Search Barrow County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Dissolution of marriage records in Barrow County are kept by the Superior Court Clerk in Winder and are open to the public under Georgia law. If you need to find a case, request a certified copy of a final decree, or understand how the filing process works, the clerk's office at Barrow Park Drive in Winder is your primary source. This page covers how to search records, what those records typically contain, how Georgia's dissolution process works, and where to get help if you need it.
Barrow County Quick Facts
Barrow County Superior Court Clerk
The Superior Court Clerk in Winder handles all dissolution of marriage case filings and maintains the official records for Barrow County. The office is at 652 Barrow Park Drive, Suite A, which is outside the older downtown courthouse building. Walk-in requests are welcome during business hours. Mail requests are also processed at the PO Box address. Have your case details ready when you contact the office.
| Office | Barrow County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 652 Barrow Park Drive, Suite A, Winder, GA 30680 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 56, Winder, GA 30680 |
| Phone | (770) 307-3100 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Directory | Find My Clerk |
When requesting records, have the full names of both parties and the approximate year the case was filed. This is especially important for older records that may not be in a digital index.
How to Search Barrow County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Barrow County does not currently operate a public online case search portal. Most searches for dissolution of marriage records require direct contact with the clerk's office in Winder. However, statewide systems can assist your search before you reach out to the courthouse.
The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) provides a statewide index of civil court documents and recorded instruments. Some Barrow County dissolution filings or associated recorded documents may appear there. The GSCCCA is reachable at (404) 327-9058. Their eCertification service at ecert.gsccca.org allows you to request certified copies of indexed records online without visiting the courthouse.
The GSCCCA portal is one of the most useful statewide tools for searching Georgia court records. The screenshot below shows the main GSCCCA page, which provides access to the document index and eCertification system.
The GSCCCA index covers documents across all 159 Georgia counties, though the depth of indexing can vary by county and time period.
PeachCourt supports eFiling for Georgia courts and also allows case status searches for electronically filed cases. Barrow County dissolution cases filed in recent years may be accessible through PeachCourt. For older cases filed on paper, a direct clerk request is necessary.
The Georgia Courts portal provides general guidance on the state court system and links to court-specific resources. Use it to understand how Barrow County's court is structured before you contact the clerk. The Superior Court Clerks' Association of Georgia lists all county clerks at gaclerks.org and is a reliable source for current contact details.
Dissolution of Marriage Process in Barrow County
Georgia law sets the requirements for anyone who wants to file for dissolution of marriage. The residency rule comes first. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months before the petition is filed. Both parties can live in Barrow County, or just one of them. What matters is that the Georgia residency requirement is satisfied.
Georgia provides 13 grounds for dissolution of marriage under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. The most used is the no-fault ground that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." This does not require proving any bad behavior by either party. The other 12 grounds are fault-based. They include adultery, desertion, and cruel treatment, among others. Fault-based grounds are far less common in modern Georgia practice.
After the petition is filed and the other party is served, a mandatory 30-day period must pass before the final hearing. The court cannot schedule or hold the hearing before that window closes. For uncontested cases in Barrow County, the time from filing to final decree is typically two to three months, assuming the filing is complete and the other party does not contest. Contested cases take considerably longer.
The petition must include the information required by O.C.G.A. § 19-5-5. If alimony is at issue, O.C.G.A. § 19-6-1 governs how the court addresses it. The clerk's office in Winder can tell you what forms Barrow County requires locally.
What Barrow County Dissolution Records Include
A dissolution of marriage case file at the Barrow County Superior Court Clerk can range from a handful of documents to a very large file, depending on the complexity of the case. Most records are open to the public. Simple uncontested cases tend to have fewer filings. Complex matters involving real property, retirement accounts, businesses, or custody disputes can include many documents spanning the life of the case.
A typical dissolution case file may contain:
- The original petition for dissolution of marriage
- Service of process documents
- Any response, answer, or counterclaim by the other party
- Temporary orders for support or custody entered during the case
- Settlement or separation agreements
- The final decree of dissolution of marriage
- Modification orders entered after the decree if any were sought
The final decree is what most people need. It is the order that officially ends the marriage. Certified copies are issued by the clerk and carry the court seal. They are required for most legal and administrative purposes following a dissolution. Call (770) 307-3100 to ask about current fees and turnaround times for certified copy requests.
Under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70), these records are public documents. Any person may inspect or request copies unless the records were specifically sealed by court order.
State Divorce Verification Records
The Georgia Department of Public Health Vital Records office holds a specific type of divorce record that is easy to confuse with what the county clerk provides. Knowing the difference matters before you submit a request to the wrong office.
DPH Vital Records can verify that a divorce occurred in Georgia for cases filed between 1952 and 1996. They do not hold court records, case files, or certified copies of decrees. What they issue is a verification letter confirming the event. For any case filed outside that date range, or for actual court documents from any period, the Superior Court Clerk in Barrow County is the correct source.
DPH Vital Records is located at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Phone: (404) 657-2700. Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. The search fee is $10, and copies cost $5 each. Form 3917 is required. Full details are at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords.
The Georgia Courts portal provides a broader overview of the state court system. The screenshot below shows that portal, which links to court-specific information and resources across Georgia.
The portal is useful for understanding the structure of the Georgia court system and locating court-specific links before you contact any individual clerk's office.
Barrow County Legal Help for Dissolution of Marriage
Barrow County residents who need legal guidance on a dissolution of marriage matter have access to several resources. Getting the right help early can prevent delays and reduce the risk of errors in court filings.
Legal Services Georgia provides free civil legal assistance to income-eligible Georgia residents. Family law matters, including dissolution of marriage, are a core part of their practice. Barrow County is within their service region. Contact them to check your eligibility and schedule an intake.
Georgia Legal Aid offers a self-help library online with clear guides on filing for dissolution of marriage in Georgia. The site covers each step of the process and links to forms. It is especially valuable for uncontested cases where legal fees may not be affordable or necessary.
The State Bar of Georgia maintains a lawyer referral service at 1-800-334-6865. This service can connect you with a licensed Georgia attorney handling family law in Barrow County or nearby. Local attorneys know the Winder courthouse and Barrow County court practices firsthand.
The Georgia Archives in Morrow holds a statewide divorce index for 1965 to 1971 and 1973 to 1999. If you are searching for older dissolution records and the clerk's office records are incomplete, the Archives index may help you identify the case. The Archives are at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260, open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 AM to 4 PM. Phone: 678-364-3710.
Cities in Barrow County
Winder is the county seat of Barrow County and the location of the Superior Court Clerk's office. No cities in Barrow County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated dissolution of marriage records page.
All Barrow County residents file dissolution of marriage cases at the clerk's office at 652 Barrow Park Drive, Suite A, in Winder.
Nearby Counties
Barrow County is bordered by several northeast Georgia counties, each of which handles its own dissolution of marriage records through its Superior Court Clerk.