Find Dissolution of Marriage Records in Franklin County

Dissolution of marriage records in Franklin County are filed with and maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Carnesville, Georgia. The clerk's office at the Franklin County Courthouse is the official source for all case documents, certified copies, and public record access for dissolution cases filed here. This page explains how to search for a case, how to request copies, and where to find legal help if you need it while navigating the process in this northeast Georgia county.

Franklin County Superior Court Clerk

The Franklin County Superior Court Clerk in Carnesville holds all dissolution of marriage records filed in this county. The courthouse is on Lavonia Road, and the office handles in-person visits, mail requests, and phone inquiries. Staff can search by party name or case number, so have both parties' names and an approximate filing year ready when you call or visit. Bring photo ID for in-person requests.

Franklin County does not maintain a clerk-specific website for online searches. For mail requests, send a written request to PO Box 70, Carnesville, GA 30521. Include both parties' full names, the approximate year of filing, and your return address. The clerk will respond with the fee and estimated processing time once the file is located.

If you are searching remotely and want to narrow things down before contacting the courthouse, statewide tools like the GSCCCA portal and PeachCourt can sometimes return case number information for Franklin County filings. Those tools are described below.

Statewide Search Tools

Franklin County does not have its own public case search system. For online searches, the statewide Georgia tools are your best options. The screenshot below shows georgia.gov's vital records request page, which is one place to start for verification of older dissolution cases in the state's DPH window.

The GSCCCA portal at gsccca.org indexes civil filings and recorded instruments from all 159 Georgia counties. Searching by name may turn up a case number for a Franklin County dissolution filing, which you can then use when contacting the clerk's office in Carnesville. Not all case documents are available through the GSCCCA, but the index is useful for confirming a case exists and getting a reference number.

PeachCourt is Georgia's statewide eFiling system. Cases filed electronically through PeachCourt will appear in its search interface. Franklin County cases filed on paper before eFiling was available will not appear there, but more recent filings may be findable. This is especially useful if you are looking for something filed in the last few years.

The screenshot below shows PeachCourt, the statewide eFiling platform that also supports case searches for participating Georgia counties including Franklin County.

For cases not found through either of those tools, a direct call or written request to the Franklin County clerk at (706) 384-2514 is the most reliable path. The staff there can search the physical index and let you know what is on file.

Vital Records at DPH

The Georgia Department of Public Health keeps dissolution of marriage verifications for cases filed between 1952 and 1996. These are brief summary letters confirming that a dissolution was recorded with the state, not full copies of court decrees. If you need to verify a case from that time window and a full certified copy is not required, DPH may be able to respond faster than a courthouse file pull.

Reach DPH Vital Records at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. For anything before 1952 or after 1996, the Franklin County clerk is your only official source. DPH cannot issue certified copies of actual dissolution decrees regardless of the year.

What Records Are in the Case File

The Superior Court Clerk in Carnesville maintains the full case file for every dissolution of marriage filed in Franklin County. The file includes the original petition, proof of service, any temporary or permanent orders, financial disclosures, settlement agreements, and the final decree. Certified copies of the final decree are the most commonly requested item. These copies are used to update names, close joint accounts, transfer property, and for many other legal needs.

Most dissolution of marriage records are public. If a judge sealed part of a file for a specific reason, such as protecting minors or sensitive financial information, the clerk will tell you what is available and what is restricted. Sealed records are the exception, not the rule.

Older files may be in off-site storage. If you need records from the 1970s or earlier, call ahead to let the clerk know so they can check whether a file retrieval is needed before your visit. Pulling stored records can take extra time.

Filing a Dissolution of Marriage in Franklin County

To file in Franklin County, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months. Franklin County falls under the Northern Judicial Circuit. The petition is filed with the clerk's office in Carnesville. The clerk can tell you the current filing fee when you call.

After the other party is served, Georgia law requires a minimum 30-day waiting period before a final decree can be entered. Uncontested cases, where both parties agree on all terms, can move forward fairly quickly after that window closes. When parties disagree on property, children, or support, the case takes longer and usually involves additional hearings before the judge.

Self-help forms are available through Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org. If you are not sure which forms apply to your situation or how to fill them out correctly, the legal help section below lists resources that can assist.

Legal Help in Franklin County

The Georgia Legal Services Program provides civil legal assistance to qualifying residents in rural areas of Georgia. Franklin County is within their service area. Visit glsp.org to find out whether you meet the income guidelines and how to apply for help.

Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org offers free written guides and interactive tools for people handling their own civil cases. The site has step-by-step explanations of how dissolution of marriage works in Georgia, what paperwork is required, and what to expect at each stage.

The State Bar of Georgia operates a lawyer referral line at 1-800-334-6865. You can also visit gabar.org to search for licensed attorneys near Carnesville. If cost is a concern, ask Georgia Legal Services first to see whether free assistance is available before paying for a private attorney.

Historical Records at the Georgia Archives

For very old dissolution cases in Franklin County, the Georgia Archives in Morrow may hold transferred court materials. The Archives collects historical Superior Court records from counties across Georgia. If you are doing genealogical research and the case you need is from the early or mid-twentieth century, contact the Archives to ask whether Franklin County records from that period are held there. Staff can tell you what is available before you make a trip.

re:SearchGA for Case Index Access

The re:SearchGA system at researchga.tylerhost.net provides access to case index information for participating Georgia courts. This tool is primarily used by attorneys, but members of the public can access it as well. If Franklin County participates, you may be able to find basic case information there. The system does not provide full document access, but it can help confirm a case number before you contact the clerk.

Cities in Franklin County

Carnesville is the county seat of Franklin County. No cities in Franklin County meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page on this site. Carnesville has a population of roughly 625 people. Residents throughout the county file dissolution of marriage cases at the clerk's office in Carnesville.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County is in northeast Georgia and borders several counties in that region. Each has its own Superior Court Clerk handling dissolution of marriage records.