Franklin County Divorce Records

Franklin County divorce records are kept by the Superior Court Clerk in Carnesville, Georgia, and include all divorce cases filed in this northeast Georgia county. Whether you need to find an old decree, look up an active case, or request a certified copy, this guide explains how to access Franklin County divorce records at the courthouse in Carnesville, through statewide online tools, or via a mail request.

Where to Get Franklin County Divorce Records

The Franklin County Superior Court Clerk in Carnesville holds all divorce records for the county. The courthouse is on Lavonia Road in Carnesville. All divorce petitions, case files, and final decrees are stored at this office. Staff can search by party name or case number and provide copies of the documents you need. Franklin County is a smaller rural county in northeast Georgia, and the clerk's office is generally accessible during regular business hours. Calling ahead before visiting is a good idea, especially for older records that may need to be pulled from the archive.

Carnesville is a small county seat with a courthouse that serves Franklin County's rural communities. The clerk maintains both current and historical records. For divorce cases from the pre-electronic era, paper files are stored in the archive and may take extra time to retrieve. Having the full names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce ready when you call or visit speeds up the search process considerably.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, court records are public in Georgia. Franklin County divorce records are open to anyone unless a court order has sealed a specific case. Sealed cases are rare. Parties to the divorce have the strongest right to access their own case files.

The screenshot below shows the Franklin County official government site, which lists courthouse contact information and any service announcements.

Check this site before traveling to Carnesville to confirm office hours and any changes to records request procedures.

How to Search Franklin County Divorce Records

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority at gsccca.org is the free statewide case search tool to use first. Enter either party's name to find Franklin County case data including docket numbers, filing dates, and case status. The search requires no account and is free. This is the best starting point before contacting the Carnesville courthouse. If you find the case number online, bring or include it with any copy request to get faster service.

Georgia E-Access at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ provides a second statewide search option. If Franklin County's court participates in this system, you may find more detailed case information there. Try both portals before giving up on an online search, especially for cases that may not be fully indexed in one system.

Mail requests go to the Franklin County Superior Court Clerk at 9592 Lavonia Road, Carnesville, GA 30521. Include both parties' full names, the year of the divorce if known, your return address, and payment for the copy fee. Call (706) 384-2511 to confirm the current fee before sending your request. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return delivery.

Note: Franklin County's smaller operation means processing times for older archive requests may be longer than in larger counties. Building in extra time when researching historical records is advisable.

Franklin County Divorce Filing Process

Georgia's Superior Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over all divorce cases under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-1. The Franklin County Superior Court in Carnesville handles all divorces for county residents. No other court in Franklin County can grant a divorce.

Where to file is determined by O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2: file in the county where the defendant lives. If your spouse lives in Franklin County, you file in Carnesville. If they live in Hart County, Elbert County, or elsewhere in Georgia, the case goes to the clerk in that county. This rule controls where the records end up, so knowing the defendant's county of residence at the time of filing is essential for finding the right courthouse.

Georgia allows 13 grounds for divorce under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Irretrievable breakdown is the most used ground, requiring no proof of fault from either party. Once a petition is filed in Carnesville and the defendant is served, a 30-day wait runs before the court can enter a decree. In simple uncontested cases where both sides have agreed on all terms, the process often concludes quickly after the waiting period once all required paperwork is on file.

The signed final decree is permanent public record held by the Franklin County clerk in Carnesville. Anyone with the legal right to access it can request a certified copy at any time after it is entered.

Franklin County Copy Fees and Costs

Copy fees at the Franklin County Superior Court vary by document type. Certified copies cost more than plain ones. Call (706) 384-2511 to confirm the current rate before visiting or mailing a request. Paying the confirmed amount avoids delays and returned mail.

For divorces between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords provides a $10 verification that confirms names, date, and county. No terms of the decree are included. For the full court order, go to the Franklin County clerk. The DPH does not hold court decrees for any period.

Divorces outside the 1952 to 1996 window are not covered by the DPH. For all other dates, only the Franklin County Superior Court Clerk has the records.

Divorce Decrees vs. Certificates in Franklin County

These documents come from different agencies and serve different purposes. Getting the right one from the start saves time and prevents rejected applications.

The divorce decree is the full court order. It contains every legal ruling the judge made: property division, debt assignments, spousal support if any, custody terms, and child support. The Franklin County Superior Court Clerk holds this document. Banks, courts, and government agencies asking for proof of divorce want the full decree, not a state summary. Certified copies can be ordered from the Carnesville courthouse at any time after the decree is entered.

The state verification from the Georgia Department of Public Health covers only divorces from 1952 through 1996, costs $10, and shows names, date, and county only. No legal terms are included. For divorces outside that range, the DPH has nothing. When the legal details of the divorce matter, the Franklin County court decree is what you need.

Note: If you are not sure which county your spouse was living in at the time the divorce was filed, checking the GSCCCA statewide index by name is a good way to locate the case without knowing the county first.

Legal Help in Franklin County

Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org serves Franklin County through its northeast Georgia regional network. Qualifying residents can get assistance with divorce, custody, and support matters. Their self-help resources are available to all users regardless of income, and an intake form is provided for those seeking direct representation.

The Georgia E-Forms portal at eforms.georgiacourts.gov has official court forms for uncontested divorces. Using the state-approved forms from the start prevents the clerk from returning the filing for corrections. The Franklin County clerk can confirm any additional local requirements when you call about fees.

For contested divorce matters involving property or custody disputes, finding a licensed family law attorney through the Georgia State Bar's referral service is the recommended path. Attorneys familiar with the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, which includes Franklin County, can advise on local procedures and court scheduling in the Carnesville courthouse.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County is in northeast Georgia near the South Carolina border. Residents near county lines may have divorce records in one of these adjacent counties depending on where the defendant lived at filing.