Find Dissolution of Marriage Records in Bartow County
Dissolution of marriage records filed in Bartow County are held by the Superior Court Clerk in Cartersville. These are public records that any person may request under Georgia law. If you need to locate a case, get a certified copy of a final decree, or learn how the process works before filing, this page provides the information you need. It covers how to search records, what documents a case file typically contains, how Georgia's dissolution laws apply in Bartow County, and where to get legal help.
Bartow County Quick Facts
Bartow County Superior Court Clerk
The Superior Court Clerk in Cartersville is the official keeper of all dissolution of marriage records filed in Bartow County. The office handles in-person requests, phone inquiries, and mail-in requests for certified copies. Bartow County has a growing population and the clerk's office processes a significant volume of filings. Call ahead for complex requests or if you need a large number of copies.
| Office | Bartow County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 135 West Cherokee Avenue, Cartersville, GA 30120 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 865, Cartersville, GA 30120 |
| Phone | (770) 387-5025 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Directory | Find My Clerk |
When you contact the office, have the full names of both parties and an approximate year of filing ready. For older cases, this will help the staff locate records that may be in paper format rather than a digital system.
How to Search Bartow County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Bartow County does not offer a standalone public online case search system for dissolution records. Most searches require direct contact with the Superior Court Clerk in Cartersville. Several statewide digital resources can supplement your search or provide online access to some records.
The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) provides a statewide index of civil filings and recorded instruments. Some Bartow County dissolution of marriage documents may be indexed there. The GSCCCA is reachable at (404) 327-9058, and their eCertification service at ecert.gsccca.org allows online requests for certified copies of some indexed court documents.
The Superior Court Clerks' Association of Georgia at gaclerks.org is worth checking for current contact details and updates. The screenshot below shows that statewide clerk directory, which is maintained by the association and lists contact information for all 159 Georgia counties.
The directory is a reliable way to confirm that you have the right contact information before reaching out to any Georgia county clerk.
PeachCourt is Georgia's statewide eFiling system. Cases filed electronically in Bartow County in recent years may be accessible there for status checks. The Georgia Courts portal also provides general information about court procedures and links to court-specific resources. The re:SearchGA system covers 25 Georgia counties; check whether Bartow County is currently one of the participating courts.
For in-person visits to the Cartersville courthouse, bring a photo ID and be ready to pay the applicable fee for certified copies. Mail requests should include both parties' names, the case year, your contact details, and a check or money order for the expected fee amount. Call (770) 387-5025 to confirm current rates before sending payment.
Dissolution of Marriage Process in Bartow County
Georgia law governs how dissolution of marriage cases are filed and processed in Bartow County, as it does throughout the state. The first requirement to check is residency. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months or more before the petition is filed. This is not negotiable. If neither spouse qualifies, the Bartow County Superior Court cannot take jurisdiction.
Georgia law lists 13 grounds for dissolution of marriage under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. The most widely used is the no-fault ground that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." This requires no proof of wrongdoing by either party. Most cases in Bartow County and across Georgia use this ground. The other 12 grounds are fault-based and are far less common in practice.
Once the petition is filed and the other party is properly served with process, a mandatory 30-day waiting period must expire before the court can schedule and hold the final hearing. This requirement applies in every case regardless of whether both parties agree. After the 30 days pass, the court can hold the hearing and issue the final decree. For contested cases, the process typically takes much longer due to the need to resolve disagreements over property, support, or custody before the court can act.
The petition requirements are set out in O.C.G.A. § 19-5-5. Alimony is governed by O.C.G.A. § 19-6-1 if it is at issue in the case. The clerk's office in Cartersville can provide information about local filing requirements and what forms are used in Bartow County.
What Bartow County Dissolution Records Include
Case files for dissolution of marriage matters in Bartow County are held in full by the Superior Court Clerk. The size and content of any file depends on how the case proceeded. A simple uncontested dissolution typically includes a small number of documents. A case involving significant assets, debts, business interests, or child custody can generate a much larger record.
Common documents in a dissolution case file include:
- The original petition for dissolution of marriage
- Proof of service on the other party
- Any answer, response, or counterclaim filed by the respondent
- Temporary orders entered while the case was pending
- A settlement agreement or property division order
- The final decree of dissolution of marriage
- Any post-decree modification orders entered later
The final decree is the document most commonly requested. It is required for name changes, estate planning updates, financial account changes, and many other legal purposes. Certified copies from the Bartow County clerk are accepted by all major institutions as proof of dissolution. Contact the clerk at (770) 387-5025 for current certification fees.
These records are public under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70). Any person may request access. Documents sealed by court order are the exception and are not available to the public without a further court order lifting the seal.
State Divorce Verification Records
The Georgia Department of Public Health Vital Records office in Atlanta maintains divorce verification records for a defined time window. Understanding what this office provides versus what the Superior Court Clerk holds is important before you contact either office.
DPH Vital Records can confirm whether a divorce occurred in Georgia for cases filed between 1952 and 1996. They do not hold actual court records or provide certified copies of decrees. Their service is limited to issuing a verification letter confirming the event. For Bartow County cases outside that date range, or for any actual case documents, you must go to the Superior Court Clerk in Cartersville.
DPH Vital Records is at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Phone: (404) 657-2700. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. The search fee is $10, and copies are $5 each. Form 3917 is required. Visit dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords for more details and to download the form.
The Georgia Archives in Morrow holds a statewide divorce index for 1965 to 1971 and 1973 to 1999 on microfiche. The screenshot below shows the Georgia Archives website, which you can use to plan a visit or research what index records they hold for Bartow County cases.
The Georgia Archives are open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 AM to 4 PM, at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260. Phone: 678-364-3710.
Bartow County Legal Help for Dissolution of Marriage
Bartow County residents have access to a range of legal resources for dissolution of marriage matters. The county is served by regional legal aid organizations and statewide attorney referral services.
Legal Services Georgia provides free civil legal assistance to income-eligible residents. Family law is one of their core areas. Dissolution of marriage, custody, and support cases are all within their scope. Bartow County is in their service region. Contact them directly to check your eligibility and get started.
Georgia Legal Aid offers free self-help guides and resources online at georgialegalaid.org. The guides cover every step of the dissolution process in Georgia and are written in plain, accessible language. They are especially useful for uncontested cases where both parties agree and an attorney may not be necessary.
The State Bar of Georgia runs a lawyer referral line at 1-800-334-6865. The service can match you with a licensed Georgia attorney who handles family law in Bartow County or nearby. Attorneys who practice in Cartersville and handle Bartow County cases will be familiar with local court procedures and expectations.
Cities in Bartow County
Cartersville is the county seat of Bartow County and is one of the qualifying cities with a dedicated dissolution of marriage records page. Residents of Cartersville file dissolution cases at the Superior Court Clerk at 135 West Cherokee Avenue.
Other communities in Bartow County, including Adairsville, White, and Kingston, do not meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. Residents of those areas also file at the clerk's office in Cartersville.
Nearby Counties
Bartow County is bordered by several northwest Georgia counties. Each maintains its own dissolution of marriage records through its Superior Court Clerk.