Find Dissolution of Marriage Records in Coffee County
Coffee County dissolution of marriage records are kept by the Superior Court Clerk at the Coffee County Courthouse in Douglas. All petitions, motions, and final decrees filed in the county are part of the public record once the court enters the final order. This page covers how to access those records, what they contain, how the filing process works, and where to find legal help in Coffee County and the surrounding area of south Georgia.
Coffee County Quick Facts
Coffee County Superior Court Clerk
The Coffee County Superior Court Clerk handles all dissolution of marriage filings in the county. The office is at the Coffee County Courthouse, 101 South Peterson Avenue, Douglas, GA 31533. Staff accept petitions, maintain the case index, and provide copies of court documents to members of the public. Coffee County does not have a dedicated court website, so the best way to get current information is to call or visit the clerk's office directly.
| Office | Coffee County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 South Peterson Avenue, Douglas, GA 31533 |
| Mailing | PO Box 10, Douglas, GA 31534 |
| Phone | (912) 384-2865 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
If you visit in person, bring a valid photo ID and have the full names of both parties available. The clerk can search the index by party name. If you know the case number, that will speed up the lookup. Call ahead if you need certified copies, as the clerk can tell you the current per-page fee and how to pay. Mail requests are also accepted, but call first to confirm what you need to send and how to submit payment.
The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Association maintains a directory of every clerk in the state. The screenshot below shows the About Vital Records page at the DPH site, which is a useful companion resource when you need to confirm basic dissolution information for records from 1952 to 1996.
The DPH resource is separate from the court clerk. It covers state-level verifications only. For the actual court file, you need to contact the Coffee County clerk directly.
Searching Dissolution of Marriage Records in Coffee County
The Coffee County Superior Court Clerk's office in Douglas is the primary place to search dissolution of marriage records. Visit during business hours with a photo ID and the names of both parties. Staff will search the case index and pull the file. You can review documents at the counter and request copies. There is no known county-specific online case search for Coffee County at this time, so in-person or phone requests are the main options.
Several statewide tools may help you find basic case information. PeachCourt at peachcourt.com gives public civil case access for a number of Georgia counties. Check whether Coffee County is included in their current coverage. Georgia Courts at georgiacourts.gov is the official state portal with court system information and links to county resources. Re:SearchGA at researchga.tylerhost.net covers some Georgia counties for civil case search, so it is worth a check.
The GSCCCA eCertification system at ecert.gsccca.org allows online ordering of certified copies of recorded court documents. The main GSCCCA portal at gsccca.org offers broader statewide search tools. Use the Find My Clerk directory at gaclerks.org/Clerks/FindMyClerk.aspx to confirm current contact information for the Coffee County clerk.
The GSCCCA eCertification portal allows you to order certified copies of recorded documents without visiting the courthouse. The screenshot below shows the eCert main page.
eCertification is a time-saver when you need a certified copy and cannot visit the Coffee County courthouse in Douglas in person.
Filing for Dissolution of Marriage in Coffee County
To file for dissolution of marriage in Coffee County, at least one spouse must have been a Georgia resident 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 with the Coffee County Superior Court Clerk at the courthouse on South Peterson Avenue in Douglas, pay the filing fee, and then serve the other spouse with a copy of the petition and summons.
Georgia law requires a minimum waiting period of 30 days after service before the court can schedule a final hearing. This rule gives both parties time to respond. In uncontested cases where both spouses agree on all terms, the case can move through the process fairly quickly after the 30-day period ends. If there are disputes about property, debts, or children, those must be resolved before the judge can sign the final decree. The grounds for dissolution of marriage in Georgia are stated in O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. The most common ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. This is the no-fault option and does not require any showing of wrongdoing by either spouse. Once the judge signs the final decree in Coffee County, it becomes a public court record.
What Dissolution of Marriage Records Contain
The complete case file for a Coffee County dissolution of marriage includes every document filed from the opening petition through the final order. The final decree is the document that ends the marriage and sets out all the court's decisions.
- Full legal names of both spouses as stated in the petition
- Date the petition was filed and date the final decree was signed
- Grounds for dissolution as pleaded and found by the court
- Division of marital property and debts
- Child custody, parenting plan, and visitation schedule if children are involved
- Child support amount and payment terms if applicable
- Alimony or spousal support order if the court granted it
The petition, proof of service, any motions filed during the case, and the final decree are all part of the public file at the Coffee County clerk's office. A settlement agreement, if one was submitted, is also included. Some financial exhibits may be sealed if the court issued a protective order covering them, but the decree itself remains accessible to the public. Contact the clerk to get copies of specific documents from any case file.
Georgia State Divorce Verification
The Georgia Department of Public Health holds state-level dissolution of marriage verifications for records from 1952 through 1996. These verifications are not copies of the actual court decree. They confirm a dissolution took place and list basic information like the names of the parties and the date. They do not include property terms, custody arrangements, or other details from the case. For those specifics, or for cases outside the 1952-1996 window, you need to contact the Coffee County Superior Court Clerk directly.
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 run Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. Complete information and request instructions are posted at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords.
Before you request anything, check with whoever is asking for the record. Some agencies want the DPH verification while others require a certified copy from the county clerk. They are different documents and serve different purposes. Make sure you know which one is needed before you spend time and money on the wrong one.
Legal Help in Coffee County
Legal Services Georgia serves income-eligible residents throughout the state, including Coffee County. Their website is glsp.org. If you qualify for their services, they can provide legal help for dissolution of marriage and related family law matters. Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org has free guides that explain how to file for dissolution, what forms you need, and what to expect at each stage of the process.
The State Bar of Georgia runs a lawyer referral service at gabar.org and by phone at 1-800-334-6865. The bar can match you with a licensed Georgia attorney who handles family law cases in Coffee County or the surrounding area of south Georgia. Initial consultations through the referral program are often available at a reduced fee. The Coffee County Courthouse may also have basic self-help materials available at the clerk's counter for people who plan to handle their own case.
Cities in Coffee County
Douglas is the county seat of Coffee County. No cities in Coffee County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. Dissolution of marriage cases for Douglas residents and all other Coffee County residents are filed with the Superior Court Clerk at the courthouse on South Peterson Avenue in Douglas.
Nearby Counties
Counties bordering Coffee County each maintain their own Superior Court Clerk for dissolution of marriage filings. Use the links below to find records in neighboring counties.