Grady County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

Grady County dissolution of marriage records are held by the Superior Court Clerk in Cairo, Georgia. These records are public documents under Georgia's Open Records Act, and anyone may request access to filed petitions, final decrees, and supporting case materials. The clerk's office on North Broad Street handles every dissolution filing in the county, from simple uncontested matters to contested cases involving property and children. This guide explains how to find records, how to contact the right office, what the filing process looks like, and where to turn if you need legal help.

Superior Court Clerk - Where Records Are Filed

All dissolution of marriage cases in Grady County are filed with the Superior Court Clerk. The courthouse is at 250 North Broad Street, Cairo, GA 39828. You can reach the clerk by phone at (229) 377-4621. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you need to send a mailed request, the postal address is PO Box 505, Cairo, GA 39828.

When you visit in person, bring a valid photo ID and any case numbers or party names you have. The clerk's staff can search by name or case number and tell you what documents are on file. They can also explain the fees for certified versus plain copies. A certified copy of a final decree costs more than a plain copy, but courts and government agencies usually need the certified version. Call ahead if you plan to bring a large or complex request so staff can pull the file before you arrive.

Grady County does not have a dedicated court website for online case searches. This means in-person and mail requests are the main ways to get dissolution records from this county. If you are looking for a case and are not sure whether it was filed here or in a neighboring county, the statewide tools described in the next section can help narrow things down before you make a trip to Cairo.

Online Access Through State Portals

Georgia maintains several statewide tools that can help you find court records without traveling to the courthouse. Even when a county does not have its own online portal, these state resources are worth checking first.

The Georgia Department of Public Health vital records page is one option for records from 1952 through 1996. A DPH verification confirms that a dissolution occurred and was reported to the state during that period. It is not a certified copy of the court decree, but it can help you confirm a filing before you contact the clerk for the full record. You can find information at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords.

The screenshot below shows the Georgia vital records request page, which is a useful first step when searching for dissolution records from the mid-20th century.

Source: georgia.gov/request-vital-records

This page walks through the process for requesting a vital record verification from the state, including dissolution of marriage records from 1952 to 1996.

PeachCourt is Georgia's e-filing and case access platform. Some counties allow document lookup and submission through this system. It is worth checking whether Grady County's records are accessible through PeachCourt before you plan a visit to the courthouse. Even if filing is not available online, the portal may show basic case information.

Below is a screenshot of PeachCourt, the state's online filing and case access tool used by participating Georgia counties.

Source: peachcourt.com

PeachCourt connects filers and researchers to court records across Georgia. Check the site to see what is currently available for Grady County Superior Court cases.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Association keeps a full directory of all county clerk offices. If you are unsure which county handled a case, the Find My Clerk tool lets you search by county or city to get direct contact information quickly. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) also maintains a records portal that covers certain document types statewide. The Georgia Courts website and re:SearchGA are two more tools that may surface Grady County case data depending on how recently records were entered into the state system.

Georgia Residency and Filing Requirements

To file for dissolution of marriage in Grady County, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for at least six months before the petition is filed. This requirement is set by Georgia Code Title 19. If you are new to the state, you may need to wait before you can file here. The case is normally filed in the county where the defendant lives. If the defendant lives out of state, you can file in the county where the petitioner lives, which may be Grady County.

Georgia law provides 13 grounds for dissolution of marriage. The most widely used ground is that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." This is a no-fault ground and does not require either party to prove wrongdoing. It is the fastest path in uncontested cases. Other grounds listed in the statute include adultery, desertion, habitual intoxication, and cruel treatment. You can read the full list at Georgia Code Section 19-5-3.

Once the defendant has been served with the petition, a mandatory 30-day waiting period begins. During those 30 days, the defendant may file an answer. If both parties agree on all terms, including any property division and, where children are involved, custody and support arrangements, the case can be resolved quickly after the waiting period ends. Contested matters take longer and require hearings before a Superior Court judge.

Filing fees are paid to the clerk when you submit your petition. The exact amount can change, so call (229) 377-4621 before you go to confirm the current fee. You will also need to pay for service of process, which is typically handled by the county sheriff's office or a private process server.

What Dissolution Records Contain

A dissolution of marriage file in Grady County can include a range of documents, depending on how the case proceeded. The typical record contains the following items.

• The original petition for dissolution of marriage
• Proof of service showing the defendant received notice
• The defendant's answer, if one was filed
• Any settlement agreement signed by both parties
• Court orders covering property, support, or custody
• The final decree of dissolution signed by the judge
• Any post-decree motions or modification orders

Not every file has all of these items. Simple uncontested cases may have only the petition, a settlement agreement, and the final decree. More complex cases can have dozens of filings. The clerk's office can tell you what is in a specific file before you order copies.

State Vital Records Verification (1952-1996)

The Georgia Department of Public Health maintains a verification service for dissolution of marriage records reported to the state between 1952 and 1996. This service does not provide a certified court copy, but it can confirm that a dissolution was reported to the state during that period. The DPH office is at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, and can be reached at (404) 657-2700. Their verification uses Form 3917, and there is a $10 fee per search. Their website is dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. If the record you need falls outside the 1952 to 1996 range, contact the Grady County Superior Court Clerk directly for the original court file.

Legal Help and Resources in Grady County

Several free and low-cost legal resources serve residents of Grady County. Georgia Legal Services Program provides civil legal assistance to qualifying individuals across the state; their website is glsp.org. Georgia Legal Aid offers self-help tools, guides, and information about the dissolution process at georgialegalaid.org. These tools can help you understand what forms to file, what to expect at each stage, and what your rights are before you go to court.

If you want to hire a private family law attorney, the Georgia Bar runs a lawyer referral service at gabar.org, with a toll-free line at 1-800-334-6865. A referral can connect you with an attorney who handles dissolution cases in southwest Georgia. Many attorneys in the area offer an initial consultation for a low flat fee, which can be a smart investment even if you plan to handle most of the paperwork yourself.

Grady County is part of the Pataula Judicial Circuit, which covers several southwest Georgia counties. The circuit court judge assigned to Grady County handles all family law matters filed here. If you have a complex case involving property, business interests, or child custody, getting at least a consultation with an attorney who knows the circuit can help you avoid procedural mistakes that cause delays.

Cities in Grady County

Grady County's largest city is Cairo, the county seat. Cairo has a population of roughly 9,600 and does not meet the threshold for a dedicated records page on this site. All dissolution of marriage filings from Cairo and other communities in Grady County are handled through the Superior Court Clerk's office at 250 North Broad Street in Cairo.

Nearby Counties

If a case may have been filed in a neighboring county, the counties that border or are near Grady County include the following.