Search Tattnall County Divorce Decrees
Tattnall County divorce decree records are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court in Reidsville, Georgia. The clerk maintains certified copies of all final divorce orders, the complete case files for every divorce processed in the county, and a full docket of proceedings. If you need to find a Tattnall County divorce decree, request a certified copy, or review terms from a past court order, the Reidsville courthouse is your starting point. This guide covers how to request records, what they contain, applicable fees, and the Georgia laws that govern divorce in Tattnall County.
Tattnall County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Tattnall County Divorce Decrees
The Tattnall County Clerk of Superior Court is at 108 N. Main Street, Reidsville, GA 30453. Call (912) 557-6716 to check office hours and confirm what you need to bring. The county website may have current details on services. Visiting in person is the fastest way to get a copy. Staff can search case records on site and answer questions about the file.
When requesting a divorce decree, bring the full names of both spouses and the year the divorce was finalized. A case number speeds up the search. Any member of the public can request court records under Georgia law; you do not need to be a party to the case. Bring a valid photo ID. Copy fees are collected at the time of the request. For certified copies, which are required for most official purposes, ask the clerk specifically for a certified version when you make your request. Mail requests are accepted; write to the office and ask about the current fee schedule before sending payment.
What Tattnall County Divorce Records Contain
A divorce decree from Tattnall County Superior Court is the binding final order that ends a marriage and sets the terms both parties must follow. The decree addresses property division: which assets each spouse receives from the marital estate, who keeps the house, how retirement accounts and other property are handled. Debts are assigned between the parties. If alimony was ordered, the decree states the amount and its duration. When the couple had minor children, the decree contains the full custody arrangement, visitation schedule, and child support terms. Failure to comply with the decree's terms can lead to enforcement proceedings back in court.
The full case file at the Tattnall County courthouse contains additional material beyond the final order. The file includes the original divorce petition, any response or counterclaim from the other spouse, financial affidavits, motions filed during the case, temporary orders entered before the final decree, and parenting plans when children were involved. Access to these documents can help when you need to understand the history of a case, verify what was agreed upon, or trace how a particular term was established. Fees apply per page for copies of any documents in the file.
A short divorce certificate from the Georgia Department of Public Health confirms only that a divorce occurred; it does not include any of the terms. If the terms matter to you, the full decree from Tattnall County Superior Court is what you need.
Tattnall County Divorce Decree Fees
The Tattnall County Clerk of Superior Court charges per-page fees for copies of divorce records. Plain copies of case documents typically cost between $0.50 and $2.50 per page. Certified copies cost more because the clerk's official seal and signature are applied. That certification is required when you plan to use the document in a court proceeding, file it with a government agency, or use it for a name change. Ask specifically for a certified copy when you make your request if you have any official use in mind.
For divorces registered in Georgia between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health can confirm whether a record exists in the statewide index. Their Vital Records office is at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Call (404) 657-2700 or see the Vital Records page. The DPH only confirms the fact of divorce; it does not provide the decree or its terms. For all other records, the Tattnall County clerk is the sole source.
Georgia Divorce Laws in Tattnall County
Georgia law sets the same rules for divorce in every county, including Tattnall. The residency requirement under OCGA 19-5-2 mandates that at least one spouse have been a Georgia resident for six months before filing. You file in the Superior Court of the county where you or your spouse currently lives. The county where the marriage took place is not relevant to where you file.
Under OCGA 19-5-3, Georgia law recognizes 13 grounds for divorce. The most commonly used across the state and in Tattnall County is the no-fault ground: the marriage is irretrievably broken with no hope of reconciliation. This ground does not require proof of any wrongdoing by either party. Other grounds, such as adultery, willful desertion, habitual intoxication, and cruel treatment, exist for contested cases but require evidence and tend to make proceedings longer and more costly. For uncontested divorces in Tattnall County, the no-fault ground is the practical choice for most couples.
After service on the respondent, Georgia requires a 30-day waiting period before a final decree can be entered. This mandatory wait applies even in fully uncontested cases. Self-represented parties should use the Georgia Courts self-help portal for official forms. The authority of Georgia Superior Courts to grant divorces statewide is grounded in OCGA 19-5-1.
Public Access to Tattnall County Divorce Records
The Tattnall County Clerk of Superior Court maintains the official divorce decree records for the county from their office in Reidsville. The image below shows the courthouse and clerk's office that serves the public in Tattnall County.
The Tattnall County Clerk of Superior Court in Reidsville processes all public requests for divorce decree records and case files.
Visitors to the Reidsville clerk's office can request copies of divorce decrees and review case files in person during regular business hours.
Under the Georgia Open Records Act, divorce case files in Tattnall County Superior Court are public records. Any person can submit a request without providing a reason or having any connection to the case. The clerk locates the file and provides copies after payment of applicable fees. Courts may seal records when they contain sensitive information about minor children, financial data posing fraud risks, or when parties have agreed to sealing and the court has approved. Sealed records are not accessible without a court order. Most Tattnall County divorce cases are not sealed and are available through a standard public records request.
Legal Help in Tattnall County
Georgia Legal Services Program serves southeast Georgia, including Tattnall County, and provides free legal help to income-eligible residents for divorce and family law matters. Apply online or by phone to check eligibility. Georgia Legal Aid offers free self-help tools and guides to Georgia divorce law for anyone to use without an income requirement.
For contested divorces or those involving significant assets, the State Bar of Georgia has a lawyer referral service. The Georgia Courts website provides forms, court directory information, and resources for self-represented litigants in Superior Court proceedings across the state.