Access Putnam County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

Putnam County dissolution of marriage records are kept by the Superior Court Clerk in Eatonton, Georgia. Under Georgia's Open Records Act, these case files are public documents. Any person may request access to petitions, final decrees, settlement agreements, and other documents in the file. The clerk's office at 100 South Jefferson Avenue handles every dissolution filing in the county. This guide explains how to contact the clerk, what statewide tools you can use before making a trip to Eatonton, what Georgia law requires to file, and where Putnam County residents can find legal support.

Superior Court Clerk - Where Records Are Filed

The Superior Court Clerk in Eatonton is the office that holds all dissolution of marriage records for Putnam County. The courthouse is at 100 South Jefferson Avenue, Eatonton, GA 31024. The clerk can be reached by phone at (706) 485-4501. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you need to submit a written request by mail, send it to PO Box 2027, Eatonton, GA 31024.

Before you call or visit, gather the full names of both parties and roughly when the case was filed. That lets staff search the index efficiently. Once they find the case, they can describe the file contents and give you the current fee for copies. Certified copies have the court seal and are needed for legal purposes like proof of single status, remarriage applications, or name change documents. Plain copies cost less and are fine for personal reference or background research. Ask the clerk which type you need for your specific purpose so you do not pay for more than you need.

Putnam County does not operate a public online case search portal. In-person visits and mail requests are the main ways to access dissolution records held in Eatonton. Before making the drive, try the statewide tools described below. Several of them cover Putnam County and may let you look up basic case information or confirm that a record exists before you commit to a formal request.

The screenshot below shows the GSCCCA eCertification portal, through which certified copies of some Georgia court records can be requested online without traveling to a county courthouse.

Source: ecert.gsccca.org

Check the GSCCCA eCertification system to see if Putnam County dissolution records are available for online requests. This can save a trip to Eatonton if the document type you need is supported through the system.

Online Access Through State Portals

Several statewide platforms give you ways to research Georgia dissolution records before contacting the Putnam County clerk. These tools work best as a first step to gather information, not as a replacement for the clerk's office.

The Georgia Archives maintains a statewide dissolution index for records from 1965 to 1971 and from 1973 to 1999. This is particularly useful for older records that predate modern computer systems at county clerks' offices. The screenshot below shows the Georgia Archives website, which holds a dissolution index and other historical records useful for older Putnam County dissolution cases.

Source: georgiaarchives.org

The Georgia Archives dissolution index can confirm whether a case was reported to the state during the covered periods. For older Putnam County cases, this is a good first check before contacting the clerk.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) runs a statewide records portal and the eCertification portal for online certified copy requests. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Association and Find My Clerk directory can verify current clerk contact details for Putnam County. PeachCourt handles e-filing statewide. re:SearchGA covers participating counties for case lookup. The Georgia Department of Public Health provides dissolution verification for records from 1952 to 1996 at a fee of $10. The Georgia Courts website provides information about the state court system generally.

Georgia Residency and Filing Requirements

Filing a dissolution of marriage case in Putnam County requires that at least one spouse has lived in Georgia for six months or more before submitting the petition. If you recently moved to the state, you may need to wait before you qualify to file. Georgia law also requires, in most cases, that the petition be filed in the county where the defendant lives. If the defendant has left Georgia, you may file in your own county, which could be Putnam County.

Georgia law sets 13 grounds for dissolution of marriage. The most often used is the no-fault ground that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." This does not require either party to prove any wrongdoing. When both spouses agree the marriage is over and can reach agreement on property, support, and any children involved, this ground makes the process simple. Other grounds listed in Georgia law include adultery, desertion, mental incapacity, habitual intoxication, and cruel treatment. The full text is at Georgia Code Section 19-5-3.

A mandatory 30-day waiting period applies after the defendant is served with the petition. The judge cannot enter the final decree until those 30 days have passed. Uncontested cases move to the decree stage shortly after the wait ends. Cases with disputes over property, alimony, or children need hearings before a judge and take longer to close.

What Dissolution Records Contain

A Putnam County dissolution case file holds the documents created throughout the life of the case. Most files include the original petition, proof of service on the defendant, the defendant's answer or waiver, any marital settlement agreement the parties reached, and the final decree. If the couple has minor children, the file will also include a parenting plan. Contested cases often contain financial affidavits, temporary orders, and transcripts of court hearings.

Call the clerk before you visit so you know what is in the file and what type of copies you need. Plain copies work for most personal purposes. Certified copies are needed when you present them to another court, agency, or government office. The clerk can tell you the current per-page fee and whether an expedite option is available for urgent requests.

State Vital Records Verification (1952-1996)

Georgia's Department of Public Health runs a verification service for dissolution records reported to the state between 1952 and 1996. This confirms that a dissolution was reported during that window but is not the actual court file. The DPH office is at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, phone (404) 657-2700. Learn more at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. Requests use Form 3917 and cost $10. For records outside that date range or for the court file itself, contact the Putnam County Superior Court Clerk at (706) 485-4501.

Legal Help and Resources in Putnam County

People in Putnam County who need help with a dissolution case can reach Georgia Legal Services Program at glsp.org for free or reduced-cost civil legal help based on income. Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org provides self-help guides, form instructions, and plain-language articles about the dissolution process. Both sites are solid starting points for people who are new to the process and want to understand what is involved before they file or respond to a petition.

For private legal representation, the Georgia Bar referral service at gabar.org can connect you with a family law attorney in the area. Call 1-800-334-6865 toll-free. Many attorneys offer an initial consultation at low or no cost to help you decide how much representation you need.

Putnam County is in the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit. Attorneys who practice in this circuit are familiar with the local court procedures and the judges assigned to family law matters. If your dissolution involves disputes over real property, debt, or children, local representation can make a meaningful difference in how the case moves through the system.

Cities in Putnam County

Eatonton is the county seat and largest city in Putnam County, with a population of roughly 6,900. No city in Putnam County meets the population threshold for a dedicated records page on this site. All dissolution of marriage filings from any community in the county go through the Superior Court Clerk at 100 South Jefferson Avenue in Eatonton.

Nearby Counties

If a dissolution case may have been filed in a neighboring county, the areas below border or are close to Putnam County.