Jeff Davis County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Dissolution of marriage records in Jeff Davis County are filed with and maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Hazlehurst, the county seat, and are public records under Georgia law. This page explains how to find those records, what the filing process involves, and what state and local resources are available to help you through a dissolution case or records search.
Jeff Davis County Quick Facts
Jeff Davis County Superior Court Clerk
The Superior Court Clerk in Hazlehurst is the official custodian of all dissolution of marriage records filed in Jeff Davis County. The clerk's office is located in the Jeff Davis County Courthouse on Jeff Davis Street. Walk-in requests are accepted during regular business hours, and mail requests go to the PO Box listed below. Jeff Davis County is a small, rural county, so calling ahead before your visit is advisable to confirm the clerk has the records available and that the office will not be closed for a court hearing or other event during your planned visit.
| Office | Jeff Davis County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 14 Jeff Davis Street, Hazlehurst, GA 31539 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 23, Hazlehurst, GA 31539 |
| Phone | (912) 375-6628 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | Find My Clerk Directory |
When you call, have the names of both parties and an approximate year of filing. That detail allows staff to locate the record in the index and confirm what documents the file contains before you make the trip to Hazlehurst.
Searching Jeff Davis County Dissolution Records
Jeff Davis County does not maintain a public online case search portal. Most searches start with a direct call to the clerk's office. Before you call, several statewide systems are worth checking first.
The Superior Court Clerks' Association of Georgia at gaclerks.org maintains a directory of all 159 Georgia county clerks. Use the Find My Clerk tool to verify the Jeff Davis County clerk's current contact details before reaching out. The directory is updated regularly as offices change staff or contact information.
The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) maintains a statewide index of recorded documents and some civil case filings. Checking GSCCCA can tell you whether a case index entry exists for Jeff Davis County. Their eCertification platform at ecert.gsccca.org lets you order certified copies of certain records online without visiting the courthouse.
PeachCourt is Georgia's statewide eFiling and case access platform. Cases filed through PeachCourt in Jeff Davis County may be searchable there. If the dissolution case you are researching was filed recently, PeachCourt is a useful first check. The Georgia Courts portal provides general court system information and links to tools used across the state.
For older records not available through any digital system, a direct call to the clerk at (912) 375-6628 is the most reliable step. For historical case research, the Georgia Archives in Morrow holds a statewide dissolution index on microfiche covering cases from 1965 to 1971 and 1973 to 1999, which can help confirm the filing county when it is not known.
The Superior Court Clerks of Georgia directory shown below is the primary statewide tool for finding contact information for any county clerk, including Jeff Davis County, and is maintained by the clerks' association to stay current across all 159 counties.
The directory is a fast way to confirm current phone numbers and addresses for the Jeff Davis County clerk before making contact.
Filing for Dissolution of Marriage in Jeff Davis County
At least one spouse must have been a Georgia resident for six months before filing a dissolution of marriage petition in Jeff Davis County. The petition is filed with the Superior Court Clerk at 14 Jeff Davis Street in Hazlehurst. Georgia law at O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3 provides 13 recognized grounds for dissolution of marriage. The vast majority of cases in Jeff Davis County use the no-fault ground of irretrievable breakdown, which requires no proof of fault or wrongdoing.
Once the petition is filed and the other party is properly served, Georgia requires a minimum 30-day waiting period before the court can issue a final decree. The judge cannot skip this period even when both parties have agreed on all terms. For uncontested cases, the matter usually concludes within a few months of filing after the waiting period runs. Contested cases with disputes over property, custody, or support take longer and depend on how complex the disagreements are and how busy the court's schedule is.
In a small county like Jeff Davis, it is best to call the clerk before filing to confirm the current filing fee, what forms are required locally, and whether any standing orders affect how new dissolution cases are processed. Fees are paid at the time of filing. The clerk can answer those questions and point you to the correct paperwork.
People handling an uncontested dissolution without an attorney should review the free guides at Georgia Legal Aid before preparing documents. The site explains the process in plain language and links to forms accepted in Georgia courts statewide.
What Jeff Davis County Dissolution Records Contain
The Jeff Davis County Superior Court Clerk holds the official case file for every dissolution of marriage filed in the county. The contents of a case file depend on how the case was handled.
A simple agreed case might include only the petition, proof of service, a settlement agreement, and the final decree. A contested matter with disputed property or custody claims can accumulate a much larger set of filings, including temporary orders, motions, hearing records, and supporting evidence. Most people seeking records want a certified copy of the final decree of dissolution of marriage.
Certified copies of the final decree are needed for name changes at the Social Security Administration and state DMV, for updating financial accounts, vehicle titles, and beneficiary designations, and for establishing eligibility to remarry. The clerk can certify any individual document from the file, not just the final decree. Confirm the current copy fee with the office before your visit.
All dissolution records are public under the Georgia Open Records Act unless a judge has entered a seal order. Sealed documents are most common in cases involving minor children or sensitive financial details. Ask the clerk whether any part of a file is sealed before making the trip to Hazlehurst.
State Divorce Verification Through Georgia DPH
The Georgia Department of Public Health Vital Records office in Atlanta holds a limited set of divorce verification records for cases filed in Georgia between 1952 and 1996. This system is separate from the Jeff Davis County court records and serves a different purpose.
DPH can issue a verification letter confirming that a dissolution of marriage occurred in Georgia during that date range. They do not have the court case file, the final decree, or any other pleadings. For actual court documents, the Superior Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed is the correct source. DPH Vital Records is at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, reachable at (404) 657-2700, Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. Requests need Form 3917, a $10 search fee, and $5 per copy. Details are at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords.
The UNiCourt Georgia OCGA Title 19 code reference shown below provides the full statutory text for Title 19 of the Georgia Code, which covers domestic relations including all grounds and procedures for dissolution of marriage in Georgia.
The code reference is useful for reviewing the full text of Georgia's dissolution of marriage statutes before filing a case or researching a legal question related to a Jeff Davis County dissolution proceeding.
Legal Help for Jeff Davis County Residents
Jeff Davis County residents who need legal help with a dissolution of marriage have access to several resources, including free services for those who qualify on income. The rural location means some services operate remotely or require travel to a larger city for in-person consultations.
Legal Services Georgia provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents across the state, including Jeff Davis County. They handle family law matters including dissolution of marriage, custody, and support. Contact them to check income eligibility and schedule an appointment.
Georgia Legal Aid maintains a library of free self-help guides online. The site explains the dissolution of marriage process in plain, accessible language and links to forms used in Georgia courts statewide. For a simple uncontested case handled without a lawyer, this is a strong starting point.
The State Bar of Georgia runs a lawyer referral service at 1-800-334-6865. Family law attorneys serving south Georgia and the Hazlehurst area know the Jeff Davis County Superior Court and can advise you on local court practices and any issues specific to the area.
The Georgia Archives in Morrow, at 5800 Jonesboro Road, holds the statewide dissolution index on microfiche for cases from 1965 to 1971 and 1973 to 1999. The Archives is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 AM to 4 PM.
Cities in Jeff Davis County
Hazlehurst is the county seat of Jeff Davis County and the location of the courthouse and clerk's office. With a population of approximately 3,800 residents, Hazlehurst does not meet the threshold for a dedicated records page. All dissolution of marriage cases filed by Jeff Davis County residents are handled at the Superior Court Clerk's office at 14 Jeff Davis Street in Hazlehurst.
Nearby Counties
Jeff Davis County is located in southeast Georgia and borders several counties, each with its own Superior Court Clerk and dissolution of marriage records.