Turner County Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Turner County dissolution of marriage records are held by the Superior Court Clerk in Ashburn and are available to the public under Georgia law. This page covers how to search for dissolution of marriage filings in Turner County, where to get certified copies, and which online resources work for this county. The Superior Court Clerk in Ashburn is the primary source for these records, and the GSCCCA statewide portal provides online index access for recent cases.
Turner County Quick Facts
Superior Court Clerk of Turner County
The Superior Court Clerk in Ashburn is the official keeper of dissolution of marriage records for Turner County. The office is at 219 East College Avenue, Ashburn, GA 31714. The phone number is (229) 567-2011. The clerk's staff can search by party name or case number and help you understand what is on file and how to get copies.
Turner County is part of the Tifton Judicial Circuit, which covers several counties in South Georgia. Judges in the Tifton Circuit hear dissolution of marriage cases filed in Turner County. When a judge enters a final decree, the clerk records it as a public document. That decree can then be requested by anyone. Certified copies carry the court's official seal and are accepted by government agencies, financial institutions, and other courts as proof of the dissolution.
In-person visits to the courthouse are the quickest way to get certified copies. You will need a valid photo ID. Knowing the case number helps, but name searches work too. Mail requests are an option, though processing times are longer. The clerk can give you the current fee schedule when you call. For many routine requests, the same-day turnaround is available during normal business hours.
Note: Turner County is a small county, so the clerk's office has limited staff and it is wise to call ahead before making a trip to confirm someone will be available to assist you.
Online Search Options for Turner County
The GSCCCA statewide records portal at gsccca.org covers Turner County Superior Court civil filings, including dissolution of marriage cases. You can search by party name and filter by record type and date. The portal shows case index data, including filing dates and case numbers. Full documents are not viewable, but the index information is enough to confirm a case exists and gather what you need for a records request.
For certified copies you can order remotely, the GSCCCA eCertification portal at ecert.gsccca.org accepts online requests. The digitally certified copy has a recognized official seal. This is the most practical option for anyone outside Turner County who cannot visit the Ashburn courthouse.
The Georgia Archives holds historical court records transferred from Georgia counties, including older dissolution of marriage files that may no longer be in active courthouse storage.
The Georgia Archives shown above can be searched for historical Turner County dissolution records that predate modern online databases or that have been transferred from active court storage.
New dissolution of marriage petitions in Turner County can be filed electronically through PeachCourt at peachcourt.com. Regardless of how a case is filed, the Turner County Superior Court Clerk is the official record custodian.
Note: For very recent filings, check directly with the clerk if the case does not yet appear in the GSCCCA portal, as indexing can lag by a few days.
Georgia DPH Dissolution Verification
Georgia DPH Vital Records keeps a statewide dissolution of marriage verification file covering cases from 1952 through 1996. For a Turner County dissolution in that period, you can submit Form 3917 and pay a $10 fee to get a verification letter. The letter confirms the event but does not include decree terms or act as a certified copy. It is useful for administrative confirmation but not for legal proceedings that require a certified court document.
Cases outside the 1952 to 1996 window must be requested from the Turner County Superior Court Clerk. For pre-1952 or very old cases, the Georgia Archives is worth checking. Some older Georgia county court records have been transferred there, and the archives' online catalog can help you determine availability before making the trip.
Note: Always request a certified court copy from the clerk when you need proof for a legal proceeding rather than relying on the DPH verification letter.
Filing for Dissolution of Marriage in Turner County
Georgia requires six months of residency in the state before filing a dissolution of marriage petition. The filing goes to the Superior Court Clerk at 219 East College Avenue in Ashburn. After the respondent is served, a 30-day waiting period applies before the court can finalize the case. Even for uncontested dissolutions where both parties agree on everything, the 30-day period still runs. Courts in smaller circuits sometimes schedule final hearing dates less frequently, so the actual timeline can run longer than the minimum waiting period.
Georgia DPH Vital Records handles dissolution of marriage verification requests for Turner County cases from 1952 through 1996 using Form 3917.
The Georgia vital records request page above covers how to submit dissolution of marriage verification requests for Turner County cases held in the DPH statewide file.
Georgia law allows dissolution of marriage on no-fault grounds, the most common being that the marriage is irretrievably broken, as well as fault grounds under O.C.G.A. 19-5-3. The Georgia Courts website covers procedural guidance statewide. The Find My Clerk directory on the Superior Court Clerks of Georgia site confirms current contact info for the Turner County clerk.
Georgia Legal Aid serves South Georgia and can assist residents who need help but cannot afford an attorney. The State Bar of Georgia Lawyer Referral Service is another way to find local family law help in the Tifton Circuit area.
Note: Cases involving children or significant property typically take longer to resolve and benefit from legal representation even in smaller rural counties.
Cities in Turner County
Ashburn is the county seat and largest city in Turner County. No cities in Turner County currently meet the 25,000-resident population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All Turner County residents should use the Superior Court Clerk in Ashburn and the statewide tools listed on this page to search for dissolution of marriage records.