Find Dissolution of Marriage Records in Lee County

Dissolution of marriage records in Lee County are filed with the Superior Court Clerk in Leesburg and are open to the public under Georgia law. This page covers where the records are held, how to search and request them, what Georgia law requires for a dissolution filing in Lee County, and what legal resources are available to residents who need help with a dissolution of marriage case.

Lee County Superior Court Clerk

The Superior Court Clerk in Leesburg is the official custodian of all dissolution of marriage records filed in Lee County. The office is at the Lee County Courthouse on Leslie Highway. Walk-in requests are welcome during regular business hours. Mail requests are also processed; use the PO Box address when sending any written requests or documents by mail.

Have both parties' full legal names and the approximate year of filing ready before you call or visit. This helps the staff locate records more quickly, especially for older files that may be stored in paper format. Lee County does not maintain a public-facing website for the clerk's office, so the phone number and in-person visits are your primary options for making records requests. Lee County is adjacent to Dougherty County, and some residents near the county line may have cases filed in either county depending on residency at the time of filing.

How to Search Lee County Dissolution of Marriage Records

Lee County does not provide a standalone public online search system for dissolution records. Most searches are handled directly by the Superior Court Clerk in Leesburg. Several statewide tools can help you search or access records before you contact the courthouse directly.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) maintains a statewide index of civil court filings and recorded instruments. Some Lee County dissolution of marriage records may be accessible there. The GSCCCA also offers an eCertification portal 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 system. Cases filed electronically in Lee County in recent years may be accessible there for case status and basic information. The Georgia Courts portal provides guidance on how Georgia Superior Courts operate and links to court-specific resources. The re:SearchGA system offers online access for participating counties; verify whether Lee County currently participates before using it.

The About Vital Records page at Georgia DPH, shown below, clarifies what the DPH Vital Records office holds and what time window they cover, which is useful before you decide whether to contact DPH or the Lee County clerk directly.

DPH Vital Records handles verification for 1952 to 1996 only. For actual case documents or any case outside that date range, the Lee County Superior Court Clerk is the source you need.

For in-person visits to Leesburg, bring a valid photo ID. Mail requests should include both parties' names, the approximate filing year, your return address, and payment. Call (229) 759-6018 first to confirm current copy and certification fees before sending any payment by mail.

Dissolution of Marriage Filing Process in Lee County

Georgia law applies uniformly to dissolution of marriage cases throughout the state, including in Lee County. The key legal requirements are the same in Leesburg as in any other Georgia courthouse. Knowing these rules before you file can prevent your case from stalling or being dismissed on procedural grounds.

Residency is the first 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 the petition is filed. If that condition is not met, the Lee County Superior Court does not have jurisdiction and cannot hear the case.

Georgia recognizes 13 grounds for dissolution of marriage under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. The no-fault ground that the marriage is "irretrievably broken" is by far the most commonly used in Lee County and across the state. No proof of wrongdoing by either party is required. The other 12 grounds are fault-based and are rarely used in practice today.

Once the petition is filed and the respondent is served with legal process, a mandatory 30-day waiting period begins. The court cannot hold the final hearing until those 30 days have passed. This wait is required in all cases, even if both parties are in full agreement. An uncontested case where both spouses agree on all terms can often be finalized soon after the waiting period ends. A contested case, where there are disputes over property, debt, support, or children, will typically take much longer. The clerk's office in Leesburg can advise on the specific forms used in Lee County and what local requirements apply before you file.

What Lee County Dissolution Records Include

The Superior Court Clerk in Leesburg holds the complete case file for every dissolution of marriage filed in Lee County. What any file contains depends on the complexity of the case. A simple uncontested dissolution typically includes a smaller set of documents. A contested case with multiple unresolved issues can produce a much larger and more detailed record over the life of the case.

Standard documents in a Lee County dissolution case file typically include:

• The original petition for dissolution of marriage
• Proof of service showing the respondent was properly notified
• Any answer, response, or counterclaim filed by the other party
• Temporary orders entered while the case was pending
• Settlement agreements, property division orders, or parenting plans
• The final decree of dissolution of marriage

The final decree is the document most frequently requested from the Lee County clerk. It is the official court order ending the marriage and is required for name changes, estate planning, insurance updates, remarriage, and many other legal or administrative purposes. Certified copies from the Lee County clerk are accepted by courts, agencies, banks, and other institutions as official proof of dissolution. Call (229) 759-6018 to confirm current fees before submitting any request.

All dissolution of marriage records in Lee County are public under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70). Any person may request access. Records that a court has ordered sealed are not publicly available without a further court order removing 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 is not the same as the case files held by the Superior Court Clerk, and it serves a different purpose. Knowing what DPH offers versus what the clerk holds will help you contact the right source.

DPH Vital Records can verify whether a divorce occurred in Georgia for cases filed between 1952 and 1996. They do not hold actual court documents. Their service results in a verification letter confirming the event occurred, not a copy of the original court record. For Lee County cases filed before 1952 or after 1996, or when you need actual court documents, the Superior Court Clerk in Leesburg is the source you need.

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 covering 1965 to 1971 and 1973 to 1999. This index can help locate older Lee County dissolution cases when limited information is known. The Archives are open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 AM to 4 PM, at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260. Phone: (678) 364-3710.

The Georgia Courts portal, shown below, offers procedural information and resources applicable to Lee County's Superior Court and all other Georgia Superior Courts.

The Georgia Courts portal is a useful reference for understanding how the courts handle filings, what forms may be required, and how to get procedural questions answered before you visit the Lee County courthouse.

Legal Help in Lee County

Lee County residents dealing with a dissolution of marriage case have access to free legal aid programs and a statewide attorney referral service. Whether you need full representation or just some guidance, these resources can help.

Legal Services Georgia provides free civil legal assistance to income-eligible residents. Dissolution of marriage, custody, and support matters are all within their scope. Lee County is in their service area. Contact their offices to check eligibility and start the intake process. Given that Lee County is adjacent to Albany and Dougherty County, nearby offices may be accessible as well.

Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org offers free self-help guides on dissolution of marriage in Georgia. The guides walk through every stage of the process in plain language and are especially useful for uncontested cases where both parties agree and some steps may be manageable without full attorney involvement.

The State Bar of Georgia operates a lawyer referral line at 1-800-334-6865. You can use this service to find a licensed attorney who handles family law in Lee County or the surrounding south Georgia area. An attorney familiar with the Lee County Superior Court will know the local filing requirements and can help you avoid procedural delays.

Cities in Lee County

Leesburg is the county seat of Lee County. No cities in Lee County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated dissolution of marriage records page. All Lee County residents file dissolution cases at the Superior Court Clerk's office at 100 Leslie Highway in Leesburg. Residents near Albany should note that Dougherty County cases are filed at the Dougherty County clerk's office in Albany.

Nearby Counties

Lee County borders several counties in southwest Georgia. Each county maintains its own dissolution of marriage records through its Superior Court Clerk.