Find Polk County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

Polk County dissolution of marriage records are held by the Superior Court Clerk at the courthouse in Cedartown, Georgia. These are public records under Georgia's Open Records Act, so any person can ask for access to petitions, final decrees, and the other documents that make up a case file. The clerk's office at 100 Prior Street is where all dissolution filings in the county are processed and stored. This guide explains how to reach the clerk, which statewide tools can help you search before you visit, what Georgia law requires for filing, and where people in Polk County can find legal help.

Superior Court Clerk - Where Records Are Filed

All dissolution of marriage cases in Polk County are filed with the Superior Court Clerk in Cedartown. The courthouse address is 100 Prior Street, Cedartown, GA 30125. You can reach the clerk's office by phone at (770) 749-2114. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For written mail requests, use the mailing address PO Box 948, Cedartown, GA 30125.

When you contact the clerk, have the full names of both parties and a rough idea of when the case was filed. That information helps staff pull the record quickly. Once they find it, they can tell you what documents are in the file and give you the current fee for copies. Certified copies carry the court seal and are required for legal uses, such as applying to remarry or updating a name on a driver's license or Social Security card. Plain copies cost less and work well for personal reference or background research purposes.

Polk County does not have its own public online case search portal at this time. In-person visits to the Cedartown courthouse and mail requests are the practical options for getting records. Before making the drive to Cedartown, use the statewide tools described below to see if you can confirm the case number and what county holds the record.

The screenshot below shows the Georgia.gov vital records request page, a state portal where residents can begin the process of requesting dissolution verifications and other vital records from state agencies.

Source: georgia.gov/request-vital-records

This state portal links to the Georgia Department of Public Health's vital records services, including the dissolution verification service that covers records from 1952 to 1996.

Online Access Through State Portals

Georgia maintains several statewide tools that can help you search for court records and request documents. These tools supplement the work of the Polk County clerk's office and can help you prepare before you call or visit.

The re:SearchGA platform is a case search and document access tool covering participating Georgia counties. The screenshot below shows the re:SearchGA portal, which may include Polk County dissolution case records depending on what data the county has loaded into the system.

Source: researchga.tylerhost.net

Re:SearchGA allows you to look up case information and sometimes view or request court documents online. Check the system to see if Polk County dissolution records are accessible before contacting the clerk.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) runs a statewide records portal, and their eCertification portal allows online requests for certified copies of some court documents. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Association and the Find My Clerk directory can verify contact information for the Polk County clerk. PeachCourt is Georgia's e-filing platform. The Georgia Archives maintains a dissolution index covering 1965 to 1971 and 1973 to 1999. The Georgia Department of Public Health provides dissolution verification for records reported between 1952 and 1996.

Georgia Residency and Filing Requirements

Filing a dissolution of marriage case in Polk County requires that at least one spouse has been a Georgia resident for at least six months before the petition is submitted. If you moved to Georgia recently, you may need to wait before you can file here. Georgia law also generally requires the case to be filed in the county where the defendant lives. If the defendant has moved outside Georgia, you can file in the county where you currently live, which might be Polk County.

Georgia provides 13 grounds for dissolution of marriage. Most people use the no-fault ground that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." This ground does not require either party to prove wrongdoing. Both spouses simply need to agree that the marriage has broken down beyond repair. Other available grounds include adultery, desertion, habitual drunkenness, and cruel treatment. The complete list is at Georgia Code Section 19-5-3.

After the defendant is served with the petition, Georgia law requires a 30-day wait before the judge can sign the final decree. Uncontested cases with a signed settlement agreement can move to the decree stage soon after those 30 days are up. Cases with contested issues, including property division, spousal support, or child custody, require court hearings and take longer to conclude.

What Dissolution Records Contain

A Polk County dissolution of marriage case file holds the documents generated from the time the petition is filed through the entry of the final decree and any post-decree activity. Most files include the original petition, proof that the defendant was properly served, the defendant's answer or a signed waiver, any marital settlement agreement the parties reached, and the final decree signed by the judge. If children are involved, the file will also include a parenting plan. Complicated cases may contain financial affidavits, temporary orders, transcripts of hearings, and post-decree motions.

Simple uncontested cases often have a small set of documents. More involved matters can be quite thick. The clerk can describe the file contents before you order copies. That way you know what to ask for and which type of copy you need. Certified copies cost more but are legally recognized in other states and agencies. Plain copies are fine for personal use.

State Vital Records Verification (1952-1996)

The Georgia Department of Public Health runs a dissolution verification service for records reported to the state from 1952 to 1996. This service confirms that a case was reported during that window but does not produce the court file. The DPH office is at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700. You can learn more at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. Requests use Form 3917 and cost $10. For records outside that date range or for the actual case file, contact the Polk County Superior Court Clerk at (770) 749-2114.

Legal Help and Resources in Polk County

Polk County residents looking for help with a dissolution case can reach out to Georgia Legal Services Program at glsp.org for free or reduced-cost civil legal assistance. Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org has self-help guides, form instructions, and articles covering the dissolution process step by step. These sites are a good first stop if you want to understand your rights and what the process involves before you file.

If you want a private attorney, the Georgia Bar referral service at gabar.org can connect you with a local family law attorney. Call the toll-free line at 1-800-334-6865. Many attorneys offer a low-cost initial meeting to help you decide whether full legal representation makes sense for your situation or whether you can handle the filing on your own.

Polk County is part of the Cherokee Judicial Circuit. Attorneys who work regularly in this circuit know the local court procedures, the judges, and the staff, which can help move a case along more efficiently. If your dissolution involves significant assets or a child custody dispute, working with an attorney who knows the Cherokee Circuit is worth considering.

Cities in Polk County

Cedartown is the county seat and largest city in Polk County, with a population of roughly 9,400. Rockmart is another community in the county. Neither Cedartown nor Rockmart meets the population threshold for a dedicated records page on this site. All dissolution filings from any community in Polk County are processed through the Superior Court Clerk at 100 Prior Street in Cedartown.

Nearby Counties

If a dissolution case may have been filed in a neighboring jurisdiction, the counties below border or are close to Polk County.