to the clerk at the address above with both parties' full legal names, the divorce year, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Include a money order for the expected copy fee so your request can be processed in one step. Call first to confirm current fees and payment methods. For very old records, particularly those from before the 1980s, ask about format and retrieval time when you call. In a county this small, the volume of records is low, which often means staff can locate specific files quickly, but you should still call ahead to coordinate.
What Quitman County Divorce Records Contain
A divorce decree from Quitman County Superior Court is the court's final written order ending a marriage. It names both parties, states the date the divorce was granted, and lays out the judge's decisions on all matters the case raised. That includes division of property and debt, alimony if awarded, custody arrangements, and child support when minor children are involved. The decree is the document other courts, agencies, and institutions require when they ask for proof that a marriage ended.
The full Quitman County divorce case file attached to that decree is a more complete record of the proceeding. It starts with the petition one spouse filed. The other party's written response, if filed, follows. Any temporary orders the judge entered while the case was pending are in the file. Sworn financial statements, negotiated settlement agreements, parenting plans, and child support worksheets are all included when they were part of the case. After the final decree is signed and the case closes, all of these documents are stored as permanent public records at the Georgetown courthouse. They are open to public inspection and copying. Some information about minor children may be restricted under Georgia court rules, but the decree itself is fully accessible to anyone. You do not need to have been a party to the divorce to request the records.
Quitman County Divorce Record Fees
The Quitman County Clerk charges for copies of divorce records. Certified copies, which bear the clerk's seal and are required for most legal purposes, cost more than plain photocopies. Call (229) 334-2157 to ask about current fees before you visit or mail a request. Rates are set within state guidelines and can change.
There is no fee to view records in person at the courthouse. Copy fees apply only when you want documents to take with you. If you need more than one certified copy, ask the clerk whether ordering multiple copies at once reduces the cost. Cash and check are typical payment options at the counter. Mail requests usually require a money order. Confirm with the office what they accept.
Georgia Divorce Laws in Quitman County
Quitman County divorces follow Georgia state law the same as any other county. At least one spouse must have been a Georgia resident for six months before filing, as required by OCGA 19-5-2. The case is filed in the county where the defendant lives. Georgia provides thirteen grounds for divorce under OCGA 19-5-3.
The no-fault ground of irretrievable breakdown of the marriage is used in most Quitman County cases. Neither party has to prove fault. The twelve fault-based grounds, including adultery, habitual intoxication, and abandonment, can influence property and alimony decisions but add cost and complexity. After the judge signs the final decree, both parties have 30 days to appeal before it becomes final. OCGA 19-5-1 defines what a divorce means under Georgia law. Quitman County divorce records are public under the Georgia Open Records Act.
Online Access to Quitman County Divorce Records
The Georgia Courts website is the statewide starting point for court information. Online case search availability for Quitman County is limited due to the county's small size and limited staff and technology resources. Call the clerk's office directly at (229) 334-2157 to find out what, if any, remote access options exist for Quitman County divorce case records.
The image below shows the Georgia Courts divorce forms portal, a free statewide resource that also applies to Quitman County cases.
For divorces that took place between 1952 and 1996, verification is available from the Georgia Department of Public Health at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700, website dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. DPH confirms that the divorce happened but does not issue copies of the actual decree. For a certified copy, contact the Quitman County clerk.
Legal Help in Quitman County
Legal resources for Quitman County residents include Georgia Legal Aid and the Georgia Legal Services Program, both of which provide free assistance to low-income individuals with family law matters including divorce. Quitman County's small and rural character means in-person visits to these programs may require traveling to a nearby city, but both programs offer phone consultations and remote assistance.
Free divorce forms for uncontested cases are available at the Georgia Courts self-help center and work in Quitman County Superior Court. For more complex cases, the State Bar of Georgia can help you find a family law attorney through its referral service. The clerk's office in Georgetown cannot advise you on what to file or how to handle disputed issues, but staff can process your filings and answer basic procedural questions.