Columbia County Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Columbia County dissolution of marriage records are filed with the Superior Court Clerk at the Columbia County Courthouse in Evans, which is part of the Augusta metropolitan area. All petitions, motions, and final decrees are part of the public record once the court enters the final order. This page covers how to search those records, what they contain, the steps to file a case, and where to find legal help in Columbia County and the surrounding Augusta metro region.
Columbia County Quick Facts
Columbia County Superior Court Clerk
The Columbia County Superior Court Clerk handles all dissolution of marriage filings in the county. The office is at 640 Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans, GA 30809. Staff accept petitions, keep the case index, issue certified copies of final decrees, and maintain the full case files. Columbia County does not have a separate clerk website at this time. Call the office to confirm current fees and procedures before you visit or send a mail request.
| Office | Columbia County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 640 Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans, GA 30809 |
| Mailing | PO Box 369, Evans, GA 30809 |
| Phone | (706) 312-7139 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
When you visit the courthouse in Evans, bring a valid photo ID and have the full names of both parties ready. The clerk will search the index and pull the file. If you know the case number, that will speed up the process. Copy fees vary by type of copy, so call ahead if you need certified documents. Mail-in requests are accepted but confirm the process by phone first to make sure your request is complete before you send it.
The Find My Clerk directory from the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Association gives verified contact information for every county clerk in Georgia. The screenshot below shows that directory.
Use the directory to confirm current contact details for the Columbia County clerk or to look up any other clerk in Georgia.
Searching Dissolution of Marriage Records in Columbia County
The Superior Court Clerk's office at 640 Ronald Reagan Drive in Evans is the main place to search Columbia County dissolution of marriage records. Visit in person with a photo ID and the names of both parties. Staff will pull the case file. There is no dedicated county online case search portal for Columbia County at this time, so in-person visits and phone requests are the primary options for case lookup.
Statewide tools may help for basic information. PeachCourt at peachcourt.com covers civil cases in a number of Georgia counties, including parts of the Augusta area. Check whether Columbia County is in their current coverage. Georgia Courts at georgiacourts.gov is the official state court portal with court system information and county links. Re:SearchGA at researchga.tylerhost.net covers a subset of Georgia counties for civil records search.
The GSCCCA eCertification system at ecert.gsccca.org lets you order certified copies of recorded court documents without a courthouse visit. The main GSCCCA portal at gsccca.org offers broader statewide record tools. Use the Find My Clerk directory at gaclerks.org/Clerks/FindMyClerk.aspx to get verified contact information for the Columbia County clerk.
PeachCourt provides public civil case access for a growing number of Georgia counties. The screenshot below shows the PeachCourt main page.
PeachCourt is free for basic case information. If Columbia County is in their coverage, you can check case status and filing dates without going to the courthouse in Evans.
Filing for Dissolution of Marriage in Columbia County
To file for dissolution of marriage in Columbia County, at least one spouse must have been a Georgia resident for six months before filing. The residency rule is in O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2. You file the petition at the Columbia County Courthouse on Ronald Reagan Drive in Evans, pay the filing fee, and then have the other spouse served with the petition and summons.
Georgia law requires at least 30 days to pass after service before the court can hold a final hearing. In an uncontested case where the parties agree on all issues, the case can move through the system fairly quickly after the 30-day period. If there are disputes about property, debts, or children, the court must resolve those before entering the final decree. The grounds for dissolution in Georgia are set out in O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. The most common ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. No proof of fault is needed when using that ground. Columbia County is part of the fast-growing Augusta metro area, and the courthouse regularly handles a high volume of family court filings. Once the judge signs the final decree, it becomes a public court record available at the clerk's office in Evans.
What Dissolution of Marriage Records Contain
The case file for a Columbia County dissolution of marriage includes every document filed from the initial petition through the entry of the final decree. The decree sets out the court's rulings on all matters before it.
- Full legal names of both spouses as stated in the petition
- Date the petition was filed and the date the final decree was entered
- Grounds for dissolution as pleaded and found by the court
- Division of marital property and debt allocation
- Child custody arrangement, parenting plan, and visitation terms if applicable
- Child support amount and payment schedule if children are involved
- 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 public records. A settlement agreement is included in the file if one was submitted. Some financial documents may be sealed under a protective order, but the decree stays in the public record. Anyone can request copies from the Columbia County Superior Court Clerk at the Evans courthouse.
Georgia State Divorce Verification
The Georgia Department of Public Health holds state-level dissolution of marriage verifications for records from 1952 through 1996. A DPH verification is not the same as a copy of the court decree. It confirms a dissolution occurred and gives basic information, but it does not include property terms, custody arrangements, or other case specifics. For those details, or for cases outside the 1952-1996 window, you must contact the Columbia County Superior Court Clerk in Evans.
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 is (404) 657-2700. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Full information is posted at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. Request processing times vary, so build in extra time if you need the verification by a deadline.
Always check with whoever is asking for the record before you order anything. A court, a lender, or a government office may require the certified copy of the actual decree rather than a DPH verification. These are two very different documents. Getting the wrong one means starting over.
Legal Help in Columbia County
Legal Services Georgia serves income-eligible residents across the state, including those in Columbia County. Their website is glsp.org. If you qualify, they can provide legal help with dissolution of marriage and related family law matters. Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org has free guides covering how to file, what forms to use, and what to expect at each step in 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 connect you with a licensed Georgia family law attorney serving Columbia County and the Augusta metro area. Initial consultations through the referral program are often at a reduced fee. The Columbia County Courthouse in Evans may also have blank petition forms available at the clerk's counter for people who plan to represent themselves.
Cities in Columbia County
Evans and Martinez are large unincorporated communities in Columbia County that are part of the Augusta metro area. Dissolution of marriage cases for residents of these communities are filed with the Columbia County Superior Court Clerk. Use the links below for city-specific record information.
Nearby Counties
Counties bordering Columbia County each maintain their own Superior Court Clerk for dissolution of marriage filings. Use the links below to find records in neighboring counties.