Find Dissolution Of Marriage Records in Greene County
Greene County dissolution of marriage records are filed with the Superior Court Clerk in Greensboro, Georgia. Under Georgia's Open Records Act, these documents are public, meaning any person can request copies of petitions, final decrees, and other case materials on file. The clerk's office on North Main Street processes every dissolution filing in the county, whether the case is a quick uncontested matter or a lengthy contested proceeding. This page explains how to reach the clerk, how to search records online using state tools, what the filing process requires, and where to find help if you need it.
Greene County Quick Facts
Superior Court Clerk - Where Records Are Filed
The Superior Court Clerk in Greene County maintains all dissolution of marriage records for the county. The courthouse is located at 113 North Main Street, Greensboro, GA 30642. The main phone number is (706) 453-3340. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you need to mail a request, send it to PO Box 104, Greensboro, GA 30642.
When you call or visit the office, have the names of the parties and an approximate year of filing ready. This helps staff locate the case faster. The clerk can tell you what documents are in the file and the current fee schedule for certified and plain copies. Certified copies carry legal weight and are often needed for remarriage, name change, or financial transactions. Plain copies cost less and work fine for personal reference or research.
Greene County does not have a dedicated online search portal for court cases at this time. That means the main ways to get records are by visiting the Greensboro courthouse in person or by sending a written mail request. Before making the trip, consider checking the statewide tools described below to confirm that a case was filed in Greene County and get a basic sense of what is on record.
Online Access Through State Resources
Georgia maintains several statewide tools that can help you locate dissolution records without an in-person visit. These tools do not replace the clerk's office, but they are worth checking before you head to Greensboro.
The Find My Clerk directory from the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Association is a fast way to confirm contact details for any county clerk in the state. If you are not certain whether a case was filed in Greene County or a neighboring county like Putnam or Morgan, this tool can help you find the right office quickly.
The screenshot below shows the Find My Clerk directory, which lists every Superior Court Clerk in Georgia along with contact details and any available online portal links.
Source: gaclerks.org/Clerks/FindMyClerk.aspx
Use this directory to look up the Greene County clerk's current address, phone, and any online access options for Superior Court records.
The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) runs a records portal covering certain document types statewide. The eCertification portal lets you request certified copies of some court documents online. Check both to see what Greene County records are currently available through these systems.
The Georgia Courts website links to circuit-level information and filing guides. PeachCourt is Georgia's e-filing platform, and re:SearchGA offers another case search option for participating counties. For historical records, the Georgia Archives maintains a statewide dissolution index covering 1965 to 1971 and 1973 to 1999.
The Georgia Archives homepage is shown below. The dissolution index hosted here covers records from Greene County and dozens of other Georgia counties.
Source: georgiaarchives.org
The Archives' index can confirm whether a dissolution was recorded in the state system for a given time period. Once you find a match, contact the Greene County clerk for the actual case file.
Georgia Residency and Filing Requirements
Filing for dissolution of marriage in Greene County requires that at least one spouse has been a Georgia resident for six or more months before the petition is filed. This is set out in Georgia Code Title 19. If you recently moved to Georgia, you may need to wait before you can file. The case is typically filed in the county where the defendant lives. If the defendant is out of state, the petitioner can file in their own county of residence, which may be Greene County.
Georgia recognizes 13 grounds for dissolution of marriage under state law. The most common ground used in uncontested cases is that the marriage is "irretrievably broken," a no-fault standard that does not require proof of fault by either party. This is the simplest and most common path, especially when both spouses agree on all terms. Other grounds include adultery, habitual intoxication, desertion, and cruel treatment. The full list is at Georgia Code Section 19-5-3.
After the defendant is served, a 30-day waiting period must pass before a final decree can be entered. In uncontested cases where both parties have signed a settlement agreement covering all issues, the judge can enter the decree soon after the waiting period ends. Contested cases take longer. If there are disputes about property, alimony, or children, hearings before a Superior Court judge will be needed, and the timeline stretches out considerably.
What Dissolution Records Contain
A dissolution case file in Greene County typically holds several types of documents. The contents vary based on whether the case was contested or uncontested and what issues were at stake.
- The original petition for dissolution of marriage
- Proof of service on the defendant
- The defendant's answer or waiver, if filed
- Any marital settlement agreement signed by both parties
- Orders covering property division, alimony, or support
- The final decree of dissolution signed by the judge
- Post-decree orders or modification filings, if any
Simple uncontested cases often have just the petition, a settlement, and the final decree. The clerk's staff can tell you what a specific file contains before you commit to ordering copies.
State Vital Records Verification (1952-1996)
The Georgia Department of Public Health offers a dissolution of marriage verification for records reported to the state between 1952 and 1996. This is not a certified court copy. It confirms that a dissolution was reported to the state during that window and can be a useful first step. The DPH office is at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700. The website is dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. The search uses Form 3917, and the fee is $10 per request. If the record you need falls outside the 1952 to 1996 range, go directly to the Greene County Superior Court Clerk for the original file.
Legal Help and Resources in Greene County
Greene County residents who need help with a dissolution case have several options. Georgia Legal Services Program serves lower-income Georgians statewide; their site is glsp.org. Georgia Legal Aid offers self-help guides and tools at georgialegalaid.org. These resources cover the basics of the dissolution process and can help you understand what forms to use and what to expect in court.
For private legal representation, the Georgia Bar's referral service is at gabar.org, with a toll-free number at 1-800-334-6865. The service can connect you with a family law attorney familiar with Greene County Superior Court. An initial consultation is often available for a modest flat fee and can help you decide whether you need ongoing legal help or just guidance on a specific question.
Greene County is in the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit. If your case involves significant assets, real property, or child custody disputes, working with an attorney who knows the circuit judge's practices can save time and prevent procedural errors.
Cities in Greene County
Greene County's largest city is Greensboro, the county seat, with a population of roughly 3,500. No cities in Greene County meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page on this site. All dissolution filings from Greensboro and other communities in the county go through the Superior Court Clerk at 113 North Main Street in Greensboro.
Nearby Counties
If a case may have been filed in a neighboring county, here are the counties that border or are close to Greene County.