Search Colquitt County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Colquitt County dissolution of marriage records are filed and maintained by the Superior Court Clerk at the Colquitt County Courthouse in Moultrie. Every petition, response, motion, and final decree in a dissolution case becomes part of the public record once the court enters the final order. This page explains where to find those records, how to request copies, what the records include, how to file a case, and where to get legal help in Colquitt County.
Colquitt County Quick Facts
Colquitt County Superior Court Clerk
The Colquitt County Superior Court Clerk handles all dissolution of marriage filings for the county. The office is at the Colquitt County Courthouse, 101 East Central Avenue, Moultrie, GA 31768. Staff accept new filings, maintain the complete case index, and provide copies of court documents to anyone who requests them. Colquitt County does not have a dedicated clerk website, so the best way to confirm current procedures and fees is to call the office before you visit or submit a request by mail.
| Office | Colquitt County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 East Central Avenue, Moultrie, GA 31768 |
| Mailing | PO Box 2827, Moultrie, GA 31776 |
| Phone | (229) 616-7420 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
When you visit, bring a valid photo ID and have the full legal names of both parties ready. If you know the case number, bring that too. The clerk will search the index and pull the file. Copy fees are set by the court and may vary, so call ahead for the current rate per page for certified and uncertified copies. Mail requests are accepted; call the office to confirm what needs to be included with your request and how to send payment.
Georgia's vital records agency provides state-level dissolution verifications for records from 1952 to 1996. The screenshot below shows the georgia.gov request page, which is a useful starting point for understanding what the state offers versus what you get from the county clerk.
State verifications and county court records serve different needs. If you need the actual decree, you must request it from the Colquitt County clerk, not from the state.
Searching Dissolution of Marriage Records in Colquitt County
The clerk's office at 101 East Central Avenue in Moultrie is the main source for Colquitt County dissolution of marriage records. Visit during regular hours with a photo ID. Staff will search the index by party name and retrieve the case file. You can review documents at the counter. If you need copies, the clerk can tell you the current fee. There is no county-specific online case search for Colquitt County at this time.
Several statewide platforms give you additional search options. PeachCourt at peachcourt.com provides civil case access for a number of Georgia counties. Check whether Colquitt is among them. Georgia Courts at georgiacourts.gov is the official state portal with court system links and county-level information. Re:SearchGA at researchga.tylerhost.net covers a subset of Georgia counties for civil case searching.
The GSCCCA eCertification system at ecert.gsccca.org lets you order certified copies of recorded documents online. The main GSCCCA portal at gsccca.org provides broader statewide search tools. The Find My Clerk directory at gaclerks.org/Clerks/FindMyClerk.aspx gives you verified contact information for the Colquitt County clerk and all other Georgia clerks.
The Georgia Archives holds older court records and related historical documents that may not be available at the courthouse. The screenshot below shows the archives home page.
For very old Colquitt County dissolution records, the Georgia Archives may hold materials that the courthouse no longer keeps. Contact them to ask what is available before making a trip to Moultrie for records that may not be there.
Filing for Dissolution of Marriage in Colquitt County
To file for dissolution of marriage in Colquitt County, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months before the petition is filed. The residency requirement is in O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2. You bring the petition to the clerk's office at the Colquitt County Courthouse, pay the filing fee, and then arrange for formal service of process on the other spouse.
After service, Georgia law sets a minimum 30-day waiting period before the court can hold a final hearing. This applies in all cases. In uncontested situations where both parties agree on property, debts, and any children, the case can conclude fairly soon after the 30-day window. Contested cases take longer because the court must hear both sides and resolve any disputes before the judge can enter the final decree. The legal grounds for dissolution of marriage in Georgia are in O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Most people file under the no-fault ground that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Once the judge signs the decree, it is entered into the public record at the Colquitt County clerk's office.
What Dissolution of Marriage Records Contain
A Colquitt County dissolution of marriage case file includes all documents submitted to the court from the date of filing through the entry of the final order. The decree summarizes the court's rulings on every issue raised in the case.
- Full legal names of both parties as they appear in the petition
- Filing date and the date the final decree was entered
- Grounds for dissolution as stated in the petition and found by the judge
- Division of real and personal property and allocation of marital debts
- Child custody arrangement and parenting plan if children are part of the case
- Child support amount, payment schedule, and any future modification terms
- Alimony award if spousal support was ordered by the court
The petition, proof of service, motions filed during the case, any temporary orders, and the final decree are all public documents. A settlement agreement submitted by the parties is also part of the file. Some financial disclosures may be sealed under a court protective order, but the decree itself stays in the public record. Anyone can request copies from the Colquitt County Superior Court Clerk.
Georgia State Divorce Verification
The Georgia Department of Public Health maintains state-level dissolution of marriage verifications for cases recorded between 1952 and 1996. These are not the same as a certified copy of the court decree. A DPH verification confirms that a dissolution occurred and gives you basic details like the names of the parties and the date. It does not include property settlements, custody terms, or other specifics from the court file. For any of that information, or for records outside the 1952-1996 range, you need to go to the Colquitt County Superior Court Clerk.
State verifications cost $10 and must be 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. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Full instructions and the form are available at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. Processing times vary, so plan ahead if you need the verification by a specific date.
Check with the agency or institution asking for the record before you order anything. Some places accept the DPH verification while others require a certified copy of the actual decree from the county clerk. Ordering the wrong one means waiting again and paying twice.
Legal Help in Colquitt County
Legal Services Georgia helps income-eligible residents in Colquitt County and across the state. Their website is glsp.org. They may be able to provide direct legal help with dissolution of marriage cases for qualifying clients. Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org offers free written guides that walk you through the filing process, explain the forms, and describe what to expect in court.
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 in or near Colquitt County. Initial consultations through the referral program are often available at a reduced fee. The Colquitt County Courthouse may have blank forms available at the clerk's counter for people representing themselves.
Cities in Colquitt County
Moultrie is the county seat of Colquitt County. No cities in Colquitt County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. Dissolution of marriage cases for all Colquitt County residents are filed with the Superior Court Clerk at the courthouse on East Central Avenue in Moultrie.
Nearby Counties
Counties bordering Colquitt County each have their own Superior Court Clerk for dissolution of marriage filings. Use the links below to search records in neighboring counties.