Fulton County Dissolution of Marriage Records

Dissolution of marriage records in Fulton County are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Atlanta, Georgia. Fulton is the most populous county in Georgia, and the clerk's office handles a high volume of civil filings each year through three locations across the county. This page covers how to search for a case, where to go for certified copies, which office handles dissolution records, and what resources are available for people who need legal help in Fulton County.

Fulton County Superior Court Clerk

The Fulton County Superior Court Clerk is Hon. Che Alexander. The main courthouse is the Lewis R. Slaton Courthouse in downtown Atlanta. This is where dissolution of marriage records are filed and maintained for all of Fulton County. The clerk's office operates three locations across the county, which helps residents in the north and south parts of the county avoid a trip to downtown Atlanta for some services.

Dissolution of marriage records are kept in the Closed File Room on the first floor of the main courthouse at 136 Pryor Street. Walk-ins are accepted during business hours, but note that the last walk-in is at 3:45 PM, not 5:00 PM. If you arrive close to closing, you may not be helped for a record request that day. Call the Divorce Records line at (404) 612-2789 before visiting to confirm what you need is available and to ask about current processing times.

Satellite Service Centers

Fulton County operates two satellite service centers in addition to the main courthouse. These locations handle some clerk services for residents in the northern and southern parts of the county. Note that both satellite locations close for a one-hour lunch break from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM each day, and last service is at 4:30 PM. Confirm with the main office which specific services are available at each location before making a trip.

If you live in the northern part of the county near Roswell or Alpharetta, the North Service Center on Roswell Road may save you a trip to downtown Atlanta for routine matters. Similarly, residents near College Park or Union City may find the South Service Center more convenient. Call ahead to confirm the specific service you need is offered at the satellite location.

Online Access and eServices

Fulton County offers eServices for attorneys and the public through the clerk's website at fultonclerk.org. The eServices portal allows attorneys to file cases electronically. Public users can access case information and request certain documents through the portal. This is one of the more robust online offerings among Georgia county clerks, which makes sense given the volume of cases filed in Fulton County each year.

The screenshot below shows the Fulton County Superior Court Clerk's main website at fultonclerk.org, where you can find contact information, service descriptions, and links to online tools.

The Fulton County clerk's site provides guidance on what documents are available, which divisions handle specific record types, and how to submit copy requests. For dissolution of marriage records specifically, the Closed File Room contact at (404) 612-2789 is the direct line to use.

The screenshot below shows the Fulton County eServices portal, where online document requests and eFiling are available for qualifying case types.

The eServices portal at fultonclerk.org/144/eServices is the online gateway for copy requests, case lookups, and eFiling in Fulton County. Attorneys file most new cases here. Public users can use it to search for case information and in some cases submit record requests without visiting the courthouse in person.

Statewide Search Tools

Several Georgia-wide platforms can help with Fulton County dissolution of marriage research. The GSCCCA portal indexes civil filings and recorded instruments from all 159 Georgia counties. Fulton County filings are well-represented in the GSCCCA system. Searching by party name can return case index information that helps you identify a case number before contacting the clerk.

The GSCCCA eCertification service allows online requests for certified copies of certain indexed documents. Not every dissolution of marriage document is available this way, but some recorded instruments connected to a case may be. If you need a certified copy of a specific document, check whether it is available through eCert before calling the courthouse.

PeachCourt handles eFiling for Fulton County. Cases filed electronically will appear in the PeachCourt system and can be searched there. Older cases filed on paper are not in PeachCourt but are maintained by the clerk in the Closed File Room.

The re:SearchGA system at researchga.tylerhost.net provides case index access for participating courts. Attorneys use it frequently for Fulton County cases. Public access is also available. This tool can help you confirm a case number and filing date before making a records request.

Vital Records and DPH

The Georgia Department of Public Health maintains dissolution of marriage verifications for cases filed between 1952 and 1996. For Fulton County cases in that window, DPH can issue a verification letter more quickly than a courthouse file request in some situations. DPH Vital Records is at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords.

For cases outside that window, the Fulton County clerk is the only official source. DPH does not issue certified copies of actual court decrees, and they cannot help with cases before 1952 or after 1996. Call the Divorce Records line at (404) 612-2789 for all other certified copy requests.

Filing a Dissolution of Marriage in Fulton County

To file in Fulton County, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months. Fulton County falls under the Atlanta Judicial Circuit. The petition is filed with the clerk at the main courthouse at 136 Pryor Street. Attorneys typically file electronically through PeachCourt. Self-represented filers visit the clerk's office in person.

After proper service, Georgia requires a 30-day waiting period before a final decree can be entered. Uncontested cases can sometimes be finalized fairly quickly after that period. Contested cases, especially those involving children or significant assets, take longer and involve multiple court appearances. Given the volume of cases in Fulton County, court calendars can be busy, so uncontested matters that are paper-complete tend to move faster.

Self-help forms are available through Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org. The clerk's website also has information about what is required when filing.

Legal Help in Fulton County

Atlanta has a robust legal services community. The Georgia Legal Services Program at glsp.org serves low-income residents throughout the state, including Fulton County. If you qualify based on income, they may be able to help with a dissolution of marriage case.

Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org offers free self-help guides and interactive tools. Their content on dissolution of marriage in Georgia is practical and written in plain language, which is useful whether you are filing on your own or just trying to understand what the process involves.

The State Bar of Georgia has a lawyer referral service at 1-800-334-6865 and at gabar.org. Atlanta has a large pool of family law attorneys, so the referral service can connect you with licensed counsel in the Atlanta area quickly. Many attorneys offer initial consultations for a set fee, which can help you decide whether to hire representation for your case.

Cities in Fulton County

Fulton County includes Atlanta and several major cities in the metro area. The following cities in Fulton County meet the population threshold and have dedicated records pages on this site.

Other communities in Fulton County such as Chattahoochee Hills and Palmetto do not meet the population threshold and do not have dedicated pages on this site.

Nearby Counties

Fulton County is in central Georgia and borders many counties in the metro Atlanta region. Each has its own Superior Court Clerk handling dissolution of marriage records.