Search Barrow County Divorce Records

Barrow County divorce records are filed with and kept by the Superior Court Clerk in Winder. This page tells you how to find a specific divorce case, request certified copies of decrees, search the case index online, and access legal help if you need to file or respond to a divorce in Barrow County.

Barrow County Divorce Records Location

The Barrow County Superior Court Clerk in Winder holds all divorce records for the county. The office at 652 Barrow Park Drive is staffed to handle record requests, certified copy orders, and general inquiries about case filings. Barrow County has seen steady population growth over the past two decades, so the court handles a meaningful volume of divorce cases each year.

Georgia's Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 requires these records to be available to the public. Anyone can request access to Barrow County divorce files. Sealed records are the exception, not the rule. Most divorce files are open and accessible without restriction.

The clerk's office in Winder handles a range of court-related services. If you are there to get a divorce record, head to the clerk's office specifically. For marriage records, the office at barrowga.org notes that copies of a prior divorce decree are sometimes required when applying for a marriage license. Have your decree ready if that is the reason you need the record.

The screenshots below are from the Barrow County official website, showing the court information portal and related services available through the county.

Source: barrowga.org

The site links to the Superior Court Clerk's office, which handles all divorce filings in Barrow County.

Source: barrowga.org - Marriage Info

Barrow County notes that applicants who have been previously divorced must present a copy of the final divorce decree. Copies from the clerk's office in Winder can be obtained for a fee payable by money order, cash, or credit.

How to Search Barrow County Divorce Records

The GSCCCA statewide portal at gsccca.org is a good first stop. Enter a party name to search Barrow County Superior Court records at no cost. You can find case numbers, filing dates, and party information. Full document images are available for some Barrow County records through this system, though coverage varies by case age and type.

The Georgia E-Access system at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ provides a second online avenue for accessing court records. Use both tools when looking for a specific case. For records that are not online, visit the clerk's office in Winder or call (770) 307-3100 to inquire about a manual search of older files.

Barrow County has grown rapidly, and its courthouse handles more volume now than it did a decade ago. If you are looking for a recent case, the online tools are likely to have it. For cases from the 1980s or earlier, a direct call or visit is more reliable.

Note: When presenting a divorce decree for remarriage purposes in Barrow County, the county notes that copies must be original and may need to be certified.

Barrow County Divorce Filing Requirements

Georgia gives exclusive divorce authority to Superior Courts under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-1. Every divorce in Barrow County is filed with and decided by the Superior Court in Winder. No other court in the county has authority over divorce proceedings.

Venue is set by the defendant's county. O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2 requires filing in the county where the defendant lives at the time the petition is served. If your spouse lives in Barrow County, Winder is where you file. If your spouse lives in Jackson County or Gwinnett County, you file there instead and Barrow County will have no record of the case.

The 13 grounds for divorce in Georgia are in O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Irretrievable breakdown is the most used ground in Barrow County cases. There is a mandatory 30-day wait after the defendant is served. Once the court enters the final decree, the clerk in Winder records it and it becomes a permanent public document.

Divorce Record Copy Fees in Barrow County

Copy fees at the Barrow County Superior Court Clerk are set by the office. Call (770) 307-3100 for current rates. When you need a record for a marriage license application, passport, name change, or legal proceeding, a certified copy is what you want. It carries the court seal and is accepted as an official document. Plain copies work for informal reference but are not universally accepted.

For divorces between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords can issue a basic divorce verification for $10. This document lists names, the county, and the date. It does not include custody orders, property terms, or support amounts. If those details matter, you need the full decree from the clerk in Winder, not the state verification.

People who need records for immigration purposes, estate proceedings, or financial accounts almost always need the certified decree, not the DPH verification. Ask the requesting agency which document they require before you order anything.

Divorce Decree vs. State Divorce Verification

The divorce decree is the judge's final order in the case. It is on file at the Barrow County Superior Court Clerk's office in Winder. It contains the complete ruling: who gets what, who owes what, how custody is shared, what support is owed, and any other terms the court imposed. This is the document that controls what each party must do after the marriage ends.

The state divorce verification from the Georgia DPH is a brief record confirming the divorce occurred. It covers only 1952 through 1996 and shows names, county, and date only. It does not reflect any terms. If you only need to prove you are no longer married and the requesting party does not need case details, the $10 verification may be enough. If case terms are needed, go to the Barrow County clerk in Winder.

Note: Divorces before 1952 or after 1996 have no DPH verification at all; the courthouse file is the only official record.

Legal Help for Divorce in Barrow County

Georgia Legal Aid serves Barrow County residents who need free legal assistance. They handle family law matters, including divorce cases, and provide forms, coaching, and sometimes full representation for eligible applicants. Their website also has self-help guides that can help anyone understand the divorce process.

Pro se filing is a real option for uncontested divorces in Barrow County. The Superior Court Clerk in Winder can give you the needed forms. If you and your spouse agree on all issues, the process is more manageable without an attorney. For disputes about property, support, or children, a consultation with a family law attorney is a sound investment before you sign anything in court.

Nearby Counties

Divorce records near Barrow County may also be held in these adjacent counties depending on where the defendant spouse was living at the time of filing.