To find divorce records in Georgia, contact the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted. That office holds the divorce decree and the full case file, and it is the only place to get a copy of the actual court order regardless of when the divorce occurred.1Georgia.gov. Request Vital Records The Georgia Department of Public Health can issue a short verification letter, but only for divorces finalized between June 1952 and August 1996, and only confirming basic facts.2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – Georgia
Figure Out Which Record You Actually Need
People mix up three different documents, and asking for the wrong one wastes a trip.
The divorce decree is the final court order ending the marriage. It sets out property division, custody, child support, and any spousal support. Simple decrees run a few pages; complex ones can go past fifty.
The divorce case file is everything filed during the case: petition, summons, motions, financial disclosures, and any settlement agreement. The Superior Court Clerk maintains it.
The divorce verification letter is a one-page document from the Department of Public Health confirming a divorce happened. It lists the spouses’ names, the date, and the county. It does not include financial terms or custody details.
For anything involving property rights, custody, retirement benefits, or remarriage in another country, you need the decree. The verification letter is only useful for quickly confirming marital status.
Where to Request the Record
The County Superior Court Clerk
Every Georgia divorce is handled by a Superior Court, and the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where it was granted keeps the decree and full case file. There is no central state office storing copies of decrees.1Georgia.gov. Request Vital Records A divorce granted in Fulton County stays with the Fulton County Superior Court Clerk; one from Chatham County stays there.
If you’re not sure which county, start with the county where either spouse lived when the case was filed. Georgia requires the petitioner to have been a state resident for at least six months, and cases are typically filed in the respondent’s county of residence.3Justia Law. Georgia Code 19-5-2 – Residence Requirements; Venue
The Georgia Department of Public Health
The State Office of Vital Records at GDPH can search and confirm divorces that occurred in Georgia from June 1952 through August 1996, and issues a verification letter rather than a copy of the decree. For divorces before June 1952 or after August 1996, even the verification has to come from the county Superior Court Clerk.2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – Georgia
What to Have Ready Before You Request
Gather these details before contacting any office:
- Full legal names of both spouses as they appeared on the filing
- The approximate date or year the divorce was finalized
- The county where it was granted
- The civil case number if you have it (not required, but it speeds the search)
Both offices require a completed request form. County clerks post theirs on the Superior Court Clerk’s website for that county; the GDPH form is on the Department of Public Health’s website. You’ll also need a photocopy of a valid government-issued photo ID.2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – Georgia
Ways to Submit the Request
In Person
Walking into the Superior Court Clerk’s office is the fastest route. Many counties can pull the record and produce copies while you wait, especially with a case number in hand. For a GDPH verification letter, visiting a local county vital records office is faster than mailing the state office.
By Mail
Mail requests need the completed form, a photocopy of your ID, and payment. GDPH requires a certified check or money order payable to the Georgia Department of Public Health.2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – Georgia County clerks generally require a cashier’s check or money order for mail requests, though accepted methods vary.4Cobb County Superior Court Clerk. Request Copies Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return.
Online and Third-Party Services
Some county clerks run online portals for copy requests, but Georgia has no single statewide system that reaches every county’s records. Third-party services like VitalChek can forward orders to government agencies for a processing fee and a shipping fee on top of the agency’s own charge. That may be worth it if you’re pressed for time, but the agency’s clock doesn’t start until VitalChek forwards the validated order.
Fees and Processing Times
GDPH charges $10 for a divorce verification letter.2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – Georgia Mail requests to the State Office of Vital Records can take eight to ten weeks.5Georgia.gov. FAQs About Certificates Local county vital records offices may be faster for walk-in requests.
County Superior Court fees vary. Cobb County, as one concrete example, charges $10 for a certified copy of a final divorce decree and $3 for a regular copy. A certified copy of a decree that includes the settlement agreement is $24, and a regular copy of the same is $9.4Cobb County Superior Court Clerk. Request Copies Other counties set their own fees, so check with the specific office before sending payment.
In-person requests at county clerk offices are often processed the same day. Mail requests to county offices vary but generally move faster than the state office.
Public Access, Redaction, and Sealed Records
Georgia divorce records are generally open to the public. Under the Georgia Open Records Act, public records are available for inspection and copying unless a law or court order exempts them.6Office of the Attorney General. How to Make an Open Records Request Anyone can request a copy of a decree, not just the former spouses.
Certain personal information must be redacted from filings before they enter the public record. Under Georgia Code ยง 9-11-7.1, any filing containing a Social Security number, taxpayer identification number, financial account number, or birth date must show only the last four digits or the birth year. The filer is responsible for redacting, not the clerk. If an unredacted document is filed, the court can order it sealed and require a redacted version in its place.7Justia Law. Georgia Code 9-11-7.1 – Redacted Information
A judge can also seal an entire file or parts of it for good cause. That sometimes happens in cases involving domestic violence, sensitive financial information, or the welfare of minor children. When a record is sealed, public access is limited to the non-sealed portions. Either party can move to seal specific records, and the court weighs the harm of disclosure against the public interest in open records before granting the request.
Getting an Apostille or Authentication for Use Abroad
If you need a Georgia divorce decree recognized in another country, you’ll need either an apostille or a Great Seal authentication, depending on the destination.
For countries that are members of the Hague Convention, the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) handles apostilles for court-issued documents, including divorce decrees. You need a certified copy from the Superior Court Clerk carrying the original signature and seal of the issuing official. If the decree was certified before the year 2000, the GSCCCA recommends getting a new certified copy, since older signatures may not be on file for verification. Processing takes one to two business days by mail, or about twenty minutes in person.8GSCCCA. Apostille Documents – General Information
For countries that are not part of the Hague Convention, the Georgia Secretary of State issues Great Seal certifications. The decree must be a certified copy from the Superior Court with an original pen-in-hand signature. The fee is $10 per document.9Georgia Secretary of State. Great Seal Authentication – Administrative Services
Sending the document to the wrong office costs time. Confirm whether your destination country is a Hague Convention member before choosing which route to take.