Find Calhoun County Divorce Records

Calhoun County divorce records are held by the Superior Court Clerk in Morgan, a small southwest Georgia community that serves as the county seat. Calhoun County is one of Georgia's least-populated counties, and this guide tells you where to find its divorce records, how to search them, what documents are available, and how to get a certified copy of a decree.

Calhoun County Divorce Records Office

The Calhoun County Superior Court Clerk in Morgan is the keeper of all divorce records filed in the county. The courthouse on South Clay Street handles a small volume of cases relative to most Georgia counties, but it maintains the same records requirements and public access obligations as any other. All final decrees, petitions, and supporting documents from Calhoun County divorces are stored here.

Georgia's Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 keeps these records public. Calhoun County divorce files are open to any person who requests them, subject to the rare exception of court-ordered sealing. With such a small caseload, staff at the Calhoun County courthouse often have good familiarity with individual files and may be able to assist with record requests more quickly than larger, busier courthouses.

Morgan is a very small community. The courthouse is the center of county government. If you are traveling from outside the area to get a record, calling ahead at (229) 849-2715 to confirm the file is accessible is especially worthwhile given the distance involved. Staff can usually pull a record during a single visit if you provide adequate identifying information in advance.

The screenshot below is from the Calhoun County official website, which provides contacts for county offices including the Superior Court Clerk in Morgan.

Source: calhouncountyga.com

The county site links to county departments and provides contact information for the Superior Court Clerk, which handles all Calhoun County divorce filings.

Searching Calhoun County Divorce Records

The GSCCCA at gsccca.org provides free online access to Georgia court case indexes statewide. Search Calhoun County Superior Court records by name. For a small county like Calhoun, the online index can quickly confirm whether a case was filed and return the case number and filing date. Document images for Calhoun County cases may not be fully available online, but the index search is a reliable first step.

The Georgia E-Access system at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ is a second online tool. Use both. If neither returns your case, the most likely explanation is that the case was filed in an adjacent county where the defendant lived at the time. Baker County, Mitchell County, and Dougherty County are all near Calhoun County and could hold records for cases with Calhoun County connections.

For older cases, contact the clerk at (229) 849-2715 directly. Calhoun County's small filing volume often makes manual searches more manageable here than in a large metro courthouse. Give both party names and the approximate filing year. If the record predates electronic tracking, staff can search index books and archived files.

Note: Because Calhoun County is so small, even a name-only search at the GSCCCA is likely to return results quickly if the case was filed there at all.

Filing for Divorce in Calhoun County

Georgia law at O.C.G.A. § 19-5-1 gives Superior Courts exclusive authority to grant divorces. The Calhoun County Superior Court in Morgan is the only court in the county that can end a marriage. All divorce petitions filed by or against Calhoun County residents who live here go through this court.

Venue requires filing in the defendant's county. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2, the petition is filed where the defendant lives when the case begins. If your spouse lives in Morgan or elsewhere in Calhoun County, the case is filed in Morgan. If your spouse lives in Miller County or Baker County, those courts handle it and hold the records. This is a critical point when searching for records, as the case follows the defendant's residence, not the petitioner's.

Georgia recognizes 13 grounds for divorce under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Irretrievable breakdown covers most cases. There is a mandatory 30-day wait after service on the defendant before the court can enter a final decree. In simple uncontested cases, resolution after that period can be quick. The final decree, once entered, is stored with the Calhoun County clerk in Morgan as a permanent public record.

Divorce Record Fees in Calhoun County

Call (229) 849-2715 to get current copy fees before your visit. Certified copies include the court seal and are required for most official purposes. Plain copies cost less and are fine for personal reference. Calhoun County is a small courthouse, and staff can usually help you order exactly what you need during the call so you arrive with a clear plan.

For divorces between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia DPH at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords offers $10 verifications. This document is limited to names, date, and county. It is not the decree and has no case terms. The DPH does not hold any actual divorce decrees. For the full court order, the Calhoun County Superior Court Clerk in Morgan is the only source.

Decrees and State Certificates in Calhoun County

The divorce decree and the state certificate are entirely separate records. People often confuse them and end up ordering the wrong document. Knowing what each contains prevents that mistake.

The Calhoun County divorce decree is the judge's full order. It is stored with the clerk in Morgan. It contains every term of the divorce: property division, any debt responsibility, custody and parenting plans, child support amounts, and any spousal support orders. This document controls the rights and obligations of each party after the marriage ends. Courts, banks, and government agencies require the certified decree when they need to know what the divorce ordered.

The Georgia DPH divorce certificate is a brief administrative summary. It covers only 1952 through 1996. Names, county, and date are all it contains. It costs $10. It is not a substitute for the decree in any legal or financial context. If you only need to confirm that a divorce occurred in Calhoun County during that period, the DPH verification may be enough. Otherwise, go to the Morgan courthouse for the certified court copy.

Note: If you need the divorce record for a name change on a Social Security card or driver's license, confirm with the agency whether they accept the DPH verification or require the full certified decree, as requirements differ.

Legal Help for Calhoun County Divorce

Georgia Legal Aid serves low-income residents of Calhoun County. Their family law services include assistance with divorce forms, guidance on the pro se filing process, and sometimes representation for qualifying applicants. Because Calhoun County is rural and small, access to private attorneys can be limited. Georgia Legal Aid and their online tools are often the most accessible resource for residents who cannot afford private counsel.

The Calhoun County Superior Court Clerk in Morgan can provide the forms required to start a divorce. For simple, uncontested cases where both parties agree on all terms, pro se filing is workable. If there is any dispute, particularly over children or property, legal help is important. Albany, in nearby Dougherty County, has a broader range of family law attorneys available for Calhoun County residents who need paid representation.

Nearby Counties

Divorce records for Calhoun County residents may also be in these neighboring counties if the defendant lived there when the case was filed.