Butts County Divorce Records

Butts County divorce records are on file with the Superior Court Clerk in Jackson, the county seat. Whether you are verifying that a divorce was finalized, tracking down an old case file, or requesting a certified copy of a final decree, this guide covers the sources and methods available for finding Butts County divorce records.

Where to Find Butts County Divorce Records

The Butts County Superior Court Clerk in Jackson handles all official divorce records for the county. The office is on Third Street in Jackson, close to the Henry County and Lamar County lines. All divorce petitions, settlement agreements, hearing records, and final decrees from cases filed in Butts County are stored here. The clerk issues certified copies and can help you search the case index for specific records.

Under Georgia's Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, divorce records in Butts County are open to the public. Any person can request access to these files without needing to explain why. Records sealed by the court are exceptions and are uncommon in standard divorce cases. If a file is sealed, the clerk will tell you and explain what options, if any, exist to request access.

Jackson is a small city about an hour south of Atlanta. The Butts County courthouse is easy to locate in town. If you need records from a significant time ago, calling ahead at (770) 504-1800 helps you plan whether to visit in person or request copies by mail. The clerk can also tell you whether the case is in the electronic index or in paper archives, which affects how long retrieval will take.

The GSCCCA statewide portal is the primary online tool for searching Butts County court records without visiting Jackson.

Source: gsccca.org

The GSCCCA portal provides free access to Georgia Superior Court case indexes including Butts County, letting you confirm whether a divorce was filed before contacting the Jackson courthouse.

Searching Butts County Divorce Records Online

The GSCCCA at gsccca.org is where to start. You can search Butts County Superior Court records by party name at no cost. The system returns case numbers, filing dates, and status. For more recent cases, this tool may also provide document access. It is the fastest way to confirm a filing without making the drive to Jackson.

Georgia's E-Access portal at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ is a second tool for statewide court record searches. Use both to maximize coverage. If neither returns results, it is worth checking whether the defendant in the case lived in Henry County, Lamar County, or another adjacent county at the time of filing. Those counties would hold the records if that is where the defendant lived.

For older Butts County divorce records predating electronic filing, contact the clerk at (770) 504-1800. Manual searches of archived index books and files are available. Give both party names and the year of filing to help staff narrow the search quickly. Some older records may require extra time to retrieve from storage, particularly if they were filed several decades ago.

Note: Jackson is a growing bedroom community for Atlanta, so Butts County's filing volume has increased over time. Newer cases are more likely to be in the electronic system than older ones.

How Divorce Cases Are Filed in Butts County

Georgia's Superior Courts hold exclusive authority over divorce under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-1. The Butts County Superior Court in Jackson is the only court in the county that can grant a divorce. No other court in Butts County has that power.

Venue is based on the defendant's county of residence. O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2 requires filing where the defendant lives at the time the case starts. If your spouse lives in Jackson or anywhere in Butts County, this is where the petition is filed and where all the records will be. If your spouse has moved to Henry County, the case and its records go to Henry County's courthouse, not Butts County.

Georgia recognizes 13 grounds for divorce under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Irretrievable breakdown is the most widely used. After service on the defendant, Georgia's mandatory 30-day waiting period applies before the court can enter a final decree. For uncontested cases where all terms are agreed upon, the process moves relatively quickly after that period. Once the judge signs the final decree and the clerk records it in Jackson, it is a permanent and public court record.

Butts County Divorce Record Fees

Call (770) 504-1800 or check buttscounty.org for current copy fees at the Butts County Superior Court Clerk. Certified copies include the official court seal and are what most institutions require for legal and financial purposes. Plain copies are cheaper but not accepted as official documentation in most formal settings. Confirm the accepted payment methods before you visit, especially if you prefer to pay by credit card.

For Georgia divorces between 1952 and 1996, the Department of Public Health at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords can issue a $10 divorce verification. This record is not the decree. It shows names, county, and date but no case terms. The DPH does not hold full divorce decrees. For those, the Butts County clerk in Jackson is the only source. Outside the 1952 to 1996 range, the DPH has nothing at all for your case.

Decrees and State Certificates Compared

The Butts County divorce decree is the court's final order. The clerk in Jackson holds it. It is a detailed document covering all orders in the case, property division, custody, support, and any other terms. For any use where the terms of the divorce matter, such as financial, legal, or government purposes, the certified decree is what you need.

The Georgia DPH divorce certificate is brief and covers only 1952 to 1996. Names, date, and county, that is all it has. The cost is $10. It does not include any case details. Many requestors who assume the state keeps a full copy of every decree are surprised to learn the DPH record is this limited. If your need is anything beyond basic confirmation of the event, the Butts County Superior Court Clerk in Jackson is the right source.

Note: If you need a divorce record to prove eligibility for retirement benefits or survivor benefits, contact the plan administrator to confirm which document they accept before ordering from either source.

Legal Help for Butts County Divorce

Georgia Legal Aid is available to income-eligible Butts County residents. Their family law services include guidance on divorce forms, help understanding court procedures, and in some cases full representation. The online resources at georgialegalaid.org are helpful for any resident regardless of income level.

The Butts County Superior Court Clerk in Jackson can hand you the forms needed to file a pro se divorce. Uncontested cases where both parties have agreed on everything are the most suitable for self-filing. For anything contested or involving children, getting at least a legal consultation before you file is the right approach. Jackson's proximity to Atlanta means family law attorneys are accessible for residents who need paid representation.

Nearby Counties

Divorce records for Butts County area residents may be in neighboring counties if the defendant lived there when the petition was filed.