Carroll County Divorce Records

Carroll County divorce records are held by the Superior Court Clerk in Carrollton, the county seat of this west Georgia county. Carroll County has a substantial population, including the University of West Georgia community, and the courthouse handles a considerable volume of divorce cases. This guide explains how to search, find, and request Carroll County divorce records through available online tools and the courthouse.

Carroll County Divorce Records Office

The Carroll County Superior Court Clerk in Carrollton handles all divorce records for the county. The office on Newnan Street stores all divorce filings, maintains case archives, and provides certified copies of final decrees. Carroll County offers online case search options, making it easier to find a record before visiting the courthouse. Check the clerk's page at carrollcountyga.gov for details on available digital resources and how to submit record requests.

Georgia's Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 makes Carroll County divorce records public. Any person may request access to these files. Sealed records require a specific court order and are not common in standard divorce proceedings. You do not need to be a party to the case to request copies.

Carrollton is a mid-sized city with the full range of county services available. The courthouse on Newnan Street handles a meaningful volume of cases. If you are searching for a recent case, online tools are likely to have it. For older filings, the clerk's archive is the right place to look. Arriving during non-peak hours helps reduce wait times at the counter.

The screenshot below is from the Carroll County official website, showing county services and access to court records including divorce filings in Carrollton.

Source: carrollcountyga.gov

The Carroll County site includes access to the Superior Court Clerk department and resources for searching divorce case records online and requesting certified copies.

Searching Carroll County Divorce Records Online

The GSCCCA at gsccca.org provides free online access to Georgia court case indexes including Carroll County. You can search by party name, find case numbers, and see filing dates and status. Carroll County's online case search availability through GSCCCA makes it possible to confirm a filing and get document details without visiting Carrollton. Document images may also be available for many Carroll County cases.

The Georgia E-Access portal at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ is a second statewide search tool. Use both to maximize coverage. Carroll County, as a larger county, generally has solid online record coverage for cases from the past two decades. For older cases from the 1980s or before, calling the clerk at (770) 830-5830 is the best approach.

Carroll County's population size means a higher filing volume than smaller Georgia counties. If you know a case number from a prior search, bring it when you visit the clerk's office in Carrollton. Staff can pull certified copies much faster with a case number than with a name-only search, especially during busy periods at the counter.

Note: Carroll County is one of the more convenient Georgia counties for online divorce record access because its GSCCCA coverage tends to be comprehensive for cases from recent decades.

Divorce Filing in Carroll County

Georgia law at O.C.G.A. § 19-5-1 gives Superior Courts sole authority to grant divorces. The Carroll County Superior Court in Carrollton handles every divorce petition filed in the county. No other Carroll County court has the power to end a marriage.

The venue rule is based on the defendant's residence. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2, you file in the county where the defendant lives when the petition is served. If your spouse lives in Carrollton or anywhere in Carroll County, you file here. If your spouse lives in Haralson County, Heard County, or Douglas County, those courts hold jurisdiction. Records for cases filed there will not be in the Carroll County system.

Georgia offers 13 grounds for divorce under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Irretrievable breakdown is the most used ground in Carroll County cases. After the defendant is served, a mandatory 30-day waiting period applies. Once all issues are resolved and the judge signs the final decree, the clerk records it in Carrollton. That decree becomes a permanent and publicly accessible record.

Carroll County Divorce Record Copy Fees

Copy fees are set by the Carroll County Superior Court Clerk. Call (770) 830-5830 or check the county website for current rates. Certified copies include the court seal and are the standard requirement for most legal, financial, and government uses. Plain copies are cheaper but are not accepted as official proof by most institutions. Ask the clerk which type is right for your specific need before ordering.

For divorces between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia DPH at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords can provide a basic verification for $10. This document shows names, date, and county only. It does not include any terms of the divorce. The DPH holds no full divorce decrees from any period. For the actual court order, the Carroll County clerk in Carrollton is the only source. Outside the 1952 to 1996 date range, only the courthouse has the record.

Divorce Decrees and State Certificates

Carroll County divorce decrees and Georgia DPH divorce certificates are two entirely separate records. The confusion between them is common but easy to clear up.

The divorce decree is the court's final order. The Carroll County Superior Court Clerk in Carrollton holds it. The decree contains every term the judge ordered: property, debts, child custody, support, and any other obligations. When courts, banks, or government agencies need proof of what a divorce said, they want the certified decree from the Carrollton courthouse. This document carries legal weight and is accepted wherever an official divorce record is required.

The Georgia DPH divorce certificate is an administrative summary covering only 1952 to 1996. It shows names, county, and date. Nothing else. It costs $10 from the state health department. Many people assume the state has full copies of all divorce decrees; it does not. If your divorce falls inside the DPH coverage window and you only need basic proof, the $10 verification may work. Otherwise, go to the Carroll County courthouse for the certified decree.

Note: Carroll County's larger population means the courthouse handles diverse records requests daily. For complex or multi-document requests, allow extra processing time when ordering certified copies.

Legal Help for Carroll County Divorce

Georgia Legal Aid serves Carroll County residents who need free family law help. Income-eligible applicants can get assistance with divorce forms, guidance on the pro se process, and sometimes full representation. Carrollton is also home to the University of West Georgia, and some local law school clinics or bar association resources may be available in the area for free or low-cost legal help.

The Carroll County Superior Court Clerk in Carrollton provides forms for pro se filers. Uncontested divorces in Carroll County where both parties agree on everything are the most suitable for self-filing. For cases involving disputes over children, significant property, or debts, consulting a family law attorney before filing makes the process smoother and protects your interests. Carrollton has a meaningful number of private family law attorneys given the county's size.

Nearby Counties

Divorce records for Carroll County area residents may also be in these neighboring counties if the defendant was living there at the time of filing.