Find Dissolution of Marriage Records in Atkinson County
Dissolution of marriage records in Atkinson County are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Pearson. These records are public documents that anyone may request under Georgia law. If you need a certified copy of a final decree, want to verify that a case was filed, or are searching historical records for legal or personal reasons, the clerk's office in Pearson is where you start. This page covers how to search, how to request copies, and what resources are available to help.
Atkinson County Quick Facts
Atkinson County Superior Court Clerk
The Superior Court Clerk in Pearson is the sole official keeper of dissolution of marriage records filed in Atkinson County. The office handles walk-in requests and also accepts mail-in requests for certified copies. If you plan to visit, bring a photo ID and the names of both parties in the case, along with an approximate year of filing if you know it.
| Office | Atkinson County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 19 Roberts Avenue, Pearson, GA 31642 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 6, Pearson, GA 31642 |
| Phone | (912) 422-3343 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Directory | Find My Clerk |
Call ahead if you need a large number of records or have a complex search request. The staff can tell you what information they need from you to find the right case file quickly.
How to Search Atkinson County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Atkinson County does not have a public-facing online case search system. Most record searches require direct contact with the clerk's office by phone, mail, or in person. That said, a few statewide tools are worth checking first.
The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) maintains a statewide index that includes some civil court records. Dissolution of marriage cases may appear there, particularly if associated documents were recorded. The GSCCCA is reachable at (404) 327-9058. Their eCertification service at ecert.gsccca.org allows online requests for certified copies of some documents without traveling to the courthouse.
The GSCCCA portal shown below provides a centralized gateway to court records across Georgia's 159 counties, including document searches and eCertification requests.
The portal is a useful first step before contacting the clerk directly, especially for cases that may have recorded documents.
PeachCourt is Georgia's statewide eFiling system. Some cases filed in recent years may be accessible there for status checks. The Georgia Courts portal also provides general information about court procedures and links that can help orient you before you reach out to the Atkinson County clerk.
For cases not found through digital tools, a direct written request to the clerk at PO Box 6, Pearson, GA 31642 is often the most reliable approach. Include both parties' names, the approximate year the case was filed, and a daytime phone number in case the clerk's office needs to follow up.
Dissolution of Marriage Process in Atkinson County
Georgia law sets clear requirements for anyone who wants to file for dissolution of marriage. At least one spouse must have been a Georgia resident for six months or more before filing. This rule comes from O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2. If you do not yet meet that threshold, you must wait until you do.
There are 13 recognized grounds for dissolution of marriage in Georgia under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. The no-fault option, which states that the marriage is "irretrievably broken," is the most widely used. It does not require proving any wrongdoing by either party. The other 12 grounds are fault-based and are used much less often.
Once the petition is filed and the other party receives legal notice, Georgia requires a 30-day waiting period before a final hearing can occur. This wait is mandatory even when both parties agree on all issues. It cannot be waived by the court or by mutual consent. After the waiting period, the court can hold a hearing and issue the final decree.
Filing steps in Atkinson County include submitting the petition and any required attachments to the clerk's office, paying the filing fee, arranging for service on the other party, and scheduling the final hearing through the court. The clerk can answer procedural questions about local requirements.
What Dissolution of Marriage Records Contain
Court files for dissolution of marriage cases in Atkinson County can vary a great deal in size and content. A simple uncontested case might contain just a few documents. A contested case with property disputes or custody issues can be much larger.
Documents you may find in a case file include:
- The original petition for dissolution of marriage
- Service of process documents showing the other party was notified
- Any answer or response filed by the other party
- Temporary orders for support or custody while the case is pending
- Written settlement or property agreements
- The final decree of dissolution of marriage
- Post-decree orders if the terms were later modified
The final decree is the document most people need for practical purposes. It is needed to change your name, update beneficiary designations, or handle other legal matters that require proof of dissolution. Certified copies from the clerk carry the court's seal and are accepted by most agencies and institutions as proof.
Access to these records is governed by the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70). Most filings are public. Exceptions may apply to documents sealed by court order or to records involving minor children in certain situations.
State Divorce Verification Records
The Georgia Department of Public Health Vital Records office provides divorce verification records, but only for a specific time window. It is worth knowing exactly what they offer before you contact them.
DPH Vital Records can confirm whether a divorce took place in Georgia for events between 1952 and 1996. They do not hold case files, court documents, or certified copies of decrees. They issue verification letters only. For any case outside the 1952 to 1996 range, or if you need the actual court documents, you must go to the Superior Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed.
The DPH Vital Records office is at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Phone: (404) 657-2700. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. The search fee is $10, and copies are $5 each. You will need Form 3917 to submit a request. Visit dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords for more details.
The Georgia Archives in Morrow holds a statewide divorce index covering two periods: 1965 to 1971 and 1973 to 1999. The screenshot below shows the Georgia Archives website, which is a useful resource for older records research.
The Archives are open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 AM to 4 PM, at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260. Call 678-364-3710 before visiting to confirm availability of the records you need.
Atkinson County Legal Help for Dissolution of Marriage
Finding legal guidance in a small, rural county like Atkinson can take some effort, but help is available. These organizations serve the region and can connect you with the assistance you need.
Legal Services Georgia provides free legal help to income-eligible Georgia residents in civil matters, including family law. Dissolution of marriage, custody, and support issues fall within their scope. Contact them to find out whether you qualify and to schedule a consultation.
Georgia Legal Aid hosts a library of self-help resources online. The site has step-by-step guides on filing for dissolution of marriage in Georgia, along with forms and plain-language explanations of the process. This is a good first stop if you want to handle an uncontested case yourself.
The State Bar of Georgia operates a lawyer referral service at 1-800-334-6865. The service can match you with a licensed attorney who handles family law in or near Atkinson County. A referral can be a faster route to finding local counsel than searching on your own.
Cities in Atkinson County
Atkinson County's county seat is Pearson, where the courthouse and clerk's office are located. No cities in Atkinson County meet the population threshold for a dedicated dissolution of marriage records page.
Residents of Pearson and other communities in Atkinson County file dissolution of marriage cases at the Superior Court Clerk's office at 19 Roberts Avenue in Pearson.
Nearby Counties
Atkinson County is bordered by several counties in southeast Georgia, each of which handles its own dissolution of marriage records through its respective Superior Court Clerk.