Access Lamar County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Dissolution of marriage records in Lamar County are filed with the Superior Court Clerk in Barnesville and are available to any member of the public under Georgia's open records laws. This page covers where the records are held, how to search them, what Georgia law requires for a dissolution filing, and what resources are available to Lamar County residents who need legal help with a dissolution of marriage case.
Lamar County Quick Facts
Lamar County Superior Court Clerk
The Superior Court Clerk in Barnesville is the official keeper of all dissolution of marriage records filed in Lamar County. The office is at the Lamar County Courthouse on Thomaston Street. Walk-in requests are accepted during regular business hours. Mail requests are also processed; send written requests and documents to the PO Box address listed below.
| Office | Lamar County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 326 Thomaston Street, Barnesville, GA 30204 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 30, Barnesville, GA 30204 |
| Phone | (770) 358-5145 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Directory | Find My Clerk |
Have both parties' full legal names and an approximate filing year ready when you call or visit. For older records, this information helps staff locate paper files more quickly. Lamar County does not have a public-facing website for the clerk's office, so phone contact and in-person visits are the primary ways to interact with the office for records requests.
How to Search Lamar County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Lamar County does not offer a standalone public online search system for dissolution records. Direct contact with the Superior Court Clerk in Barnesville is typically required. Several statewide systems can supplement your search before you reach out to the clerk's office.
The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) indexes civil court filings and recorded instruments from counties across the state. Some Lamar County dissolution records may appear in that database. The GSCCCA also offers an eCertification service at ecert.gsccca.org for requesting certified copies of certain indexed documents online. Reach the GSCCCA at (404) 327-9058.
PeachCourt is Georgia's statewide eFiling platform. Recent Lamar County cases filed electronically may be accessible there for basic case status information. The Georgia Courts portal provides procedural guidance on how Georgia Superior Courts operate, which applies to Lamar County filings. The re:SearchGA system offers online access to documents from participating counties; confirm whether Lamar County currently participates before relying on it.
For in-person visits to the Barnesville courthouse, bring a valid photo ID. Mail requests should include the names of both parties, the approximate filing year, your contact information, and payment for the expected fee. Call (770) 358-5145 to confirm current fees before sending any payment. The clerk can also advise on whether a case you are looking for may be accessible through any of the statewide digital tools.
The GSCCCA eCertification portal is shown below, which allows online requests for certified copies of documents that have been indexed through the statewide cooperative authority system.
The eCertification portal is a convenient option when the specific document you need is already indexed in the GSCCCA system. For older or non-indexed records, the Lamar County clerk remains the correct source.
Dissolution of Marriage Filing Process in Lamar County
Georgia law sets the rules for dissolution of marriage cases in Lamar County. The requirements are the same across all 159 Georgia counties, including residency, grounds, and the mandatory waiting period. Understanding them before you file can prevent avoidable delays.
Residency is required before any case can be filed. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months or more before the petition is filed. If neither party meets that requirement, the Lamar County Superior Court cannot take jurisdiction and cannot hear the case.
Georgia recognizes 13 grounds for dissolution of marriage under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Most Lamar County cases use the no-fault ground that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." No proof of wrongdoing is required. This is by far the most common ground used in Georgia. The other 12 grounds are fault-based, such as adultery, desertion, or habitual intoxication. They are far less commonly used.
After the petition is filed and the other party is properly served with process, a mandatory 30-day waiting period must pass before the court can hold the final hearing. This wait applies in all cases. An uncontested case where both parties agree on all issues can often proceed to finalization shortly after the waiting period ends. Contested cases take longer because the parties must resolve all disagreements about property, debt, support, or children before the court can enter a final decree.
What Lamar County Dissolution Records Include
The Superior Court Clerk in Barnesville holds the full case file for every dissolution of marriage filed in Lamar County. The contents of any particular file depend on the nature and complexity of the case. A simple uncontested dissolution with no shared property and no children tends to have fewer documents. A contested case with multiple issues can result in a much larger file over the course of the proceedings.
Common documents in a Lamar County dissolution case file include:
- The original petition for dissolution of marriage
- Proof of service confirming the respondent was notified
- Any answer, counterclaim, or response filed by the other party
- Temporary orders entered while the case was active
- Settlement agreements or property and debt division orders
- The final decree of dissolution of marriage
- Any post-decree modification orders entered after the final decree
The final decree is the document most commonly requested from the clerk's office. It is required for name changes, estate updates, financial account changes, and many other legal or administrative purposes. Certified copies from the Lamar County clerk carry official weight and are accepted by courts, government agencies, banks, and insurance companies. Call (770) 358-5145 for current fees before submitting a request.
All dissolution of marriage records in Lamar County are public under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70). Any person may request access regardless of their connection to the case. Records sealed by court order are not publicly available without a separate order lifting the seal.
State Divorce Verification Through Georgia DPH
The Georgia Department of Public Health Vital Records office in Atlanta holds a separate set of state-level divorce verification records. This resource is distinct from the Superior Court Clerk and covers a specific time window. Understanding its scope will help you contact the right source for what you need.
DPH Vital Records can verify whether a divorce occurred in Georgia for cases filed between 1952 and 1996. They do not hold actual court files and cannot provide certified copies of decrees. Their service produces a verification letter confirming the event. For Lamar County cases outside that date range, or when you need actual documents, the Superior Court Clerk in Barnesville is the correct source.
DPH Vital Records is at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Phone: (404) 657-2700. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Form 3917 is required. The search fee is $10, and copies are $5 each. Visit dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords for the form and full instructions.
The Georgia Archives in Morrow holds a statewide divorce index on microfiche for 1965 to 1971 and 1973 to 1999. This can help locate older Lamar County dissolution cases when limited information is known. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 9 AM to 4 PM. Address: 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260. Phone: (678) 364-3710.
The statute reference page below shows the Georgia dissolution of marriage law that governs grounds for dissolution statewide, including in Lamar County filings.
Reviewing the statute gives a clear picture of what the law requires before you file or before you challenge a filing on legal grounds in Lamar County Superior Court.
Legal Help in Lamar County
Lamar County residents facing a dissolution of marriage have access to free legal aid programs and a statewide attorney referral service. The resources listed below can help regardless of whether your case is simple or complex.
Legal Services Georgia provides free civil legal assistance to income-eligible residents. Family law, including dissolution of marriage, is one of their primary practice areas. Lamar County is in their service region. Reach out to check your eligibility and get started.
Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org offers free self-help guides on every stage of the dissolution process. The guides are written in plain language and are a good resource for uncontested cases where both parties agree on all terms and may not need full legal representation for every step.
The State Bar of Georgia operates a lawyer referral line at 1-800-334-6865. Attorneys who handle family law in Lamar County can be found through this service. A Barnesville-area attorney will know the local court's filing requirements and can help you avoid procedural delays specific to Lamar County Superior Court.
Cities in Lamar County
Barnesville is the county seat and the largest community in Lamar County. No cities in the county currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated dissolution of marriage records page. All Lamar County residents file dissolution cases at the Superior Court Clerk's office at 326 Thomaston Street in Barnesville.
Nearby Counties
Lamar County is bordered by several counties in middle Georgia. Each county maintains its own dissolution of marriage records through its Superior Court Clerk.