Oglethorpe County Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Dissolution of marriage records in Oglethorpe County are filed with the Superior Court Clerk in Lexington and are public records under Georgia law. The clerk's office at the Oglethorpe County Courthouse on West Main Street is the official source for all case documents, certified copies, and filing information. This page explains how to contact the clerk, how to search for records using statewide tools, what case files contain, and where to find legal help.
Oglethorpe County Quick Facts
Oglethorpe County Superior Court Clerk
The Superior Court Clerk in Lexington is the official custodian of every dissolution of marriage record filed in Oglethorpe County. The office is at the Oglethorpe County Courthouse on West Main Street. Oglethorpe County is one of Georgia's smaller rural counties. The courthouse staff is modest in size, and there is no dedicated public website or online case search portal. All requests for case lookups, copies, and filing questions should go directly to the clerk's office by phone, mail, or in-person visit.
| Office | Oglethorpe County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 111 West Main Street, Lexington, GA 30648 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 68, Lexington, GA 30648 |
| Phone | (706) 743-5731 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Directory | Find My Clerk |
When you call or write, have the full names of both parties and the approximate year of the dissolution filing. Older records may be in paper format. For mail requests, include both names, the case year, your return address, and payment for copies. Call the office at (706) 743-5731 to confirm current copy fees before sending any payment.
The statewide clerk directory at gaclerks.org is maintained by the Superior Court Clerks' Association of Georgia and lists confirmed contact details for all 159 Georgia counties. Use it to verify current hours and addresses before making a trip to Lexington.
How to Search Oglethorpe County Dissolution Records
Oglethorpe County has no online case search system for dissolution records. All searches go through the Lexington clerk's office. Statewide tools can supplement your search and may provide some initial case information before you contact the local clerk directly.
The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) maintains a civil filings index covering participating Georgia counties, including some Oglethorpe County filings. Search by party name or case number at the GSCCCA portal. The agency can be reached at (404) 327-9058. Their eCertification system allows online requests for certified copies of indexed documents.
The screenshot below shows the statewide clerk directory at gaclerks.org. The Find My Clerk page lists contact details for every Georgia county clerk and is the most reliable way to confirm you have current contact information for the Oglethorpe County office before mailing or calling.
The directory is updated regularly and includes addresses, phone numbers, and county seat information for all 159 Georgia counties.
PeachCourt is a Georgia electronic court system that may hold records for cases filed electronically in Oglethorpe County. The screenshot below shows the PeachCourt platform, which can be searched by case or party name for participating courts.
Check PeachCourt to see what case data is available for Oglethorpe County before calling the clerk. If you find the case there, you may be able to confirm basic filing details online and then contact the clerk only to request a certified copy.
Dissolution of Marriage Law in Georgia
Georgia law governs all dissolution of marriage cases in Oglethorpe County. Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated sets out the requirements for filing, processing, and resolving a dissolution case. The rules are the same in every Georgia county.
Residency comes first. At least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months or more before the petition is filed. The Oglethorpe County Superior Court cannot hear the case if neither party meets this threshold. There is no exception. Confirm that the residency requirement is met before filing anything with the clerk's office.
Georgia provides 13 grounds for dissolution of marriage under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. The great majority of cases in Oglethorpe County, as across the state, use the no-fault ground that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Both parties can agree to this ground and proceed without proving any fault. The remaining 12 grounds are fault-based and are seldom used today.
Once the petition is filed and the respondent is served with process, the court must wait 30 days before scheduling and holding the final hearing. This is mandatory for every Georgia dissolution case. The 30-day period cannot be waived even if both parties agree on every issue. After the waiting period expires, the court schedules the final hearing. Uncontested cases often move fast once the hearing is scheduled. Contested cases with unresolved issues take longer.
Oglethorpe County is a small rural county with a modest case volume. The Superior Court here handles the same dissolution matters as any Georgia county, but with a smaller staff and a slower-paced docket. For complex cases, it may help to have an attorney familiar with the local court.
What Dissolution Records in Oglethorpe County Contain
The Superior Court Clerk in Lexington holds the complete case file for every dissolution of marriage action filed in Oglethorpe County. What is in the file depends on how the case was handled. Simple cases with no disputes produce short files. Complex matters with contested property or custody issues generate far more documents and a longer case history.
Most Oglethorpe County dissolution case files include the following types of documents:
- The petition for dissolution of marriage
- Service of process documents
- Any answer, response, or counterclaim from the other party
- Temporary orders entered during the case
- A settlement or separation agreement if the parties reached one
- The final decree of dissolution of marriage
- Post-decree modification orders if any were entered later
The final decree is what most people need when they request records from the clerk. It is the legal document that ends the marriage and sets out the terms. Banks, the Social Security Administration, courts, and other institutions require certified copies for a range of purposes including name changes, financial account updates, and estate planning. Call (706) 743-5731 to confirm current copy fees before submitting a request to the Lexington office.
These records are public under the Georgia Open Records Act. Anyone may request access. Records sealed by court order are the only exception and are not viewable without a court order lifting the seal.
State Divorce Verification Records
The Georgia Department of Public Health maintains dissolution verification records at the state level for a specific date range. These are separate from the court records held by the Oglethorpe County Superior Court Clerk. Knowing which office holds what record will save you time.
DPH Vital Records can confirm whether a dissolution occurred in Georgia for cases filed between 1952 and 1996. The confirmation takes the form of a verification letter. DPH does not hold actual court documents and cannot provide certified copies of decrees. For any Oglethorpe County dissolution record, the clerk in Lexington is the source for case files and certified copies. For cases outside the 1952 to 1996 window, only the clerk can help.
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. Visit dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords for forms and instructions. The Georgia Archives in Morrow also holds a statewide dissolution index on microfiche for 1965 to 1971 and 1973 to 1999, which can help confirm older filings before you contact the local clerk.
Legal Help for Oglethorpe County Residents
Oglethorpe County is a small rural county, and local legal resources are limited. Statewide organizations serve the area and can connect residents with help.
Legal Services Georgia provides free civil legal assistance to residents who qualify based on income. Family law matters, including dissolution of marriage, custody, and support, are covered. Oglethorpe County is within their service area. Call to check eligibility and start the intake process.
Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org has free self-help guides that walk through the dissolution process step by step. The guides are written clearly and are practical for people who are managing a straightforward case without an attorney. They are available online at any time.
The State Bar of Georgia lawyer referral line at 1-800-334-6865 can connect you with a licensed attorney who handles family law in the Oglethorpe County area. Given the county's small size, a nearby attorney in Athens or the broader northeast Georgia region will likely be the most practical option. They will still know the Oglethorpe County court's procedures and expectations.
Cities in Oglethorpe County
Lexington is the county seat of Oglethorpe County, with a population of approximately 300. No cities in Oglethorpe County meet the population threshold for a dedicated dissolution of marriage records page. All residents of the county file dissolution cases at the Superior Court Clerk at 111 West Main Street in Lexington.
Nearby Counties
Oglethorpe County is located in northeast Georgia and borders several surrounding counties. Each county maintains its own dissolution of marriage records through its Superior Court Clerk.