Cobb County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

Cobb County dissolution of marriage records are filed with the Superior Court Clerk at the Cobb County Justice Center in Marietta. The clerk's office keeps every petition, motion, and final decree filed in the county. Records are public once the court enters the final order. This page explains how to search case files, what the records contain, how to file a petition, and where to find legal help if you need it in Cobb County.

Cobb County Superior Court Clerk

The Cobb County Superior Court Clerk is Hon. Connie Taylor. The office is located at the Cobb County Justice Center, 70 Haynes Street, Marietta, GA 30090. This is the main filing point for all dissolution of marriage cases in the county. Staff handle new filings, issue certified copies of final decrees, and maintain the complete index of cases going back many years. The office has a web presence at superiorcourtclerk.cobbcounty.gov where you can find forms and procedural details.

When you visit the clerk's office, bring a valid photo ID and have the full legal names of both parties ready. If you know the case number, that speeds things up. The filing fee for a dissolution of marriage in Cobb County is $218. Certified copies cost $2.50 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. Attorneys may file electronically through the eFiling system. Older closed case records may be stored off-site in the closed file room, so call ahead if you need documents from cases more than a few years old.

The Cobb County Superior Court Clerk website gives you access to online case search and filing information. The screenshot below shows the clerk's official portal where you can look up dissolution filings and get contact details for staff.

The clerk's site is updated regularly. Use it to confirm current fees, check for any new filing requirements, or find links to forms before you visit in person.

Searching Dissolution of Marriage Records in Cobb County

Cobb County offers more search options than most Georgia counties. The clerk's online case search at ctsearch.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.com lets you look up filings by party name or case number from any computer. This is the fastest way to find a case without going to the courthouse. You can get basic case information, filing dates, and document status without paying any fee.

For in-person searches, go to the Justice Center at 70 Haynes Street during business hours. Bring a photo ID and the names of both parties. Staff will pull the case from the index. If you need certified copies of the final decree or other documents, pay the copy fee at the counter. Check the status of any older cases by calling ahead since some closed files are stored separately.

Georgia Courts at georgiacourts.gov gives statewide court information and links to county-level resources. PeachCourt at peachcourt.com provides civil case search access for Cobb and many other Georgia counties. The GSCCCA eCertification system at ecert.gsccca.org allows you to order certified copies of recorded court documents online. Re:SearchGA at researchga.tylerhost.net covers a subset of Georgia counties and is worth checking as well.

Georgia Courts is the official state portal linking all county court systems. The screenshot below shows the georgiacourts.gov home page, a useful starting point for statewide court record research.

The state portal is a good place to start if you are unsure which county handled a particular case or want to understand how Georgia's court system is organized.

Filing for Dissolution of Marriage in Cobb County

To file for dissolution of marriage in Cobb County, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months before the petition is filed. The residency requirement is set out in O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2. You file the petition at the Cobb County Justice Center clerk's office, pay the $218 filing fee, and then have the other spouse formally served with a copy of the petition and summons.

After service is complete, Georgia law sets a minimum waiting period of 30 days before the court can hold a final hearing. In an uncontested case, where both parties agree on all issues including property, debt, and any children, the process can move fairly fast once that wait period passes. If there are disputes, those need to be worked out or decided at a hearing before the judge signs the final decree. The grounds for dissolution of marriage in Georgia are listed in O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. The most common ground used is that the marriage is irretrievably broken, which does not require proof of fault by either spouse. Once the judge signs the final decree, it is entered into the public court record and available for anyone to request.

What Dissolution of Marriage Records Contain

The case file for a Cobb County dissolution of marriage is made up of every document submitted from the initial petition through the final order. The decree itself sets out all the court's rulings in one place.

• Full legal names of both parties as they appear in the petition
• Date the petition was filed and date the final decree was signed
• Grounds for dissolution as stated in the petition and found by the court
• Division of marital property and allocation of debts
• Child custody arrangement, parenting plan, and visitation schedule if children are involved
• Child support amount and payment terms if applicable
• Alimony or spousal support terms if ordered by the court

All the supporting documents, including the petition, proof of service, any motions filed during the case, and any settlement agreement, are part of the public file. Certain financial exhibits may be sealed if the court entered a protective order, but the final decree itself stays in the public record. Anyone can request a copy from the Cobb County Superior Court Clerk by visiting in person, writing by mail, or ordering through the eCertification system.

Georgia State Divorce Verification

The Georgia Department of Public Health maintains state-level dissolution of marriage verifications for records from 1952 through 1996. These are not the same as certified copies of the court decree. A DPH verification confirms that a dissolution took place and gives you basic information like the names of the parties and the date. It does not include property terms, custody details, or any other specifics from the case file. For those, you need to go to the Cobb County Superior Court Clerk.

State verifications cost $10 and are requested using Form 3917. The DPH Vital Records office is at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. The phone number is (404) 657-2700. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Full details and request instructions are available at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. For records before 1952 or after 1996, the clerk's office in the county where the dissolution was filed is the only source.

If you need to give the record to a court, a lender, or a government office, check with them first. Ask whether a DPH verification meets their requirement or whether they need a certified copy of the actual decree. These are two very different documents, and some agencies will only accept one of them.

The DPH Vital Records website handles state verification requests. The screenshot below shows the main page where you can find Form 3917, fee details, and current instructions for ordering records.

The DPH site is updated when fees or procedures change, so it is worth checking before you submit a request.

Legal Help in Cobb County

Cobb County has solid legal resources for people who need help with dissolution of marriage. Legal Services Georgia serves income-eligible clients across the state, including Cobb County residents. Their site is at glsp.org. Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org has free step-by-step guides covering how to file, what forms to use, and how to handle common problems that come up in uncontested cases.

The State Bar of Georgia runs 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 who handles Cobb County cases. Consultations through the referral program are often available at a reduced fee. The Cobb County Justice Center may also have self-help materials available at the clerk's office for people who plan to represent themselves.

Cities in Cobb County

Several large cities in Cobb County have their dissolution of marriage cases filed with the Cobb County Superior Court Clerk in Marietta. Use the links below to find city-specific record information.

Nearby Counties

Counties bordering Cobb each have their own Superior Court Clerk for dissolution of marriage filings. Use the links below to find records in neighboring counties.