Athens, Georgia Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Athens residents who need to file for dissolution of marriage or search existing records will work through the Clarke County Superior Court, which serves the entire Athens-Clarke County unified government area. As a consolidated city-county government, Athens-Clarke County has a single Superior Court handling all family law matters for the city. This page explains how to find dissolution records, how to start a filing, what the fees are, and what resources exist for Athens residents navigating the process.
Athens Quick Facts
Where Athens Residents File Dissolution Cases
All dissolution of marriage filings for Athens residents go to the Clarke County Superior Court. The clerk's office is located at 325 East Washington Street, Suite 110, Athens, GA 30601. You can reach the clerk by phone at (706) 613-3190. Since Athens and Clarke County share a unified government, the courthouse serves the entire city without any jurisdictional overlap.
Athens-Clarke County operates as a consolidated city-county government, which simplifies things for residents. There is one Superior Court, one clerk's office, and one set of filing procedures covering everyone who lives within the city limits. You do not need to figure out whether you live in the "city" portion or the "county" portion. If you live in Athens-Clarke County, you file at 325 East Washington Street.
The clerk's office processes all dissolution petitions, maintains court files, and issues certified copies of final decrees. Staff can provide general guidance on where to file and what forms are needed, but they cannot give legal advice. If you have questions about the legal process itself, you will need to consult an attorney or use one of the self-help resources described below.
Electronic filing is available through PeachCourt, Georgia's state-approved eFiling platform. Athens-Clarke County Superior Court accepts electronic filings for dissolution cases through this system. Using PeachCourt can save you a trip to the courthouse for document submission. Note: Certain hearings and in-person steps still require physical attendance at the courthouse.
The Athens-Clarke County website provides local government and court information for residents navigating dissolution of marriage filings.
Athens-Clarke County's unified government means all dissolution filings go through a single Superior Court serving the entire city.
Georgia Residency and Waiting Period Rules
Before filing a dissolution of marriage petition in Clarke County, you must meet the state's residency requirement. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for at least six months before filing. If you have lived in Athens for six or more months, you meet this requirement and can file at the Clarke County Superior Court.
Once the petition is filed and served on the other spouse, a mandatory 30-day waiting period begins. The court cannot hold a final dissolution hearing until those 30 days have passed from the date of service. This rule applies to both contested and uncontested cases. Even if both spouses agree on every issue and have a signed settlement agreement in hand, the 30 days must run before the court acts.
Most cases take longer than the minimum 30 days. In Athens and Clarke County, court scheduling, document review, and the need for additional filings often extend the timeline. Contested cases involving disputes over assets, child custody, or support can take many months to resolve. Uncontested cases with complete paperwork tend to move faster once the waiting period ends.
How to Search Dissolution of Marriage Records in Athens
Dissolution of marriage records from the Clarke County Superior Court are generally public records. You can search them in several ways depending on what information you have and how old the case is.
The GSCCCA Portal is the best starting point for online searches. This statewide index covers Superior Court records from many Georgia counties, including Clarke. You can search by party name and find basic case information such as filing dates and case numbers. The portal is free to use for basic lookups and is updated as the clerk's office adds records to the system.
For more detailed access to docket entries and filed documents, check re:SearchGA. This platform allows searches across participating Georgia courts and may have case documents available for Clarke County dissolution cases. Availability depends on when the county's records were digitized and uploaded to the system.
To get a certified copy of a dissolution decree, contact the Clarke County Superior Court Clerk at (706) 613-3190 or visit the office at 325 East Washington Street. You can also use the GSCCCA eCertification system to order certified copies online for some cases. Certified copies are needed for legal proceedings, name change applications, government benefits, and other official purposes. Note: Fees apply for certified copies and vary based on the number of pages.
Filing Fees and Costs at Clarke County Superior Court
Filing a dissolution of marriage in Clarke County requires payment of court fees at the time of filing. Initial petition fees in Georgia generally fall in the range of $200 to $250, though the exact amount at Clarke County should be confirmed with the clerk before you file. Additional costs apply for serving the other spouse, filing supplemental motions, and obtaining certified copies of documents.
If the dissolution involves minor children, extra filings like a parenting plan and child support worksheet are required. There may be additional fees associated with these filings. Cases involving property disputes or requests for temporary orders may also generate extra court costs.
If you cannot afford the filing fee, you may ask the court to waive it by submitting an in forma pauperis affidavit. This is a sworn statement about your financial situation. The clerk's office can tell you what this process looks like in Clarke County and whether you qualify based on current income guidelines.
For older dissolution verifications from 1952 to 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health charges $10 per verification request using Form 3917. This service confirms whether a dissolution record exists in the state's vital records system during that time period. It is useful for benefits claims or administrative purposes but does not replace a certified court copy.
Legal Help and Self-Help Resources in Athens
Athens has legal aid resources through Georgia Legal Services Program and the University of Georgia School of Law's law clinics. The UGA law school operates a Family Law Clinic that provides limited free legal help to qualifying low-income residents for family law matters including dissolution of marriage. Contact the law school directly to ask about eligibility and availability.
The Georgia Courts website provides statewide information on the dissolution process, required forms, and court procedures. It is a good place to start if you are representing yourself and want to understand what the process involves before visiting the clerk's office. The Find My Clerk directory on the Superior Court Clerks of Georgia site lets you quickly pull up the Clarke County Clerk's contact details.
Pro se filers handling uncontested cases can often manage the paperwork on their own with careful research and attention to deadlines. If both spouses agree on all terms and there are no contested issues, the process is more straightforward. Still, having a family law attorney review any settlement agreement before it is submitted to the court is worth the cost to avoid errors that could delay or complicate the final decree.
The GSCCCA Portal provides online access to Clarke County dissolution of marriage case records and statewide court index data.
Use the GSCCCA Portal to search Clarke County case records by party name and find filing dates and case numbers for Athens dissolution cases.
Clarke County Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Clarke County Superior Court is the sole court for dissolution of marriage filings in Athens. All case records, final decrees, and certified copies are maintained by the Clarke County Superior Court Clerk. For complete record access and filing details, visit the Clarke County page.