Search Dawson County Divorce Records

Dawson County divorce records are kept by the Superior Court Clerk in Dawsonville and include every divorce case filed in the county. Whether you need a certified copy of a final decree, want to check on an active case, or need to confirm a past divorce, this guide covers all the ways to find and access Dawson County divorce records through the courthouse, online systems, and the Family Law Information Center on site.

Where to Get Dawson County Divorce Records

The Dawson County Superior Court Clerk is the official custodian of all divorce records in this county. The office is located in Dawsonville at the Justice Way courthouse complex. Every divorce case filed in Dawson County, from the initial petition through the final decree, is stored in this office. Staff can help you search by name or case number and pull copies of documents you need.

Dawson County also has a Family Law Information Center (FLIC) on the third floor of the courthouse at the same address. Reach them at (706) 344-3510. The FLIC helps people understand the divorce process and navigate paperwork without requiring an attorney. It is especially useful for those filing pro se in uncontested cases. Staff can explain procedures and direct you to the right forms, though they cannot give legal advice.

Georgia's Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, guarantees public access to court records, including divorce filings. The records are open to anyone unless a court order has sealed them. Sealed cases are rare in Dawson County but do occur in cases with sensitive details involving children.

The screenshot below shows the Dawson County official site, where you can find contact details and updates for the clerk's office.

Check this site before visiting to confirm office hours and any changes to courthouse access procedures.

How to Search Dawson County Divorce Records Online

Dawson County offers online case search access, which makes it easier to find a case without visiting in person. Start at the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority portal at gsccca.org. This free statewide tool lets you search by party name and find basic case data including docket numbers and filing dates. Many Dawson County cases appear in this system.

Georgia E-Access at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ provides another search layer for cases in participating courts. If you find the case number through either of these systems, you can use it to order certified copies from the clerk's office faster than searching by name alone.

For mail requests, write to the clerk at 25 Justice Way Suite 1202, Dawsonville, GA 30534. Include the names of both parties, the filing year, a check or money order for the copy fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call the clerk at (706) 344-3510 to confirm current fee amounts before mailing.

Note: Online search results may not reflect same-day filings, so call the clerk directly for the most current information on recently filed cases.

Dawson County Divorce Filing Process

Georgia law gives Superior Courts sole power over divorce cases. O.C.G.A. § 19-5-1 makes clear that only a Superior Court can grant a divorce in this state. The Dawson County Superior Court in Dawsonville handles every divorce for county residents.

Venue rules under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2 require filing in the county where the defendant lives. If your spouse lives in Dawson County, you file here. If they live in a different county, that is where the case goes. This matters when searching for records because the divorce file will be wherever it was filed, not necessarily in Dawson County.

Georgia provides 13 grounds for divorce under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Irretrievable breakdown is by far the most common and requires no showing of fault by either party. Once a petition is filed in Dawsonville, the defendant must be served with process. A 30-day waiting period then runs before a decree can be entered. Both parties in an uncontested case can sometimes move through the process in just a few weeks after service is complete.

After a judge signs the final decree, the clerk records it. That recorded copy is permanent and available to anyone with a right to access it under Georgia's open records law. Certified copies can be ordered from the Dawson County clerk at any time after the decree is entered.

Dawson County Copy Fees and Costs

The Dawson County Superior Court Clerk charges fees for copies of divorce records. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. Call (706) 344-3510 for current fee amounts before you visit or mail a request. Rates can change and the clerk will give you an exact quote.

For divorces that happened between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health provides a basic verification service through its Vital Records office. The cost is $10. The verification confirms names, date, and county but does not include the full terms of the decree. If you need the actual decree rather than a simple confirmation, the Dawson County clerk is the right office.

The DPH holds nothing for divorces before 1952 or after 1996. For those cases, only the Dawson County Superior Court Clerk has the records. The DPH also does not hold copies of actual decrees for any time period. It only holds statistical records created separately from the court file.

Divorce Decrees vs. Certificates

These two documents are often confused. Knowing the difference saves time and avoids rejected requests.

A divorce decree is the judge's signed court order. It is the full legal document listing every term of the divorce: property distribution, spousal support if any, custody arrangements, child support, and all other orders made by the court. The Dawson County Superior Court Clerk holds this document. Banks, courts, and government agencies almost always want to see the decree when asking for proof of divorce, because it shows the full legal outcome of the case.

A divorce certificate or state verification is a summary record created by the Georgia Department of Public Health for statistical purposes. It covers divorces between 1952 and 1996 only and costs $10. It shows names, date, and county, but none of the actual terms the court ordered. It is useful for basic confirmation but not for legal proceedings that require the full decree. If the divorce fell outside the 1952 to 1996 window, the DPH holds no record at all.

When you need proof that carries legal weight, the decree from the Dawson County clerk is the right document to get.

Note: A plain copy of the decree is cheaper than a certified copy, but banks and courts typically require the certified version.

Legal Help in Dawson County

Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org serves Dawson County residents who qualify by income. They handle divorce, custody, and related family law matters. Their website has a case intake tool and free self-help resources available to anyone. Staff attorneys provide direct representation to eligible clients.

The Family Law Information Center (FLIC) on the third floor of the Dawson County courthouse is an in-person resource for pro se filers. They help residents understand the divorce process and which forms to use. They do not represent clients in court, but they make the process far more navigable for people going through an uncontested divorce without an attorney.

Georgia's E-Forms portal at eforms.georgiacourts.gov has official court forms for uncontested divorces. Using these approved forms avoids delays from rejected filings. For contested cases with property disputes or custody issues, finding a licensed family law attorney through the Georgia State Bar referral service is the safer route.

Nearby Counties

Dawson County sits in the north Georgia mountains. Residents near county borders may have divorce records filed in one of these neighboring counties instead.