Evans County Divorce Records

Evans County divorce records are on file at the Superior Court Clerk's office in Claxton, Georgia, and cover all divorce cases filed in this coastal plain county in southeast Georgia. Whether you need a certified copy of a final decree, want to verify a past divorce, or need to track down an older case, this guide explains how to find and request Evans County divorce records through the courthouse, online tools, or by mail.

Where to Get Evans County Divorce Records

The Evans County Superior Court Clerk in Claxton holds all divorce records for the county. The courthouse is on Freeman Street in Claxton. All divorce filings, case documents, and final decrees are stored at this office. Staff can search by party name or case number and provide copies of the records you need. Evans County is a small county, so calling ahead before visiting is a good practice, especially for older archived records.

Claxton is best known for its fruitcakes, but the Evans County courthouse handles the same serious legal business as any other Georgia county seat. Divorce records go back many decades and all are kept in Claxton at the Superior Court Clerk's office. For records from the pre-computer era, a brief phone call to confirm availability saves time and prevents unnecessary trips.

Georgia's Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, makes court records public. Evans County divorce records are open to anyone unless a specific case has been sealed. Sealed cases are uncommon and require a court order. Parties to the case always have the strongest access rights to their own divorce file.

For statewide online searches before contacting the Claxton courthouse, the screenshot below shows the Georgia E-Access portal, which covers many Georgia counties including Evans County.

Search for Evans County cases using E-Access or the GSCCCA portal to locate case numbers before making a copy request.

How to Search Evans County Divorce Records

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority at gsccca.org is the primary free online tool. Enter either party's name to find Evans County case data, including docket numbers and filing dates. The index is free and open without an account. This is the best first step before calling the Claxton courthouse. If you find the case number online, bring it when requesting copies to speed up the process.

Georgia E-Access at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ is an additional statewide search option. Try both portals to find the best available data on a specific Evans County case. Either can give you enough information to make a targeted copy request without requiring staff to search cold by name.

Mail requests go to the Evans County Superior Court Clerk at 3 Freeman Street, Claxton, GA 30417. Include both parties' full names, the approximate year of the divorce, your contact information, and a check or money order for the copy fee. A self-addressed stamped envelope helps the clerk return copies to you quickly. Call (912) 739-3868 to confirm the fee before mailing.

Note: For Evans County records that predate computerized systems, allowing extra processing time for manual archive retrieval is advisable.

Evans County Divorce Filing Process

Georgia gives Superior Courts exclusive authority over all divorce cases under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-1. The Evans County Superior Court in Claxton handles every divorce for county residents. No other local court has this power.

Venue under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2 requires filing in the county where the defendant resides. If your spouse lives in Evans County, you file in Claxton. If they live in Tattnall County, Bulloch County, or anywhere else in Georgia, the case is filed there. The filing location determines where the records are held, so confirming the defendant's residence at the time of filing is the key to knowing which courthouse has the record you need.

Georgia's 13 grounds for divorce are established by O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. The overwhelming majority of cases use irretrievable breakdown, which does not require either party to prove fault. Once the petition is filed and the defendant is served, a mandatory 30-day wait applies before a decree can be entered. Uncontested divorces typically conclude soon after the waiting period as long as all agreed terms are in writing and all forms are properly filed with the Evans County clerk.

The final decree is recorded permanently by the clerk. Anyone who has a legal right to access the record can request a certified copy at any time after the decree is entered.

Evans County Copy Fees and Costs

The Evans County Superior Court charges fees for document copies. Certified copies cost more than plain ones. Call (912) 739-3868 to confirm the current fee before visiting or mailing a request. Pay only the confirmed amount to avoid delays or returned mail.

For divorces between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords provides a $10 verification. This confirms names, date, and county only. No case terms are included. For the actual decree, request it from the Evans County clerk. The DPH holds no copies of court decrees for any period.

Divorces outside the 1952 to 1996 range are not covered by the DPH at all. Only the Evans County clerk can provide records from those dates.

Divorce Decrees vs. Certificates in Evans County

Two different documents exist and people often confuse them. They come from different agencies and serve different purposes.

The divorce decree is the full judge-signed court order. It includes every legal ruling: property division, debt allocation, spousal support if any, child custody, and child support. The Evans County Superior Court Clerk in Claxton holds this document. Most institutions asking for proof of divorce want the full decree. It can be ordered from the Claxton courthouse at any time after it is entered into the record.

The state verification from the Georgia Department of Public Health is a summary document covering only divorces from 1952 through 1996. It costs $10 and shows names, date, and county. No legal terms are included. For divorces outside that range, the DPH has no record. For any legal or financial purpose requiring the full terms of the divorce, the Evans County clerk is the correct source.

Note: Keep a certified copy of your decree in a safe place. Ordering another copy later from the Claxton courthouse is possible but takes time and costs money each time.

Legal Help in Evans County

Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org serves Evans County through its coastal Georgia regional network. Income-eligible residents can get help with divorce, custody, and support cases. The website has self-help resources open to everyone and an intake process for those seeking direct representation. Their services for southeast Georgia residents include family law assistance for qualifying clients.

The Georgia E-Forms portal at eforms.georgiacourts.gov has official court forms for uncontested divorces approved for Georgia courts. Using the right forms prevents the clerk from returning the filing. The Evans County clerk can confirm any additional local form requirements for filings in this court. Call (912) 739-3868 with any procedural questions before filing.

For contested matters, finding a licensed family law attorney through the Georgia State Bar's referral service is the safer path. Attorneys familiar with the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit, which covers Evans County, understand local court schedules and expectations in ways that are hard to replicate without that experience.

Nearby Counties

Evans County is in southeast Georgia. Residents near county borders may have divorce records in one of these adjacent counties depending on where the defendant was living at the time of filing.