Tift County Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Tift County dissolution of marriage records are filed with the Superior Court Clerk in Tifton and are part of the public record under Georgia law. Whether you need to confirm a past case, get a certified copy of a final decree, or search for an active proceeding, this page covers the resources and steps to find dissolution of marriage records in Tift County. The Superior Court has handled these filings for the county since its formation, and most records going back several decades are accessible through the clerk's office or online tools.
Tift County Quick Facts
Superior Court Clerk of Tift County
The Superior Court Clerk is the primary custodian of dissolution of marriage records in Tift County. All petitions, agreements, and final decrees are filed here. The clerk's office is located at 237 East 2nd Street, Tifton, GA 31794. You can reach the office by phone at (229) 386-7810. Staff can help you look up a case by name or case number and tell you what documents are on file.
The Tift County Superior Court operates within the Tifton Judicial Circuit. Judges in this circuit hear dissolution of marriage cases and sign final decrees. Once a judge signs the decree, the clerk records it and it becomes a public record. Certified copies of that decree can be requested directly from the clerk's office. Certified copies carry an official seal and are accepted by other agencies, lenders, and courts as legal proof of the dissolution.
In-person visits are usually the fastest way to get certified copies. Bring photo ID and, if you know it, the case number. You can also submit written requests by mail. The clerk's office can tell you the current copy fee schedule when you call. Most routine requests are processed the same day for in-person visits, though mailed requests may take a week or more depending on volume.
Note: Call ahead before visiting to confirm current office hours, as holiday schedules can affect availability.
How to Search Tift County Dissolution Records Online
Georgia offers several online tools that cover Tift County dissolution of marriage records. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority, known as GSCCCA, runs a statewide records portal at gsccca.org. This portal allows you to search index data for civil filings, including dissolution of marriage cases, across participating counties. Tift County is included in this system. You can search by party name and filter results by record type and date range.
The GSCCCA also operates an eCertification service at ecert.gsccca.org. This lets you order certified copies of court documents online without going to the courthouse. Once your request is processed, the certified copy is delivered electronically with a digital seal that courts and agencies recognize as valid.
The GSCCCA portal provides statewide access to dissolution of marriage index data across Georgia's Superior Court counties.
The GSCCCA portal above shows the search interface used to look up civil court filings statewide, including Tift County dissolution of marriage cases.
For eFiling new dissolution cases, Georgia courts use the PeachCourt platform at peachcourt.com. Attorneys and self-represented parties can use this system to file petitions electronically. Even if you filed online, the clerk's office still maintains the physical and digital record.
Note: GSCCCA index searches show party names and case numbers but typically do not display the full text of filed documents.
Georgia Department of Public Health Divorce Verification
The Georgia Department of Public Health maintains a statewide divorce and dissolution verification file that covers records from 1952 through 1996. If you need to verify that a dissolution of marriage occurred in Tift County during those years, you can request a verification letter through the DPH using Form 3917. This is a verification only, not a certified court copy. It confirms the event happened but does not include the terms of the decree. Requests go to the Vital Records office, and the current fee is $10 per search.
For cases outside that date range, the Superior Court Clerk is the right source. Records predating 1952 also exist at the courthouse, though older records may require more time to locate. The Georgia Archives holds some historical court records as well, so it can be worth checking there for very old cases that may have been transferred out of the active files.
Georgia DPH Vital Records handles dissolution verification requests for cases from 1952 through 1996 using Form 3917.
The Georgia DPH Vital Records page shown above is the starting point for requesting dissolution of marriage verifications for records from 1952 to 1996.
Note: DPH verifications are not certified court copies and cannot substitute for a clerk-issued decree in legal proceedings.
Filing for Dissolution of Marriage in Tift County
To file for dissolution of marriage in Tift County, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months before filing. The petition is filed with the Tift County Superior Court Clerk. Georgia law sets a 30-day waiting period after the respondent is served before the court can finalize the dissolution. For uncontested cases where both parties agree on all terms, the process can move relatively quickly after that waiting period ends. Contested cases take longer and go through hearings before a judge.
Georgia recognizes both fault and no-fault grounds for dissolution of marriage. The no-fault ground, which is the most common, is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. You can read the full list of grounds under Georgia law at O.C.G.A. 19-5-3. The Superior Court Clerk can provide blank forms for petitioners, though many people find it helpful to consult an attorney, especially when children or property are involved.
The Superior Court Clerks of Georgia website offers a clerk directory at gaclerks.org/Clerks/FindMyClerk.aspx where you can confirm the current contact information for the Tift County clerk and other Georgia clerks. The Georgia Courts website also provides general guidance on court procedures statewide.
Note: Self-represented filers should review the clerk's local rules before submitting paperwork to avoid rejections on technical grounds.
Additional Resources for Tift County
The Georgia Courts website at georgiacourts.gov provides information on court structure, forms, and legal aid resources throughout the state. If you need help finding an attorney or cannot afford one, Georgia Legal Aid and the State Bar of Georgia Lawyer Referral Service can connect you with assistance. Tift County residents may also have access to local legal aid through organizations that serve the South Georgia region.
For older or historical dissolution records that may not appear in online databases, the Georgia Archives at georgiaarchives.org is a useful resource. The archives hold microfilmed and digitized records from many Georgia counties. While active case files stay with the Superior Court Clerk, some older transferred records may be findable through the archives' catalog.
If you are researching a dissolution of marriage case from Tift County for family history or genealogy purposes, the DPH verification service and the Georgia Archives are both good starting points for older records. For current or recent cases, the GSCCCA portal and the clerk's office are your best options.
Cities in Tift County
Tifton is the county seat and largest city in Tift County. No cities in Tift County currently meet the 25,000-resident threshold for individual city pages on this site. Tifton residents should use the Tift County Superior Court Clerk resources described above to search for dissolution of marriage records.