Search McDonough Dissolution Of Marriage Records
McDonough is the county seat of Henry County, which means the dissolution of marriage records for city residents are kept right downtown at the Henry County Superior Court Clerk's office on the courthouse square. If you need to search for a dissolution case, request a certified copy of a final decree, or file a new petition, the Henry County courthouse at 1 Courthouse Square is where you start. This page explains the search process, what to expect when filing, and what other resources are available for Henry County residents.
McDonough Quick Facts
Henry County Superior Court Clerk in McDonough
The Henry County Superior Court Clerk is located at 1 Courthouse Square, McDonough GA 30253. The office can be reached by phone at (770) 954-2121. The courthouse sits at the center of downtown McDonough, which makes it easy to find and accessible by most transportation routes through the city.
Georgia's Superior Courts are the only courts with authority to grant a dissolution of marriage. In Henry County, that means all dissolution cases -- whether contested or uncontested, simple or complex -- go through the Superior Court. The clerk's office is the filing point for all petitions and the keeper of all finalized case records.
To file in Henry County, at least one spouse must meet Georgia's six-month residency requirement. Once a case is filed, a mandatory 30-day waiting period begins. The court cannot enter a final dissolution decree until at least 30 days have passed from the date the respondent was served or acknowledged service. In many simple uncontested cases, the process can wrap up not long after the waiting period ends.
Note: Filing fees at the Henry County Superior Court may change periodically, so it is worth calling (770) 954-2121 to confirm current costs before you visit.
Searching Henry County Dissolution Case Records
The most direct way to search Henry County dissolution records in person is to visit the clerk's office at the courthouse in McDonough. Staff can help you locate a case by party name, case number, or filing year. Public case files can generally be reviewed at the courthouse during normal business hours.
For online searches, the GSCCCA portal at gsccca.org covers Henry County along with most other Georgia counties. The portal provides name-based and case-number-based searches of Superior Court case indexes. Search results show basic case information including filing date and case status. Detailed document images often require a visit to the clerk's office or a formal request.
Certified copies of dissolution decrees can be ordered through the GSCCCA eCertification system at ecert.gsccca.org. Certified copies bear the clerk's official seal and are the form of documentation most commonly required by other courts, government agencies, and financial institutions when proof of a dissolved marriage is needed.
The Henry County Superior Court is part of the statewide GSCCCA network, which allows remote case searches without a trip to McDonough.
Online indexes save time and can confirm case details before you make the drive to the courthouse square in downtown McDonough.
Filing a Dissolution of Marriage in Henry County
To begin a dissolution of marriage case in Henry County, the petitioning spouse files a Complaint for Divorce with the Superior Court Clerk in McDonough. The complaint must include basic identifying information about both parties, the grounds for the dissolution, and any requests for relief such as property division, alimony, or child-related orders.
After the complaint is filed, the other party must be served. An uncontested case can move faster if the respondent signs an Acknowledgment of Service in front of a notary. In contested cases, formal process service is required. The 30-day period does not start until service is complete, so delays in service can extend the overall timeline.
Henry County dissolution cases involving minor children require a parenting plan and a completed child support worksheet. Both documents become part of the final order. The court may also require a temporary order hearing if the parties cannot agree on interim arrangements for children or support while the case is pending.
The Georgia Courts website at georgiacourts.gov has forms and guides for self-represented litigants, including packet guides specific to dissolution cases with and without children.
Note: Georgia's child support guidelines are based on a formula that accounts for both parents' gross incomes, healthcare costs, and childcare expenses.
DPH Vital Records and Older Dissolution Verifications
For dissolution cases that were finalized in Georgia between 1952 and 1996, the Department of Public Health maintains a separate verification database. This database does not replace court records but provides a summary confirmation that a dissolution took place. To request a DPH verification, submit Form 3917 with a $10 fee.
Cases outside that range -- before 1952 or after 1996 -- are only available through the Henry County Superior Court Clerk in McDonough. For very old cases, the clerk may need to retrieve records from storage, and turnaround time for copies can be longer than for recent cases.
Georgia DPH Vital Records handles dissolution of marriage verification requests for cases finalized between 1952 and 1996 across all Georgia counties.
The request process for DPH verifications is separate from the clerk's office process and should not be confused with ordering a certified copy of the court decree.
Note: A DPH verification is useful for genealogical research and some administrative purposes, but courts and agencies that need proof of a dissolution typically require a certified copy from the Superior Court Clerk.
Online Filing and Statewide Search Tools
PeachCourt at peachcourt.com provides eFiling services for Georgia courts. Checking whether Henry County is currently enrolled in the PeachCourt system before attempting online submission is recommended, as participation by individual counties can vary. When available, eFiling allows initial case documents to be submitted without a trip to the courthouse.
The re:SearchGA platform at researchga.tylerhost.net offers another route to searching Georgia dissolution case data remotely. The platform covers a broad range of case types and is used by both legal professionals and the general public to look up case status and filing information.
The Superior Court Clerks of Georgia directory at gaclerks.org allows users to look up the clerk's office for any county in the state. This is helpful if you need contact information for Henry County or for any other county where a dissolution case may have been filed.
Legal Aid and Attorney Resources in McDonough
Henry County residents who need help with dissolution cases and cannot afford private legal fees may qualify for assistance through Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org. The site outlines eligibility requirements and lists local offices that serve the Henry County area.
The Henry County Bar Association can refer residents to family law attorneys who handle dissolution cases in the county. The courthouse area in McDonough has several private law offices that practice domestic relations law and can assist with both uncontested and contested matters.
Note: The Henry County Law Library at the courthouse is a public resource where residents can review Georgia statutes and legal form books related to dissolution of marriage proceedings.
Henry County Dissolution Of Marriage Records
All dissolution of marriage filings for McDonough residents are maintained by the Henry County Superior Court Clerk at the courthouse in McDonough. The county page has more detail on case search options, clerk office hours, and procedures that apply across all of Henry County.