Find Divorce Decrees in Walton County
Walton County divorce decree records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court in Monroe, Georgia. This office handles all divorce filings in the county and keeps the full case files, petitions, decrees, temporary orders, and related documents, on permanent record. Walton County is one of Georgia's faster-growing counties east of Atlanta, and the Superior Court processes a steady volume of family law cases each year. Under Georgia's Open Records Act, most divorce decree records are available to any member of the public without a special reason or prior connection to the case.
Walton County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Walton County Divorce Decree Copies
The Walton County Clerk of Superior Court is at 303 S. Hammond Drive, Monroe, GA 30655. Reach the office by phone at (770) 267-1300. The Walton County official website has current hours and contact information. When visiting in person, bring photo ID and the full names of both parties in the divorce case. If you have a case number or know the approximate year the divorce was filed, have that ready, it speeds up the index search.
You can also submit a written request by mail to the Monroe address. Your letter needs to include both spouses' full legal names as they appear in court documents, the year of divorce, and any case number you have. Specify whether you need plain copies or certified copies. Plain copies are fine for most personal purposes. Certified copies carry the clerk's official seal and signature and are required when you need the decree for legal purposes, a name change, a subsequent marriage license in certain states, or court filings. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope and call to confirm the current copy fee before mailing payment. Walton County's staff can run name-based searches when no case number is available.
Walton County Clerk of Superior Court
The image below is from the Walton County government website, showing the clerk's office in Monroe that serves as the official custodian of all Walton County divorce decree records.
The Walton County Clerk of Superior Court manages the full docket of family law cases in the county, including all divorce filings, decrees, and related orders. Staff can search the records index by party name or case number and provide plain or certified copies of any open file. Requests made in person at the Monroe courthouse are typically processed while you wait.
What Walton County Divorce Records Contain
A Walton County divorce decree is the judge's final order ending the marriage. It resolves all issues the court was asked to decide, including property and debt division, any spousal support award, and, when there are children, custody, a parenting plan, and child support. It is a court order, and both parties are legally required to comply with it after it is signed.
The complete case file at the Monroe courthouse contains everything filed over the life of the case. That includes the original petition, service records showing the respondent was properly notified, any answer or counterclaim, temporary orders governing finances or custody while the case was pending, required financial disclosures, and the final marital settlement agreement if the case resolved without trial. For cases that went to a hearing or trial, the file may also contain motion records, witness lists, and exhibits. All of these materials are part of the public record unless a judge specifically sealed them.
The Georgia Department of Public Health maintains a statewide divorce index for registrations from 1952 to 1996. Their Vital Records office at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords can verify whether a divorce was registered and which county handled it, but it does not provide the full decree. For the complete Walton County divorce record, the Superior Court Clerk in Monroe is your source.
Walton County Divorce Decree Fees
Copy fees at the Walton County Clerk of Superior Court are set by Georgia law. Standard rates for plain copies fall in the range of $0.50 to $5.00 per page. Certified copies cost more because they carry the clerk's seal, which makes them legally recognized documents. The fee difference can be meaningful for thick case files, so always specify what type of copy you need when you make your request.
For divorces from 1952 to 1996 where you are not sure which county has the records, contact the Georgia Department of Public Health at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700. They maintain the statewide index and can point you to the right county. After that, contact the Walton County Clerk of Superior Court in Monroe directly to get the actual case documents.
Georgia Divorce Law in Walton County Cases
Every divorce filed in Walton County is governed by Georgia state law. The first thing the court checks is residency. Under OCGA 19-5-2, at least one party must have been a Georgia resident for at least six months before filing the petition. You file in the county where you or your spouse currently lives, regardless of where you were married.
Georgia law provides 13 grounds for divorce, listed in OCGA 19-5-3. The overwhelming majority of Walton County divorce cases use the no-fault ground, irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, because it is simpler and does not require evidence of wrongdoing. Fault-based grounds like adultery, habitual intoxication, and cruel treatment are still available and may come into play in alimony disputes. After a petition is filed and the other party is served, Georgia requires a 30-day waiting period before the court can sign a final decree. This applies even when both parties have already agreed to all terms.
The Superior Court's authority over divorce in Georgia is grounded in OCGA 19-5-1. Self-represented parties can get approved court forms at the Georgia Courts divorce forms page. Jurisdiction requirements are also addressed in OCGA 19-5-5.
Public Access to Walton County Divorce Records
The Georgia Open Records Act gives the public a clear right to inspect and copy court records, including divorce files, at the Walton County Clerk of Superior Court. You do not need to be a party to the case, a lawyer, or a family member. Walk in, ask for the file, pay the fee, and get your copies. That is the default rule for all Georgia court records.
Records sealed by court order are the one exception. A judge can restrict access to specific documents or an entire file, but this is uncommon in routine divorce cases. If you are uncertain whether a record has been sealed, ask the clerk before you make the drive to Monroe. Most Walton County divorce case files are open and copies can be made the same day you visit.
Legal Help for Walton County Residents
Walton County residents needing assistance with divorce can contact the Georgia Legal Services Program, which provides civil legal aid to income-eligible Georgians and handles family law cases including divorce and custody. Georgia Legal Aid also has online self-help resources for those who plan to represent themselves in Superior Court.
For more complex matters, the State Bar of Georgia runs a lawyer referral service connecting Walton County residents with licensed family law attorneys. The Georgia Courts website has contact details for the Superior Court serving Walton County and links to procedural guides for self-represented parties.