Search Dissolution Records in Bibb County
Bibb County dissolution of marriage records are filed with the Superior Court Clerk at the Bibb County Courthouse on Mulberry Street in Macon. These records are public once the final decree is entered. You can search cases in person, by mail, or through several online tools that cover Bibb County filings. This page details how to access records, what they contain, the filing process, and where to get legal help in Macon and Bibb County.
Bibb County Quick Facts
Bibb County Superior Court Clerk
The Bibb County Superior Court Clerk handles all dissolution of marriage filings in the county. The office is in Macon at 601 Mulberry Street, the main county courthouse. Staff accept petitions, maintain the case index, issue certified copies of final decrees, and keep the complete case files. Bibb County has a court website at bibbsuperiorcourt.com where you can find current procedural information.
| Office | Bibb County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 601 Mulberry Street, Macon, GA 31201 |
| Mailing | PO Box 134, Macon, GA 31202 |
| Phone | (478) 621-6527 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | bibbsuperiorcourt.com |
The Mulberry Street courthouse is in downtown Macon. Parking is available nearby. If you visit, bring a valid photo ID and have the full names of both parties ready. The clerk can search by party name or case number. Call ahead to confirm copy fees if you need certified documents. Mail requests are accepted, but check the court website for current instructions before sending anything.
The Find My Clerk directory from the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Association is at gaclerks.org/Clerks/FindMyClerk.aspx. It gives you direct contact details for Bibb and all other Georgia clerks.
The directory is updated regularly and is a reliable way to confirm current contact information for any county clerk in Georgia.
How to Search Bibb County Dissolution Records
You can search dissolution of marriage records in Bibb County in several ways. The clerk's office at 601 Mulberry Street is the primary source. Visit in person with a photo ID and the names of both parties. Staff will look up the case in the index and pull documents from the file. For cases filed in recent years, the court website at bibbsuperiorcourt.com may have searchable case information.
Georgia Courts at georgiacourts.gov provides statewide court information and some case access. PeachCourt at peachcourt.com offers public civil case search for many Georgia counties including Bibb. These tools let you check case status and find basic filing information without going to the courthouse.
The GSCCCA eCertification system at ecert.gsccca.org allows you to order certified copies of recorded dissolution documents. The main GSCCCA portal at gsccca.org is another resource for statewide court record searching. Re:SearchGA at researchga.tylerhost.net covers about 25 counties, so it is worth checking if Bibb is in that group.
Dissolution of Marriage in Bibb County
To file for dissolution of marriage in Bibb County, at least one spouse must have been a Georgia resident for six months before the petition is filed. That rule is in O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2. You file the petition at the Bibb County Courthouse in Macon, pay the filing fee, and then serve the other spouse with a copy of the petition and summons.
Georgia law sets a minimum waiting period of 30 days after service before the court can schedule a final hearing. This is under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. In uncontested cases where both parties agree on all terms, the case can move through the system fairly quickly once the wait period is done. If there are disputes over property, children, or support, those must be resolved or decided by the court before the judge signs the final decree.
Georgia has 13 recognized grounds for dissolution of marriage. The most common is the no-fault ground that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." No proof of fault is needed. Once the judge signs the final decree in Bibb County, it becomes a public court record. Any person may request a copy from the clerk's office.
What Dissolution Records Contain
The final dissolution of marriage decree in Bibb County sets out the court's rulings on all matters before it. The case file also holds every document submitted during the proceeding.
- Full legal names of both parties as stated in the petition
- Date of marriage and date the dissolution was granted by the court
- Grounds for dissolution as pleaded and found by the court
- Property division and debt allocation terms
- Child custody, parenting plan, and visitation schedule if applicable
- Child support amount, payment schedule, and modification terms
- Alimony award details if spousal support was ordered
The petition, proof of service, any motions, and the final decree are all part of the public record. If a settlement agreement was filed, it is included in the case file. Some financial exhibits may be sealed if the court issued a protective order, but the decree itself remains public under Georgia law.
Georgia State Verification Records
The Georgia Department of Public Health holds state-level dissolution of marriage verifications covering records from 1952 through 1996. These are not copies of the court decree. They confirm that a dissolution occurred and provide basic information about it. For records outside that date range, or when you need the actual decree, you must go to the Bibb County Superior Court Clerk.
State verifications cost $10 using Form 3917. The DPH office is at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Phone is (404) 657-2700. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Full details are at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords.
If you need a verified copy for a court, lender, or government agency, confirm with them whether a DPH verification satisfies their requirement or whether they need a certified copy of the actual decree from the Bibb County clerk. These are two very different documents.
Legal Help in Bibb County
Macon has several resources for people who need legal help with dissolution of marriage. Legal Services Georgia serves income-eligible residents throughout the state, including Bibb County. Their website is glsp.org. Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org provides free guides on how to file for dissolution, what forms to use, and what to expect at hearings.
The State Bar of Georgia operates a lawyer referral service at gabar.org and by phone at 1-800-334-6865. The bar can connect you with a licensed Georgia family law attorney. Initial consultations through the referral program are usually available at a reduced fee. The courthouse in Macon may also have a self-help center with blank forms and instructional materials.
Cities in Bibb County
Macon is the county seat of Bibb County and the primary city in the county. Dissolution of marriage cases for Macon residents are filed with the Bibb County Superior Court Clerk at the Mulberry Street courthouse.
Nearby Counties
Counties bordering Bibb each maintain their own Superior Court Clerk for dissolution of marriage filings. Use the links below to find records in neighboring counties.