Bartow County Divorce Records

Bartow County divorce records are held by the Superior Court Clerk in Cartersville and are accessible to the public under Georgia law. This guide explains where to find Bartow County divorce records, how to search them online or in person, what the records contain, and what legal help is available if you are navigating a divorce in this northwest Georgia county.

Where to Find Bartow County Divorce Records

The Bartow County Superior Court Clerk is located in Cartersville on West Cherokee Avenue. This office handles all divorce filings in the county and maintains both current electronic records and archived paper files. Certified copies of divorce decrees, case dockets, and related documents can be requested at the clerk's office in person or by mail.

Under Georgia's Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, divorce records in Bartow County are public. Any person may inspect or request copies of these files. A judge may seal a file in exceptional circumstances, but most divorce records remain open. You do not need to prove a personal connection to the case to access these records.

Cartersville serves as the county seat and is a growing city in the northwest Georgia metro area. The Bartow County courthouse handles a substantial caseload. The clerk's page on the official county website provides specific details about records access, fees, and how to submit requests if you cannot visit in person.

The screenshot below is from the Bartow County official site, showing information about the Clerk of Superior Court department.

Source: bartowga.org - Clerk of Superior Court

The clerk's department page covers services available at the Cartersville courthouse, including how to access divorce records and request certified copies.

Searching Bartow County Divorce Records Online

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority at gsccca.org provides free online access to Georgia court case indexes. You can search Bartow County Superior Court records by name and find case numbers, filing dates, and other basic details. Document images are available for some Bartow County cases. This is your first and most convenient place to start a search without visiting Cartersville.

The Georgia E-Access portal at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ covers additional Georgia court records statewide. If the GSCCCA search does not return what you need, try E-Access. The two systems complement each other and together provide broad coverage of Georgia Superior Court cases.

For cases predating electronic records, which in Bartow County likely means cases from the 1980s or earlier, a call to the clerk at (770) 387-5025 will set you up with a manual search. Staff can pull records from paper archives and index books. Provide both names and the approximate filing year when you call.

Note: Bartow County's growing population means the clerk's office handles a substantial filing volume, so calling ahead for large record requests or certified copies may help you plan your visit.

Divorce Filing Process in Bartow County

Georgia assigns exclusive authority over divorce cases to Superior Courts through O.C.G.A. § 19-5-1. The Bartow County Superior Court in Cartersville handles every divorce petition filed in the county. No other Bartow County court can grant a divorce.

Venue rules in Georgia are based on where the defendant lives. O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2 requires you to file in the defendant's county of residence at the time the case is started. If your spouse lives in Cartersville or anywhere else in Bartow County, you file here. If your spouse lives in Cherokee County, Cobb County, or Floyd County, you file there and Bartow County holds no record of the divorce.

Georgia offers 13 grounds for divorce under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Irretrievable breakdown is used in most Bartow County cases. A 30-day waiting period applies after the defendant is properly served. Once the judge signs the final decree, it is filed with the clerk in Cartersville. That decree becomes a permanent and publicly accessible court record.

Bartow County Divorce Record Copy Costs

Copy fees at the Bartow County Superior Court Clerk vary by document type and certification. Call (770) 387-5025 or check the clerk's page at bartowga.org to confirm current fees before your visit. Certified copies are required for most legal, financial, and government purposes. Non-certified copies work for personal reference but are not accepted as official documents by most institutions.

The Georgia Department of Public Health can issue a divorce verification for divorces between 1952 and 1996 for $10. Visit dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords to request one. This verification is not the same as the court decree. It lists names, the county, and the date but includes no terms, no custody information, and no property orders. For anything requiring the substance of the divorce, contact the Bartow County clerk in Cartersville.

Divorce Decrees and State Certificates

Understanding these two documents prevents confusion and wasted time. They are not interchangeable.

The divorce decree is the court order signed by the Bartow County Superior Court judge. It is filed with and held by the clerk in Cartersville. The decree covers every aspect of the divorce: asset division, debt assignment, child custody arrangements, support obligations, and any other orders. It is the document courts, banks, government agencies, and immigration authorities typically want when they need proof of what a divorce actually said.

The Georgia DPH divorce verification is a short administrative record. It exists only for divorces from 1952 through 1996. It shows names and basic facts, nothing more. If your case is outside that range or if you need any substantive details, the Bartow County Superior Court Clerk in Cartersville is the only option. Cost for the DPH record is $10. Court copy costs are separate and set by the clerk.

Note: If you need a divorce record for immigration purposes, consult with an immigration attorney about which document is required, as different visa categories may have different requirements.

Legal Help for Bartow County Divorce Cases

Georgia Legal Aid provides free family law assistance to income-eligible residents in Bartow County. Their services range from self-help tools on the website to forms assistance and, for some clients, direct legal representation. The Cartersville area may also have family law attorneys who offer free initial consultations.

The Bartow County Superior Court Clerk in Cartersville provides forms for pro se filers. Uncontested divorces where both parties have already agreed on everything are a reasonable candidate for filing without an attorney. If there is any dispute about property, debt, custody, or support, legal advice before you file protects you significantly. Mistakes in a divorce decree are often irreversible once the judge signs off.

Nearby Counties

If a divorce involved someone living near Bartow County's borders, the case may be filed in one of these neighboring counties.