DeKalb County Dissolution of Marriage Records

Dissolution of marriage records in DeKalb County are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk under Hon. Debra DeBerry at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Decatur, Georgia. DeKalb is the second most populous county in Georgia and has a dedicated online case search portal, which makes it easier to find records without traveling to the courthouse. This page covers how to search DeKalb County dissolution records, how to use the online portal, what the filing process looks like, what documents are in a case file, how the state verification system works, and where to find legal help in DeKalb County.

DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk

Hon. Debra DeBerry serves as the DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk. The clerk's office at 556 North McDonough Street in Decatur handles all dissolution of marriage filings for the county. This office receives petitions, issues summonses, manages the full case file, and issues certified copies once a case is finalized. DeKalb County has an online case search portal that lets the public look up case information without visiting the courthouse in person.

The DeKalb County Judicial System website at dekalbcountyga.gov/dekalb-county-judicial-system gives you general information about the court system, court locations, and how the clerk's office is organized. DeKalb County has multiple courthouse locations due to its size, so check the website to confirm which location handles the type of case you are researching. The online portal at ody.dekalbcountyga.gov/portal lets you search active and closed cases by party name or case number.

Certified copies and eCertification are available for DeKalb County records. eCertification through the GSCCCA system at ecert.gsccca.org lets you request and receive certified copies electronically without going to the courthouse. Bring a photo ID if you visit in person. Call ahead to confirm which office location to go to for dissolution of marriage records.

The DeKalb County Judicial System website is the starting point for learning about court locations, clerk contacts, and how to access dissolution records in Decatur.

How to Search DeKalb County Dissolution Records

DeKalb County has more online access than most Georgia counties. Start with the county's own online case search portal at ody.dekalbcountyga.gov/portal. You can search by the names of either party or by case number. This portal covers both civil and domestic cases and is available to the public without registration. Results typically include case status, filing date, parties, and a list of documents on file.

In addition to the county portal, Georgia Courts at georgiacourts.gov provides statewide court access. PeachCourt at peachcourt.com offers a civil case search that covers many Georgia counties including DeKalb. Re:SearchGA at researchga.tylerhost.net indexes records for participating counties and may surface older DeKalb County filings. The GSCCCA main portal at gsccca.org ties into the statewide recorded document system.

For historical filings not in any online system, the Georgia Archives at georgiaarchives.org holds older court records. The archives are open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 AM to 4 PM, and can be reached at (678) 364-3710. In-person searching at the DeKalb clerk's office in Decatur remains the most complete option if online tools do not show what you need.

Georgia Courts at georgiacourts.gov gives you links to county portals and general court system information. It is a useful statewide entry point when you are not sure which county has a specific case on file.

Filing for Dissolution of Marriage in DeKalb County

To file a dissolution of marriage case in DeKalb County, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia continuously for at least six months before the petition is filed. This residency rule is established by O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2. You file the petition with the DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk at 556 North McDonough Street in Decatur. After filing, you must serve the other spouse with the petition and summons under Georgia's service of process rules.

Once the other party is served, a mandatory 30-day waiting period begins. The court cannot finalize the dissolution until those 30 days have passed. This rule applies in every Georgia county. In uncontested cases where both parties agree on all terms, the case can close fairly quickly after the waiting period. Contested cases take longer because the judge must resolve disputes over property division, child custody, and support before entering the final decree.

Georgia recognizes 13 grounds for dissolution under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. The most common is the no-fault ground that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Using this ground means you do not have to prove that either party did something wrong. After the judge signs the final decree, it is filed with the clerk and becomes a public record. Certified copies are available at any time after that from the DeKalb County clerk's office.

What Dissolution Records Contain

A dissolution of marriage case file in DeKalb County includes all documents from the initial petition through the final decree and any post-decree filings. The size of a file varies greatly depending on whether the case was contested or simple. Here is what you will typically find:

• Petition for dissolution of marriage naming both spouses and stating the grounds
• Summons and return of service or acknowledgment of service by the other party
• Financial affidavits, settlement agreements, or consent orders submitted by the parties
• Temporary orders on property use, custody arrangements, or spousal support
• Child support worksheets and parenting plans if minor children are involved
• Final decree of dissolution signed by the DeKalb County Superior Court judge
• Post-decree modifications, contempt orders, or enforcement filings if any were submitted after closing

Simple uncontested cases with no children will have far fewer documents than contested ones. The online portal at ody.dekalbcountyga.gov/portal shows you the document list so you can see what is in the file before you request copies. Sealed portions are not accessible. Final decrees are public records in Georgia once entered by the court.

State Verification Through Georgia DPH

Georgia's Department of Public Health operates a statewide verification index for dissolution of marriage cases finalized between 1952 and 1996. A DPH verification confirms that the dissolution occurred and provides basic identifying details. It is not a copy of the court decree and does not include all the information found in the Superior Court case file.

For cases outside the 1952 to 1996 date range, the DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk in Decatur is the only official source. DPH Vital Records is at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Call (404) 657-2700 or visit dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. DPH does not hold court records and cannot provide certified copies of decrees. If you need the actual decree, contact the clerk's office directly or use the GSCCCA eCertification portal.

Legal Help in DeKalb County

DeKalb County has a range of legal resources available for residents who need help with a dissolution of marriage case. Legal Services Georgia at glsp.org provides free civil legal assistance to qualifying low-income Georgians. Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org offers self-help resources online and has offices that serve the DeKalb County area. Both organizations can help you figure out if you qualify for free help and which office to contact.

The Georgia Bar's lawyer referral service at gabar.org or 1-800-334-6865 can match you with a licensed attorney in the Atlanta metro area who handles family law cases. Because DeKalb is a large, populated county, there are many family law attorneys in private practice nearby. If your case involves significant assets, children, or a contested spouse, consulting a lawyer before you file is worth the time. The clerk's office staff can answer procedural questions and help you understand what forms to file, but they cannot tell you what strategy to take or how to handle a dispute.

Cities in DeKalb County

DeKalb County includes several major cities and communities with their own dissolution of marriage pages. Atlanta spans both Fulton and DeKalb counties, and cases may be filed in either county depending on where the parties lived.

Nearby Counties

DeKalb County borders several major Georgia counties in the Atlanta metro area. If a case was filed in a neighboring county, contact that county's Superior Court Clerk to get records.