Find Dissolution of Marriage Records in Paulding County
Dissolution of marriage records in Paulding County are filed with the Superior Court Clerk in Dallas and are open to the public under Georgia law. Paulding County is one of the faster-growing counties in the Atlanta metro area, and the clerk's office handles a substantial volume of cases each year. This page explains how to reach the clerk, how to search for records using statewide tools, what case files contain, and where to find legal help in the county.
Paulding County Quick Facts
Paulding County Superior Court Clerk
The Superior Court Clerk in Dallas, Georgia, is the official custodian of all dissolution of marriage records filed in Paulding County. The office is in Suite 100 of the Paulding County Courthouse on Courthouse Square. There is no dedicated public online case search system for Paulding County dissolution records, so all requests for lookups, copies, and filing questions must go to the clerk's office directly. Given the county's growth, call ahead for complex requests to make sure staff can assist you efficiently.
| Office | Paulding County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 11 Courthouse Square, Suite 100, Dallas, GA 30132 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 590, Dallas, GA 30132 |
| Phone | (770) 443-7530 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Directory | Find My Clerk |
When contacting the office, have the full names of both parties and an approximate year of filing ready. For in-person visits, bring a photo ID. For mail requests, include both parties' names, the case year, your return mailing address, and payment for copy fees. Call (770) 443-7530 to confirm the current per-page rate before sending payment. The statewide clerk directory at gaclerks.org is a good backup source for current contact details.
How to Search Paulding County Dissolution Records
Paulding County does not have a standalone public portal for searching dissolution of marriage records. Direct contact with the clerk in Dallas is the main route. Several statewide tools can help you start a search or supplement what the local office provides.
The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) maintains a statewide civil filings index. Some Paulding County dissolution records are indexed there, particularly for more recent cases. Search by party name or case number. GSCCCA can be reached at (404) 327-9058. Their eCertification portal allows online certified copy requests for indexed documents, which can save a trip to the courthouse if the record you need is in the system.
The screenshot below shows the eCertification system at ecert.gsccca.org. This tool is one of the most useful for getting certified copies of Georgia dissolution records online without an in-person visit, provided the specific case has been indexed through GSCCCA.
Once you locate a case in the eCertification system, you can order an official certified copy and have it delivered. If the case is not in the system, contact the clerk in Dallas directly for manual record retrieval.
re:SearchGA and PeachCourt are additional statewide court platforms that aggregate records from participating jurisdictions. Check both to see whether Paulding County case data is available through those systems. They may provide docket information and case details that can help narrow your search before contacting the local clerk.
The screenshot below shows the Georgia Archives website, which holds historical dissolution records for a specific date range on microfiche and is a resource for older cases from the mid-20th century.
The Archives hold a statewide dissolution index for 1965 to 1971 and 1973 to 1999 on microfiche. They are located in Morrow, Georgia, and can be visited in person to search the index. Phone: 678-364-3710.
Dissolution of Marriage Law in Georgia
All dissolution of marriage cases in Paulding County are governed by Georgia law, specifically Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The requirements are the same across every Georgia county, including Paulding.
Residency must be established before the Superior Court can take the case. At least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six continuous months before the petition is filed. If you have recently moved to Paulding County or the state, confirm you meet this threshold before filing. The clerk's office can tell you what the requirement is but cannot advise whether your situation qualifies.
Georgia allows dissolution on 13 separate grounds under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Most cases in Paulding County use the no-fault ground that the marriage is irretrievably broken. This ground requires no proof of wrongdoing by either party. Both spouses can agree to it, and the case can proceed without a fault determination. 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, a mandatory 30-day waiting period must expire before the court can schedule and hold the final hearing. This applies in every Georgia dissolution case, including uncontested ones where both parties have agreed on all terms. Once the 30 days pass, the court can act. Uncontested cases often resolve quickly at the final hearing. Contested matters involving property division, support, or custody take longer and may require additional hearings.
As one of the fastest-growing counties in Georgia, Paulding County's Superior Court handles a significant case volume. The clerk's office is experienced with the full range of dissolution matters from simple to complex.
What Dissolution Records in Paulding County Contain
The Paulding County Superior Court Clerk holds the full case file for every dissolution of marriage action filed in the county. What goes into the file depends on the nature of the case. An uncontested dissolution with no property disputes or children will be a short file. A case with contested issues, significant assets, or custody disputes can generate a large and detailed record over time.
Typical dissolution case files in Paulding County include the following types of documents:
- The petition for dissolution of marriage
- Service of process documents proving the respondent was notified
- Any answer or counterclaim filed by the other party
- Temporary orders entered while the case was pending
- Settlement or property division agreements
- The final decree of dissolution of marriage
- Post-decree modification orders if entered after the final decree
The final decree is the document most frequently requested. It is required for name changes with state and federal agencies, financial account updates, estate planning revisions, and other legal purposes. Certified copies from the Paulding County clerk carry an official seal and are accepted by all major institutions. Call (770) 443-7530 for current copy fees before making a request.
All dissolution records in Paulding County are public under the Georgia Open Records Act. Any person may request them. Court-ordered sealed records are the exception and cannot be accessed without a court order lifting the seal.
State Divorce Verification Records
The Georgia Department of Public Health holds dissolution verification records at the state level for cases filed between 1952 and 1996. These records are separate from the case files held by the Paulding County Superior Court Clerk and serve a different function.
DPH Vital Records issues a verification letter confirming a dissolution took place in Georgia. They do not hold court records or provide certified copies of decrees. For any Paulding County dissolution case, actual court documents must come from the clerk in Dallas. For cases outside the 1952 to 1996 window, the clerk is the only 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. Visit dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords for forms and complete information.
Legal Help for Paulding County Residents
Paulding County residents have access to statewide legal resources for dissolution of marriage matters. The county is part of the Atlanta metro area, which means legal aid and attorney referral services are available and cover this region.
Legal Services Georgia provides free civil legal assistance to qualifying residents. Income limits apply. Family law, including dissolution, custody, and support, is one of their primary service areas. Paulding County is within their coverage region. Contact their office to check eligibility and begin the intake process.
Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org offers free self-help guides for every step of the dissolution process. They are written in plain language and are especially useful for straightforward uncontested cases. The guides are available online and can be accessed at any time.
The State Bar of Georgia lawyer referral line at 1-800-334-6865 can match you with a licensed attorney in Paulding County or the northwest Atlanta metro area who handles family law. A local attorney will be familiar with the Paulding County courthouse, the clerk's office procedures, and how the local Superior Court schedules its docket.
Cities in Paulding County
Dallas is the county seat of Paulding County, with a population of around 13,000. No cities in Paulding County meet the population threshold for a dedicated dissolution of marriage records page. Residents of Dallas, Hiram, Braswell, and all other communities in the county file dissolution cases at the Superior Court Clerk at 11 Courthouse Square in Dallas.
Nearby Counties
Paulding County borders several counties in the Atlanta metro area and northwest Georgia. Each county maintains its own dissolution of marriage records through its Superior Court Clerk.