Bryan County Divorce Records Search

Bryan County divorce records are kept at the Superior Court Clerk's office in Pembroke, the county seat. Bryan County sits in coastal Georgia and has seen significant growth in recent years. All divorce filings in the county are stored and accessible through the Pembroke courthouse, and this page covers every method available for searching and obtaining those records.

Bryan County Divorce Records Office

The Bryan County Superior Court Clerk in Pembroke on South College Street handles all official divorce records for the county. The office maintains divorce case files, including petitions, settlements, and final decrees. Certified copies can be requested in person during business hours. Contact the office to ask about mail-in requests if an in-person visit to Pembroke is not convenient.

Georgia's Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 makes Bryan County divorce records public. Any person can request access to a divorce file unless it has been specifically sealed by court order. Sealed records are rare in most standard divorce proceedings. The public nature of these records means you can look up filings without needing to be a party to the case.

Pembroke is a small city, but Bryan County's growing population means the court is handling an increasing caseload. If you are looking for a recent filing, electronic records are likely available. For older cases, a call to (912) 653-3870 will tell you what is available and how to request it. Bryan County's proximity to Savannah also means some residents may have cases filed in Chatham County if the defendant lived there at the time.

The DPH Vital Records portal offers a separate service for verifying divorces that occurred in Georgia between 1952 and 1996.

Source: dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords

DPH verifications cost $10 and cover only basic facts, not the full terms of a Bryan County divorce decree. For the full record, contact the Superior Court Clerk in Pembroke.

Searching Bryan County Divorce Records Online

Use the GSCCCA portal at gsccca.org to search Bryan County Superior Court case records by name at no cost. The statewide index lets you find case numbers, filing dates, and party names quickly. For many Bryan County cases, this is the fastest way to confirm a filing before requesting official copies from Pembroke. Document images may be available for more recent cases.

The Georgia E-Access system at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ is a second statewide portal for court records. Use both tools when searching. If neither returns the case you need, consider whether the case may have been filed in Chatham County if the defendant was a Savannah resident, or in Bulloch County if the defendant lived in Statesboro or that area.

For cases from before electronic filing, contact the clerk at (912) 653-3870. Bryan County staff can conduct manual searches of index books and archived files. Providing the names of both parties and the year of filing significantly reduces search time for older records.

Note: Bryan County's growing population has increased filing volume in recent years, so give the clerk adequate notice when requesting large numbers of copies or records that require extensive searching.

Divorce Filing Process in Bryan County

Georgia's Superior Courts hold all authority over divorce proceedings under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-1. The Bryan County Superior Court in Pembroke is the only court in the county with power to grant a divorce. No other Bryan County court can dissolve a marriage.

Venue is set by the defendant's residence. O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2 says you file where the defendant lives when the petition is served. If your spouse lives in Bryan County, the case goes to Pembroke. If your spouse lives in Chatham County or Effingham County, that is where you file and where the records will be created. This is the most common reason people cannot find a divorce record in Bryan County: the case was filed in another county.

The 13 grounds for divorce in Georgia are set out in O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Irretrievable breakdown is used in the overwhelming majority of Bryan County cases. After the defendant is served, a 30-day wait applies. Once the waiting period is over and all issues are resolved, the judge signs the final decree. The clerk in Pembroke records it, and it becomes a permanent public record.

Bryan County Divorce Record Fees

Copy fees are set by the Bryan County Superior Court Clerk. Call (912) 653-3870 to get current rates. Certified copies include the court seal and are accepted for official purposes. Non-certified copies are available at a lower cost for personal use. Confirm what type of copy you need before ordering, since certified and plain copies serve different purposes.

For divorces from 1952 to 1996, the Georgia DPH at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords offers $10 verifications. The verification is not the decree. It shows names, county, and date only. For any case outside that window or when you need the substance of the divorce order, the Bryan County clerk in Pembroke is the right contact. The DPH cannot provide a full copy of any divorce decree from any period.

Divorce Decrees and State Certificates

These documents come from different sources and serve different purposes. The confusion between them is common and easy to avoid once you understand the distinction.

The Bryan County divorce decree is the Superior Court's final order. It is filed with the clerk in Pembroke. It includes all orders made by the judge: property and debt allocation, parenting plans, child support, and any other terms. It is certified when issued by the clerk. Most official uses require the certified decree, not a summary.

The Georgia DPH divorce certificate is a short administrative record for statistical purposes. It covers only 1952 through 1996. Names, date, and county are the only data points. It costs $10. It is not the full record. If you need any case terms or if your divorce falls outside the covered date range, go directly to the Pembroke courthouse for the court-certified copy.

Note: Some agencies that handle name change requests after a divorce will accept either document, but financial institutions and courts almost universally require the certified decree.

Legal Help for Bryan County Divorce

Georgia Legal Aid provides free family law services to qualifying residents statewide, including Bryan County. You can apply for help on their website or call to ask about eligibility. They offer forms help, legal coaching, and in some cases representation. Their self-help resources are available to anyone regardless of income.

Pro se filing is possible in Bryan County for uncontested divorces where both parties have already agreed on all issues. The Superior Court Clerk in Pembroke can provide the required forms. If you have children, real estate, or any disputed issue, consulting a family law attorney before filing is the prudent step. The Savannah area, nearby, has a significant number of family law attorneys who serve Bryan County residents.

Nearby Counties

Bryan County borders several counties where divorce records may also be filed depending on the defendant's residence at the time of the filing.