Camden County Divorce Records

Camden County divorce records are filed with and held by the Superior Court Clerk in Woodbine, the county seat. Camden County is a coastal Georgia county that has grown significantly due to its proximity to the Cumberland Island area and Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base. All divorce case documents, final decrees, and filings are stored at the Woodbine courthouse and are accessible under Georgia's open records laws.

Camden County Divorce Records Office

The Camden County Superior Court Clerk in Woodbine handles all divorce records for the county. The office on North Osborne Street provides access to case files, certified copies of final decrees, and general court record inquiries. According to county information, the Superior Court Clerk's office in Woodbine assists with divorces, child support matters, passports, notary services, liens, and civil and criminal court records. The office is a multi-purpose public service center for Camden County residents.

Georgia's Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 makes Camden County divorce files available to the public. You can request access to any divorce case unless a judge has specifically ordered it sealed. Most divorce records are open. If a record is sealed, the clerk will inform you and can explain the process for seeking access if you have a legal basis for doing so.

Woodbine is the county seat, while much of Camden County's population lives in communities like Kingsland and St. Marys. The clerk's office in Woodbine serves the entire county. If you live in Kingsland or St. Marys and need records, you will need to contact the Woodbine courthouse. Calling ahead helps you determine whether the record you need is in the electronic system or in archived paper files.

The screenshot below shows the Camden County clerk of superior court page, which provides contact details and information about services including divorce record access.

Source: camdencountyga.gov

The county website links directly to the Clerk of Superior Court department, which handles all Camden County divorce filings.

Source: camdencountyga.gov - Clerk of Superior Court

The clerk's office in Woodbine provides a range of services including divorce record access, certified copies of decrees, and assistance with divorce-related court matters at (912) 576-5631.

How to Search Camden County Divorce Records

The GSCCCA portal at gsccca.org provides free online access to Georgia Superior Court case indexes including Camden County. Enter a party name to find case numbers, filing dates, and status. This is the fastest way to confirm whether a divorce was filed in Woodbine without visiting the courthouse. Document images may be available for some Camden County cases through this system.

The Georgia E-Access portal at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ is a second online option for Georgia court record searches. Use both tools together for best results. Camden County's growing population means its caseload has increased, and more recent filings are likely in the electronic system.

For older cases from before digital indexing, call the clerk at (912) 576-5631. Camden County's coastal location and military presence (Kings Bay) means some cases may involve service members or former service members, and those cases follow the same venue rules as civilian cases: filed in the defendant's county of residence. If the defendant was living on base in Camden County, the case would be filed in Woodbine.

Note: Cases involving military service members may have unique procedural aspects under federal law (Servicemembers Civil Relief Act), so seek legal advice if that applies to your situation.

Divorce Filing Requirements in Camden County

Georgia law at O.C.G.A. § 19-5-1 gives Superior Courts exclusive authority to grant divorces. All divorce cases in Camden County are filed with and heard by the Superior Court in Woodbine. No other Camden County court can grant a divorce.

Venue is based on where the defendant lives. O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2 requires filing in the defendant's county at the time the case is started. If your spouse lives in Kingsland, St. Marys, or anywhere else in Camden County, you file in Woodbine. If your spouse lives in Brantley County or Charlton County, the case goes there. Records follow the court where the case is filed.

Georgia's 13 grounds for divorce are set out at O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Irretrievable breakdown covers most cases. A mandatory 30-day waiting period applies after service on the defendant. Once the judge signs the final decree and it is recorded in Woodbine, it is a permanent public record. The clerk's office in Camden County also notes that it assists with divorces directly, so contacting them about specific procedures is a good idea for anyone who has questions about filing in this county.

Fees for Camden County Divorce Records

Copy fees are set by the Camden County Superior Court Clerk. Call (912) 576-5631 to confirm current rates. Certified copies carry the court seal and are required for most legal, financial, and government uses. Non-certified copies are cheaper but are not accepted as official proof in most contexts. The clerk can tell you exactly what you need based on how you plan to use the document.

For divorces from 1952 to 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords offers $10 verifications. This document contains names, county, and date only. It is not the divorce decree and has no case terms. For the actual court order, the Camden County Superior Court Clerk in Woodbine is the right office. Outside the 1952 to 1996 window, the DPH has no record at all.

Divorce Decrees and State Verifications

The Camden County divorce decree is the full court order. It is on file with the clerk in Woodbine. It includes all terms: property, debts, children, support, and any other court orders. This is what courts, financial institutions, and government agencies want when they need to know what the divorce actually said. The clerk in Woodbine issues certified copies that carry legal weight.

The Georgia DPH verification is short and covers only 1952 to 1996. Names, date, county: nothing else. It costs $10 from the state health department. Many people assume the state keeps a full divorce file. It does not. The DPH record is administrative only. For any substantive purpose, contact the Camden County clerk in Woodbine for the actual court copy. For divorces outside the DPH coverage period, the Woodbine courthouse is the only option regardless.

Note: If you need proof of divorce for a military ID card or dependent benefit change at Kings Bay, confirm with the relevant military office which document they accept before ordering.

Legal Help for Camden County Divorce

Georgia Legal Aid serves Camden County residents who need free legal help with family law matters. Income-eligible residents can apply for assistance with divorce forms, legal coaching, and sometimes representation. Their website also has self-help resources available to anyone in Camden County.

The Superior Court Clerk in Woodbine can provide the forms needed to file a pro se divorce. Uncontested divorces where all terms are agreed upon are the most manageable for self-filing. The Kingsland and St. Marys areas have private family law attorneys available for residents who need paid representation, particularly for contested cases or those involving complex military retirement or benefits issues.

Nearby Counties

Divorce records for residents near Camden County may also be in neighboring counties if the defendant was living there when the case was filed.