Access Cobb County Divorce Records

Cobb County divorce records are held by the Superior Court Clerk in Marietta and include every divorce case filed in the county, from the initial petition through the final decree signed by the judge. This page covers how to search Cobb County divorce records online, how to request certified copies in person or by mail, what the clerk charges for different document types, and where to find legal help for residents navigating a divorce in Cobb County.

Where to Get Cobb County Divorce Records

The Cobb County Superior Court Clerk in Marietta is the custodian of all divorce records filed in the county. The final divorce decree for every case is filed and maintained by the Superior Court. These records include the case number, judge's order, and final judgment, along with any settlement agreement or custody plan the parties filed. The clerk's office at 70 Haynes Street handles both in-person and mail requests for divorce records.

Georgia's Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 makes divorce records publicly available. Courts can seal records in specific circumstances, but this is uncommon in standard divorce cases. Cobb County, as one of Georgia's most populous counties, processes a high volume of divorce filings each year, and the clerk's office is equipped to handle record requests efficiently.

The courthouse is in downtown Marietta. Public parking is available near the square, and the clerk's office is accessible by the Cobb County transit system for residents without a car. Given the county's population, plan for busier periods in the morning. The clerk's office manages records for one of the busiest Superior Courts in the state.

The screenshot below shows the Cobb County Superior Court Clerk's website at cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.com, which provides detailed information about services, fees, and how to request records.

The clerk's website is one of the more detailed in the state, with sections on how to request marriage and divorce records specifically, along with fee schedules and contact information.

How to Search Cobb Divorce Records Online

Cobb County is well-integrated into the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority system at gsccca.org. The free statewide portal lets you search by party name and returns case numbers, docket information, and filing dates for Cobb County divorce cases. This is the fastest online search method and works well for most cases filed in recent decades.

Georgia E-Access at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ provides additional coverage. The Cobb County courts information page at cobbcountycourts.org/marriage-divorce-records/ specifically addresses marriage and divorce record requests and provides direct guidance on how to obtain copies, whether in person, by mail, or online.

The screenshot below from the Cobb County courts website shows the dedicated page for divorce and marriage record access.

Using the case number you find online speeds up any in-person or mail copy request. It eliminates the need for a name-based search at the clerk's counter and helps avoid confusion when multiple cases share similar names.

Note: GSCCCA results for Cobb County are generally current within one to two business days of court filings, making it reliable for recent case lookups.

Cobb County Divorce Filing Process

All Georgia divorces go through the Superior Court under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-1. Cobb County Superior Court handles the full range of domestic cases from simple uncontested divorces to complex litigated cases involving significant assets, business interests, and child custody disputes. Cobb is part of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit, one of the largest and busiest circuits in Georgia.

Filing venue is controlled by O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2. You file in the county where the defendant resides. If your spouse lives in Cobb County, this is where you file. The petition is submitted to the clerk's office at 70 Haynes Street along with the filing fee. The clerk issues a summons and the defendant must be served, typically by the sheriff's office or a private process server.

After service, a 30-day waiting period begins. For an uncontested case with a full settlement agreement in place, the case can move to a final hearing shortly after that period ends. Contested Cobb County divorces often go through mediation, which is common in this circuit, before any trial date is set. Mediation resolves many cases without the need for a contested hearing, saving both time and cost.

Georgia's divorce grounds are at O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Irreconcilable differences, the no-fault ground, is used in the vast majority of Cobb County filings. It requires no proof of misconduct and is straightforward to plead. Fault grounds remain available under Georgia law for those who need them, though they add procedural complexity and are rarely necessary in practice.

Fees for Cobb County Divorce Records

The Cobb County clerk has a specific fee schedule for divorce records. A regular (plain) copy of a divorce decree with a settlement agreement costs $9. The same document certified costs $24. A regular copy of a decree without an agreement costs $3, and a certified copy without an agreement costs $10. Additional pages are billed per page beyond the standard document. These fees reflect the document complexity rather than a flat rate.

By mail, you should send a written request with the names of both parties, the date of the divorce, the case number if known, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and the appropriate payment. Mail requests typically take 5 to 10 business days to process. In-person requests at 70 Haynes Street are generally handled the same day, assuming the file is readily accessible.

Georgia DPH at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords offers a $10 divorce verification for cases from 1952 through 1996. This is a confirmation letter, not a copy of the actual decree. For cases where you only need to verify the divorce occurred and not the terms, the DPH verification is a useful lower-cost option. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-22, Cobb County clerks report all finalized divorces to DPH monthly.

Note: Credit cards, checks, and cash are generally accepted at the Cobb clerk's office, but confirm payment options when you call ahead to avoid a wasted trip.

Legal Resources in Cobb County

Georgia Legal Aid serves Cobb County residents who qualify based on income. Their attorneys handle divorce, custody, child support, and protective order cases. Cobb County is in the greater Atlanta metro area, so Legal Aid's regional offices serve this area with more staff than more rural parts of the state. Applying online is usually the fastest way to start the process.

Cobb County also has private family law attorneys at a wide range of price points. The State Bar's referral service connects residents with an attorney for a reduced-cost initial consultation. Bar referrals for Cobb County tend to be fast given the density of practicing attorneys in the metro Atlanta area. Marietta and Smyrna both have established legal communities with many practitioners who focus on domestic relations.

For people handling their own divorce without an attorney, Georgia E-Forms provides free divorce petition templates and settlement agreement forms. The Cobb County Law Library in the courthouse has resources for pro se litigants including self-help guides, form packets, and access to legal databases. Library staff can help point you to the right resources, though they cannot give legal advice. Many Cobb County divorce cases are handled pro se, particularly uncontested ones, so the clerk's staff is experienced in helping self-represented parties navigate the basic filing steps.

Divorce Certificates in Cobb County

Cobb County does not issue a separate short-form divorce certificate. What you get from the Superior Court Clerk is a certified copy of the final divorce decree. This is the actual court order that includes all terms the judge approved or the parties agreed to, such as property division, custody arrangements, alimony, and name change orders. Certified copies carry the court seal and are accepted by virtually all government agencies and financial institutions.

Georgia DPH issues verifications rather than certificates for divorces from 1952 through 1996. The $10 verification confirms the divorce is in the state database and provides key identifiers. It does not include the terms of the decree. For most legal uses, the certified copy from the Cobb County clerk is the right document.

To get a certified copy, visit the clerk at 70 Haynes Street in Marietta or submit a mail request with party names, divorce date, case number if known, payment, and a return envelope. In-person copies can usually be provided the same day. Mail orders take 5 to 10 business days. Fees depend on whether the decree includes a settlement agreement and how many pages are involved. Call (770) 528-1300 with questions before you go.

Nearby Counties

Cobb County borders several counties in the northwest Atlanta metro area. If a divorce case may have been filed in an adjacent county, use these links to find the right records office.