Pooler Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Residents of Pooler who need to search or file dissolution of marriage records will work with the Chatham County Superior Court Clerk, located in Savannah at 133 Montgomery Street. Pooler is in western Chatham County, and while the city has grown significantly in recent years, all dissolution of marriage filings for Pooler residents go through Chatham County's Superior Court in Savannah. This page explains how to search cases, what is required to file, and where to find additional resources for Chatham County dissolution records.
Pooler Quick Facts
Chatham County Superior Court Clerk in Savannah
The Chatham County Superior Court Clerk is located at 133 Montgomery Street, Suite 301, Savannah GA 31401. The phone number is (912) 652-7200. Savannah serves as the county seat of Chatham County, and the courthouse on Montgomery Street is where all dissolution of marriage cases for Pooler residents are filed and maintained.
Georgia law gives the Superior Court exclusive jurisdiction over dissolution of marriage proceedings. No other court has the authority to grant a dissolution. The Chatham County Superior Court serves all communities in the county, including Pooler, Garden City, Port Wentworth, Thunderbolt, and Savannah itself. Regardless of which Chatham city you live in, the filing office is the same.
To file in Chatham County, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months and in Chatham County for the same period immediately before filing. After the complaint is submitted and the respondent is served, a 30-day waiting period runs before a final dissolution decree can be granted. Even if both parties agree on every term, Georgia law requires this minimum waiting time.
Note: Pooler is about 15 miles west of downtown Savannah, so allow extra time for the drive on I-16 or US-80, particularly during peak traffic hours.
Searching Chatham County Dissolution of Marriage Records
In-person case searches can be done at the Chatham County Superior Court Clerk's office on Montgomery Street. The clerk's staff can help locate a case by party name, case number, or filing year. Public case files are available for review during regular courthouse hours, and copies of documents can be obtained for a fee.
The GSCCCA portal at gsccca.org provides free online access to Chatham County dissolution case indexes. The portal is run by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority and covers most Georgia counties. You can search by party name or case number and retrieve basic case information including filing date and current status. This is a useful first step before calling or visiting the clerk's office.
Certified copies of dissolution decrees can be ordered through the GSCCCA eCertification service at ecert.gsccca.org. Certified copies are the standard form of documentation required when proof of a dissolved marriage is needed for legal, financial, or government purposes. They carry the clerk's official seal and can be ordered online without visiting the courthouse.
The GSCCCA portal's free case search tool covers Chatham County dissolution records and is the most convenient option for Pooler residents who want to look up case information online.
The search interface is straightforward and does not require creating an account to retrieve basic case index data.
Filing a Dissolution of Marriage as a Pooler Resident
The process begins at the Chatham County Superior Court Clerk's office in Savannah. The petitioner files a Complaint for Divorce along with a Civil Case Filing Form, pays the filing fee, and the clerk stamps and assigns a case number. All subsequent filings in the case -- motions, agreements, proposed orders -- are submitted to the same clerk's office.
After the complaint is filed, the respondent must be served. An Acknowledgment of Service signed before a notary by the respondent can replace formal process service in uncontested cases. The 30-day waiting period runs from the date service is complete. In simple agreed cases, the dissolution can often be finalized not long after the waiting period ends, provided all required forms are properly submitted.
If children are involved, a Parenting Plan and a Child Support Worksheet are required before the court can enter a final order. These documents must address custody, parental visitation rights, and each parent's financial contribution to child support. Chatham County judges review these carefully, and parties who agree on terms in advance tend to see faster resolutions than those who need contested hearings.
Georgia Courts' self-help center at georgiacourts.gov has all the forms needed for a dissolution case, along with step-by-step guides for self-represented filers.
Note: The Chatham County Superior Court offers a Family Violence Intervention Program for cases involving safety concerns, and the clerk's office can provide information about protective order procedures when relevant.
Vital Records and Historical Dissolution Verifications
For dissolution cases finalized in Georgia between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health maintains a verification database. Requests are made using Form 3917 with a $10 fee at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. The DPH provides a summary verification that confirms the dissolution took place, but it is not a certified copy of the court file.
For cases outside that window -- whether before 1952 or after 1996 -- the Chatham County Superior Court Clerk holds the only official record. Older cases may require archive retrieval, which can add processing time. The clerk's staff can advise on how long retrieval might take for requests involving very old files.
The Georgia Archives at georgiaarchives.org can be a useful supplementary source for historical dissolution cases connected to estates or property matters in Chatham County. The Archives staff can assist with research requests for historical court-related records.
The Georgia DPH vital records page outlines the dissolution verification process and what information the state database holds for cases from 1952 to 1996 across all Georgia counties.
Pooler residents researching older family dissolution records from the mid-20th century can use this DPH database as a starting point before contacting the Chatham County clerk.
Note: A DPH verification and a certified copy from the Superior Court are two different documents that serve different purposes, and only the certified copy satisfies most legal requirements.
eFiling and Remote Access for Pooler Residents
Georgia's PeachCourt eFiling system at peachcourt.com allows dissolution filings to be submitted electronically in participating counties. Checking whether Chatham County currently participates before attempting an online submission is advisable. When available, eFiling saves the drive into downtown Savannah for initial case documents.
The re:SearchGA platform at researchga.tylerhost.net provides online case search tools that include Chatham County dissolution records. The platform is used by attorneys, legal professionals, and the public to track case status and confirm filing information without visiting the courthouse.
The Find My Clerk directory at gaclerks.org is a reliable source for current contact information for the Chatham County Superior Court Clerk. The directory is maintained by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority and covers all 159 Georgia counties.
Legal Aid and Resources for Pooler Residents
Chatham County residents, including those in Pooler, have access to legal aid through Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org. Residents who meet income guidelines may qualify for free or low-cost legal assistance with dissolution of marriage cases. The Savannah area also has a local legal aid office that handles family law matters.
The Savannah Bar Association and the Chatham County Bar Association both have lawyer referral programs. Several law offices in the Pooler and west Chatham area handle family law cases, which can reduce commute time for consultations compared to downtown Savannah firms. The Chatham County Law Library at the courthouse on Montgomery Street is open to the public and has legal forms, Georgia statutes, and practice guides for those who are handling their own dissolution case.
Note: The Chatham County Superior Court offers a self-help desk during certain hours at the courthouse, where court staff can assist filers with procedural questions without providing legal advice.
Chatham County Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Pooler dissolution of marriage cases are filed with and maintained by the Chatham County Superior Court Clerk in Savannah. The county page has more information on the clerk's office, online search options, filing procedures, and additional resources that apply to all of Chatham County.