Candler County Divorce Records

Candler County divorce records are held by the Superior Court Clerk in Metter, the county seat of this small southeast Georgia county. All divorces filed in Candler County are recorded and stored at the Metter courthouse and are open to public inspection under Georgia law. This page explains how to find, search, and request Candler County divorce records efficiently.

Candler County Divorce Records Office

The Candler County Superior Court Clerk in Metter is where all divorce records for the county are stored. The office is on North Anderson Street in Metter. The clerk maintains both electronic records for recent cases and paper archives for older filings. You can request certified copies of divorce decrees in person, or contact the office to ask about submitting requests by mail.

Georgia's Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 ensures that Candler County divorce files are public records. Any person may request them. If a file was sealed by the court, which is rare, the clerk will tell you and you can ask about the process for requesting access through the court. Standard divorce records are not sealed and are available to the public.

Metter is a small, quiet town in southeast Georgia. The Candler County courthouse is accessible and staff are familiar with the local filing history. If you are traveling to Metter specifically for a record, calling ahead at (912) 685-5257 to confirm availability and preparation time is a good step. For very old records, some advance notice allows staff to pull archived files before you arrive.

The Georgia E-Access portal provides online access to Superior Court case indexes including Candler County, helping you search before visiting the Metter courthouse.

Source: georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/

The E-Access system and the GSCCCA portal together provide two ways to search Candler County divorce records online before contacting the clerk in Metter.

Searching Candler County Divorce Records

Use the GSCCCA at gsccca.org to search Georgia court records by name at no cost. For Candler County, this index provides case numbers, filing dates, and party information. The online tool is your best first step for confirming whether a specific divorce was filed in Metter. Document images may not be available for all cases, especially older ones, but the index search is free and fast.

Georgia's E-Access portal at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ is a second search tool. Use both systems. If neither returns your case, check whether the defendant spouse was living in Bulloch County, Tattnall County, or another adjacent county at the time of filing, as those courts would hold the records.

Candler County's small case volume often makes it easier to locate records here than in larger counties. When you contact the clerk at (912) 685-5257, providing both party names and an approximate filing year gets you to the right answer faster. Staff are familiar with local records and can pull archived files for older cases that are not yet digitized.

Note: Candler County's rural location means some residents work or have family in Bulloch County. Confirm which county the defendant was actually living in at the time of filing before you make the trip to Metter.

Filing Divorce in Candler County

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

Venue requires filing in the defendant's county. O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2 is clear: you file where the defendant lives when the petition is served. If your spouse lives in Metter or Candler County, the case goes to Metter. If your spouse lives in Bulloch County or Emanuel County, the case is filed there and the records stay there.

Georgia offers 13 grounds for divorce under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Most Candler County cases use irretrievable breakdown. A mandatory 30-day waiting period follows service on the defendant before a final decree can be entered. Once the judge signs the decree and the clerk records it in Metter, the case is finalized and the record is permanent and public.

Candler County Divorce Record Fees

Call (912) 685-5257 to confirm current copy fees before your visit. Certified copies carry the court seal and are required for most official purposes. Plain copies cost less. Most legal, financial, and government uses require certified copies, so it is usually worth paying for certification unless you know specifically that an uncertified copy is acceptable for your purpose.

The Georgia DPH at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords offers $10 divorce verifications for cases from 1952 to 1996. The verification is not the decree. It lists names, county, and date only, with no case terms. The DPH holds no full divorce decrees from any period. For the actual court order, the Candler County Superior Court Clerk in Metter is your only source.

Decrees vs. Divorce Certificates in Candler County

The divorce decree from the Candler County Superior Court is the complete legal order. It contains all terms: who gets what property, who owes what debts, custody arrangements, child support, and any support orders. It is stored with the clerk in Metter. Certified copies carry the court seal and are accepted by courts, banks, and government agencies when proof of the divorce terms is required. This is the document most people need.

The Georgia DPH divorce certificate is brief and limited. It exists only for 1952 through 1996. It shows names, county, and date. No case terms. The state health department does not hold a copy of any Georgia court's divorce decree. The DPH record costs $10 and can satisfy basic proof-of-divorce requirements in some limited situations. For most purposes, the Candler County clerk in Metter is the right source for the actual document you need.

Note: If the purpose of your records request is to change a last name after divorce, different agencies have different requirements. Some accept a certified decree while others also accept or require other documentation, so verify before ordering.

Legal Help for Candler County Divorce

Georgia Legal Aid provides free legal services to low-income residents including those in Candler County. Family law assistance from Georgia Legal Aid includes help with divorce forms, guidance on pro se filing, and sometimes full representation for qualifying applicants. Their self-help tools on the website are useful for any Candler County resident regardless of income.

The Superior Court Clerk in Metter can give you the forms you need to file a divorce in Candler County. Clerks cannot give legal advice, but they can provide the required paperwork and answer procedural questions. For simple, agreed-upon divorces in Candler County, many residents file without an attorney. For anything more complex, a family law attorney is advisable. Statesboro, in nearby Bulloch County, has several family law attorneys who serve residents of surrounding smaller counties.

Nearby Counties

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