Clinch County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

Clinch County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Homerville, Georgia. This rural south Georgia county sits near the Okefenokee Swamp and borders several other small counties in the region. Like all Georgia counties, dissolution cases are handled at the county level through the Superior Court, and the records are open to the public under the Georgia Open Records Act. The clerk's office in Homerville is the sole custodian of these records, and this page explains how to contact them, how state tools can help your search, what the law requires for filing, and where to find historical records from prior decades.

Clerk of Superior Court: Homerville

The Clinch County Superior Court Clerk is at 25 Court Square, Homerville, GA 31634. Mailed requests go to PO Box 47, Homerville, GA 31634. The clerk's phone number is (912) 487-5854. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There is no dedicated county clerk website, so phone and mail are the best ways to make a remote request.

When you contact the clerk, provide the full names of both spouses and an approximate year or case number if you know it. The staff at smaller county offices can often locate cases quickly when given clear identifying information. For certified copies, the fee is set by state law and consists of a per-page charge plus a certification fee. Plain copies are cheaper and may work for personal reference purposes. If you are mailing a request, enclose a check or money order payable to the Clerk of Superior Court, a return address, and a short description of the case. Including a self-addressed stamped envelope helps speed up the return of your copies.

Clinch County is in the Alapaha Judicial Circuit, which covers several southeast Georgia counties. The circuit judge handles cases on a rotating schedule across the counties in the circuit. All dissolution filings for Clinch County go to the clerk on Court Square, regardless of which judge will ultimately preside over the case. The clerk's office handles all administrative functions, including records requests, filing acceptance, and fee collection.

In-person visits to the courthouse in Homerville allow you to review case files directly and order copies on the spot. This is the fastest way to get records if you need them urgently and can make the trip. The clerk can also tell you what is on file in a given case and whether there are any sealed or restricted documents that require a court order to access.

Vital Records Verification Through Georgia DPH

For dissolution records from 1952 through 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health offers a state-level verification service. This confirms that a dissolution was registered with the state during that period, though it is not a copy of the court file. To request a verification, contact DPH Vital Records at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, call (404) 657-2700, or visit dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. For records before 1952 or after 1996, the Clinch County Superior Court Clerk in Homerville is the only source.

The screenshot below is from the Georgia vital records request page at georgia.gov, which describes how to request dissolution verifications and other vital records from state agencies.

Source: georgia.gov - Request Vital Records

The georgia.gov vital records page walks you through the types of records available from DPH and explains the process for requesting each type, including what identification and payment are required.

Using State Portals to Find Clinch County Cases

Georgia provides statewide online resources that can supplement your search before you contact the Clinch County clerk directly. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority at gsccca.org maintains a records portal covering many Georgia counties. GSCCCA's phone number is (404) 327-9058. Coverage varies by county and document type, but searching the portal is a reasonable first step, especially for cases filed in the past decade or two.

re:SearchGA at researchga.tylerhost.net is another state-level tool for viewing case dockets and court records in participating counties. If Clinch County is included in the current coverage list, you may be able to view basic case details and party information online. The Find My Clerk directory at gaclerks.org provides current contact details for every county clerk in Georgia, which is useful if you want to verify the Clinch County clerk's information before reaching out.

This screenshot shows the re:SearchGA portal, a statewide tool for accessing Georgia court records including case dockets from counties that participate in the system.

Source: re:SearchGA - Tyler Host

The re:SearchGA platform is expanding its county coverage over time, so even if Clinch County was not previously included, it may be available now or in the near future.

The Georgia Archives at georgiaarchives.org holds a statewide dissolution index for records from 1965 to 1971 and 1973 to 1999. This is a helpful first step for older cases where you need to confirm the filing county before requesting the full file from the clerk. Once you identify the county from the index, you contact that clerk directly for the case documents.

Georgia Law: Residency, Grounds, and the Waiting Period

To file for dissolution of marriage in Clinch County, at least one spouse must have been a Georgia resident for six continuous months before the petition date. Georgia Code Title 19 establishes this requirement. The petition is normally filed in the county where the defendant lives. If the defendant has moved outside Georgia, the plaintiff can file in their own county of residence, which would be Clinch County if that is where they live.

Georgia recognizes 13 legal grounds for dissolution of marriage. The most commonly used is the no-fault ground that the marriage is "irretrievably broken," meaning the marriage has broken down to the point where it cannot be repaired. No proof of fault or misconduct is needed for this ground. Other grounds in Georgia law include adultery, willful desertion, and cruel treatment, among others. The irretrievably broken ground is used in the large majority of modern dissolution cases because it avoids adversarial proceedings and moves through the court more efficiently.

After the petition is filed and the defendant is served, there is a mandatory 30-day waiting period. The defendant may file an answer during this time. If both parties reach full agreement on all issues, including property, debt, and any matters involving children, the court can enter a final decree promptly after the 30 days expire. Contested matters extend the timeline and may involve mediation or hearings. The relevant statutes are at codes.findlaw.com and Justia's Georgia Title 19 Chapter 5.

Legal Help for Clinch County Residents

Residents of Clinch County who need legal help with a dissolution case can contact Georgia Legal Services Program at glsp.org. This organization provides free or reduced-cost legal services to lower-income Georgians, including those in rural south Georgia. Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org offers self-help tools and plain-language guides for people who want to handle their own dissolution case, particularly for uncontested matters where both parties have agreed on all terms.

For private legal representation, the Georgia Bar lawyer referral service is reachable at 1-800-334-6865 or at gabar.org. Attorneys who practice in the Alapaha Circuit regularly handle cases in Clinch County and can help you navigate the filing process and any issues that arise during the proceedings. An initial consultation can help you determine whether your case is likely to be straightforward or whether you should expect a more complex process.

Cities in Clinch County

Clinch County is a rural county in south Georgia. Homerville, the county seat, has a population of approximately 2,700 residents. No city in Clinch County meets the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. All dissolution of marriage cases from communities across the county, including Homerville and Fargo, are filed through the Superior Court Clerk at 25 Court Square in Homerville.

Nearby Counties

If a dissolution case may have been filed in a neighboring jurisdiction, these pages cover the surrounding counties.