Search Laurens County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Dissolution of marriage records for Laurens County are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Dublin and are available to any person under Georgia's open records laws. This page explains how to find and request records, what statewide tools can supplement your search, what Georgia law requires for a dissolution filing in Laurens County, and where residents can get legal help.
Laurens County Quick Facts
Laurens County Superior Court Clerk
The Superior Court Clerk in Dublin is the official keeper of all dissolution of marriage case files in Laurens County. The office is at the Laurens County Courthouse on North Jefferson Street. Walk-in requests are accepted during regular business hours. Mail requests are also processed; when mailing documents or written requests, use the PO Box address rather than the street address.
| Office | Laurens County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 North Jefferson Street, Dublin, GA 31021 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 2028, Dublin, GA 31040 |
| Phone | (478) 277-5020 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Directory | Find My Clerk |
Before calling or visiting, have both parties' full legal names and the approximate year of filing available. That detail helps the staff locate records efficiently, particularly for older files that may be stored in paper rather than a digital system. Laurens County does not have a public-facing website for the clerk's office, so the phone line and in-person visits are the main ways to contact the office for record requests.
How to Search Laurens County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Laurens County does not offer a standalone public online search tool for dissolution records. Most searches require direct contact with the Superior Court Clerk in Dublin. Before reaching out, a few statewide resources can help you narrow your search or access some records without visiting the courthouse.
The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) maintains a statewide index of civil court filings and recorded instruments. Some Laurens County dissolution of marriage records may be indexed there. The GSCCCA can be reached at (404) 327-9058. Their eCertification portal at ecert.gsccca.org handles online certified copy requests for certain indexed court documents.
The statewide Superior Court Clerks directory at gaclerks.org is the best source for verifying current contact details for the Laurens County clerk. The screenshot below shows the GSCCCA records portal, which indexes dissolution of marriage filings from Laurens County and other Georgia counties for civil records searches.
The directory is maintained by the clerks' association and is a reliable source for current clerk contact information before you make a request.
PeachCourt is Georgia's statewide eFiling platform. Cases filed electronically in Laurens County in recent years may be accessible there for case status and basic case information. The Georgia Courts portal provides general procedural guidance for all Georgia Superior Courts, including Laurens County. The re:SearchGA system covers participating counties; check whether Laurens County is currently part of that program before relying on it for your search.
For visits to the Dublin courthouse, bring a photo ID. Mail requests should include both parties' names, the approximate filing year, your contact information, and payment for the expected fee. Call (478) 277-5020 to confirm current fees before sending payment.
Dissolution of Marriage Filing Process in Laurens County
Georgia law governs the dissolution of marriage process in Laurens County just as it does in all 159 Georgia counties. The rules are uniform across the state. Knowing the key requirements before you file can prevent your case from being delayed or dismissed.
Residency is a threshold requirement. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2, at least one spouse must have been a Georgia resident for six months or more before filing the petition. If that requirement is not met, the Laurens 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. By far the most commonly used ground in Laurens County and across Georgia is the no-fault ground that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." This requires no showing of fault by either party. The other 12 grounds are fault-based and are rarely used in practice.
After the petition is filed and the other party is properly served with legal process, a mandatory 30-day waiting period begins. The court cannot schedule or hold the final hearing until those 30 days have passed. This applies in all cases, even when both parties agree on everything. Uncontested cases where both parties are aligned on all issues can often proceed to finalization shortly after the waiting period ends. Contested cases, where there are disagreements over property, debt, alimony, or child custody, typically take considerably longer to resolve before a final decree can be entered.
The GSCCCA portal below indexes civil court filings from Laurens County, including dissolution of marriage cases that are part of the statewide records system.
The GSCCCA portal is most useful for searching indexed records and for eCertification requests. It is not a substitute for the full case file held by the Laurens County clerk for complete document access.
What Laurens County Dissolution Records Include
The Superior Court Clerk in Dublin holds the complete case file for every dissolution of marriage filed in Laurens County. What a file contains depends on the nature of the case. A simple, agreed-upon dissolution with no shared property and no children tends to be a shorter file. Cases involving property disputes, debts, alimony, or child custody can generate much larger records over the course of proceedings.
Common documents found in a Laurens County dissolution case file include:
- The original petition for dissolution of marriage
- Proof of service showing the other party was properly notified
- Any answer, counterclaim, or response filed by the respondent
- Temporary orders entered while the case was pending
- Settlement agreements and property or debt division orders
- The final decree of dissolution of marriage
- Any post-decree orders entered after the final decree
The final decree is what most people need when they contact the clerk's office. It serves as official legal proof of dissolution and is required for name changes, estate matters, financial account updates, insurance changes, and remarriage. Certified copies from the Laurens County clerk are accepted by all major institutions. Call (478) 277-5020 for current certification fees before submitting a request.
All Laurens County dissolution records are public under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70). Any person may request access. Records sealed by court order are the exception and are not available to the public without a court order lifting the seal.
State Divorce Verification Through Georgia DPH
The Georgia Department of Public Health Vital Records office in Atlanta maintains a separate set of divorce verification records. This resource is distinct from the Superior Court Clerk and serves a different purpose. It is worth understanding what each office provides before you contact either one.
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 produce certified copies of decrees. Their service results in a verification letter, not a copy of the court record. For Laurens County cases filed before 1952 or after 1996, or when you need actual case documents, the Superior Court Clerk in Dublin 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 full instructions and the form.
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 Laurens County dissolution records when partial information is all that is available. The Archives are open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 AM to 4 PM, at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260. Phone: (678) 364-3710.
Legal Help in Laurens County
Laurens County residents have access to statewide legal aid organizations and an attorney referral service for dissolution of marriage matters. Whether you need free legal assistance or want to hire a private attorney, several options are available.
Legal Services Georgia provides free civil legal help to income-eligible clients. Family law is a core part of their practice. Dissolution of marriage cases are within their scope, and Laurens County is in their service region. Contact them to check your eligibility and start the intake process.
Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org offers free self-help guides covering every step of the dissolution process in Georgia. The guides are written in plain language and are especially useful for uncontested cases where both parties agree on all issues and may be able to handle some steps without a full attorney.
The State Bar of Georgia runs a lawyer referral service at 1-800-334-6865. The line can connect you with a licensed attorney who handles family law in Laurens County or a nearby area. A Dublin-area attorney familiar with Laurens County Superior Court will know the local filing requirements and can help you avoid delays.
Cities in Laurens County
Dublin is the county seat and the largest city in Laurens County. No cities in the county currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated dissolution of marriage records page. All Laurens County residents file dissolution cases at the Superior Court Clerk's office at 101 North Jefferson Street in Dublin.
Nearby Counties
Laurens County is bordered by several counties in central and east-central Georgia. Each county maintains its own dissolution of marriage records through its Superior Court Clerk.