Access Terrell County Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Terrell County dissolution of marriage records are filed with the Superior Court Clerk in Dawson, Georgia, the county seat of Terrell County in the Southwestern Judicial Circuit. Whether you need to find a specific case, obtain a certified copy of a final decree, or verify that a dissolution of marriage was completed, the clerk's office in Dawson is the official source for these records. This page covers the key resources for searching and accessing dissolution records in Terrell County.
Terrell County Quick Facts
Terrell County Superior Court Clerk
The Terrell County Superior Court Clerk is located at 235 East Lee Street in Dawson, Georgia 39842. The office can be reached at (229) 995-3301. This is the office that holds all dissolution of marriage records for the county, including petitions, orders, settlement agreements, and final decrees. These records are public and can be reviewed or copied by anyone who submits a proper request with enough identifying information to locate the file.
A quick note on geography: the county seat of Terrell County is Dawson, Georgia, which is different from Dawsonsville, the county seat of Dawson County in north Georgia. If you are searching for records and are unsure which county to contact, make sure you have the right Dawson. Terrell County's Dawson is in southwest Georgia at zip code 39842.
When requesting records, have the full legal names of both parties and an approximate filing year ready. Case numbers help but are not required if the clerk can identify the case by name and date. The office can tell you whether the file is on-site or in storage, and can prepare certified copies for a per-page fee set by state law. The Find My Clerk directory confirms current contact details for the Terrell County clerk.
Online Search Resources for Terrell County
The GSCCCA portal is the statewide tool for online access to Georgia Superior Court case indexes. Searching by party name under Terrell County will pull up any indexed cases. Coverage for smaller counties may not extend to older records, but the portal is always the first place to check before contacting the clerk's office. Index searches are free.
If certified copies are what you need and the record is available digitally, the GSCCCA eCertification system allows you to order them without going to Dawson. Certified copies from eCertification carry the same legal validity as copies obtained at the courthouse. For cases not in the digital system, you will need to send a written request or visit the clerk in person.
The re:SearchGA platform covers case index data from about 25 Georgia counties. Verify whether Terrell County is among the covered counties before relying on it for your search. If included, the platform provides basic docket information and case numbers without a trip to Dawson.
Note: For older Terrell County dissolution records, direct contact with the clerk's office is typically more reliable than online search tools.
Georgia DPH Dissolution Verification
The Georgia Department of Public Health Vital Records office holds a statewide dissolution of marriage index for years 1952 through 1996. This index covers Terrell County dissolutions from that time period. If you only need to confirm that a dissolution happened during those years, a verification letter requested using Form 3917 for $10 may be enough. The DPH record is not a court document; it confirms names and a general date but does not include case details.
For the actual case file from any year, the Terrell County Superior Court Clerk in Dawson is the right source. For all dissolutions after 1996, the DPH does not hold records. Only the clerk's office can provide those.
Filing Dissolution of Marriage in Terrell County
To file for dissolution of marriage in Terrell County, at least one spouse must have been a Georgia resident for six months. The petition is filed with the Superior Court Clerk at 235 East Lee Street in Dawson. Once filed, Georgia law requires a minimum 30-day waiting period before a final decree can be entered. Most cases take longer, especially if there are disputes about property, support, or children. Uncontested cases where both parties agree on all terms can move faster after the waiting period.
Georgia recognizes no-fault and fault-based grounds for dissolution of marriage. Irretrievable breakdown is the no-fault option and is used in most cases. A full list of the fault-based grounds recognized by Georgia law appears in O.C.G.A. Section 19-5-3. The broader statutory framework is at Title 19, Chapter 5.
Electronic filing is available through PeachCourt. Check with the Terrell County clerk before using eFiling, as county participation can vary.
Note: The Georgia Archives in Morrow holds historical court records transferred from Georgia counties, including records that may predate digital systems.
Historical and Archived Records
Terrell County was formed in 1856, and dissolution records from earlier decades exist in physical form at the Dawson courthouse or in off-site archives. The Georgia Archives in Morrow holds various court records from counties across the state. Their online catalog lets you search for available holdings before contacting them, which helps set expectations before making a trip or writing for copies. For records not at the Archives, the clerk's office can search physical index books.
When researching historical cases, provide as much detail as possible: full names of both parties, approximate year, and any case number you have. Physical records from the mid-twentieth century and earlier may need additional retrieval time and may be in fragile condition. For genealogy research that touches on dissolution records, a combination of the clerk's office and the Georgia Archives typically covers the most ground.
Legal Resources for Terrell County Residents
Terrell County residents can access free legal help through Georgia Legal Aid. The Georgia Courts website has a self-help section with information about how dissolution of marriage cases work in Superior Court and what forms are needed. The Superior Court Clerks of Georgia website provides procedural guidance on how the clerk's office handles filings and records requests. For advice specific to your legal situation, a licensed Georgia family law attorney is the appropriate resource. The State Bar of Georgia has a referral service to connect you with attorneys in your area.
Cities in Terrell County
Terrell County has no qualifying cities of its own. Albany, which is a qualifying city with a population over 25,000, is located in neighboring Dougherty County, not Terrell County. Terrell County residents file dissolution of marriage cases at the Superior Court Clerk's office in Dawson.