Haralson County Divorce Records
Haralson County divorce records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Buchanan and include all dissolution cases heard in the county, along with final decrees, custody orders, and property settlement agreements. This guide covers how to find and request Haralson County divorce records, what offices are involved, and what resources are available if you need help with a divorce case in this northwest Georgia county.
Haralson County Quick Facts
Where to Get Haralson County Divorce Records
The Haralson County Superior Court Clerk in Buchanan is the official holder of all divorce records filed in the county. Copies of divorce decrees, custody orders, and other case documents can be requested at the clerk's office on GA Highway 120. Haralson County is part of the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit, which covers a handful of northwest Georgia counties west of the Atlanta metro area.
Divorce records in Georgia are public by default under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. A judge must specifically order a case sealed for it to be restricted. Most routine divorce files in Haralson County are fully accessible to anyone who requests them. If you are unsure about a specific case, the clerk can confirm its status when you call.
| Court | Haralson County Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 4485 GA Highway 120, Buchanan, GA 30113 |
| Phone | (770) 646-2005 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | https://www.haralsoncountyga.gov/ |
The county seat of Buchanan is a small community in northwest Georgia, about 50 miles west of Atlanta near the Alabama border. The courthouse is on GA Highway 120. If you are traveling from outside the area to request records, calling ahead to verify the document is available at the main office is recommended.
The screenshot below shows the Haralson County official website at haralsoncountyga.gov, which lists contact information for the clerk of court and other county departments.
The county site provides direct contact for the clerk's office and links to government services for Haralson County residents.
Vital Records and Divorce Confirmation in Haralson County
One important note about Haralson County: while the county's vital records department can confirm that a divorce occurred, copies of the actual records are held by the Clerk of the Superior Court. The county's own guidance states that although the department can confirm divorces, copies of the records are held by the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted. This means a call to the health department can verify the event, but for a certified copy you must go to the Superior Court Clerk.
The Haralson County vital records office keeps regular hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. If you only need a verbal confirmation of whether a divorce occurred in Haralson County, you can start there. For any document copy, go directly to the clerk's office at the courthouse.
Note: Vital records staff can confirm a divorce event but cannot issue certified copies of divorce decrees. Only the Superior Court Clerk can provide those documents.
Online Search for Haralson County Divorce Records
The Georgia E-Access portal at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ provides free online case searches for Haralson County Superior Court filings. Search by name or case number to find basic case information and filing dates. The GSCCCA statewide index at gsccca.org is another free resource that covers Haralson County records and can help you locate a case number before making a formal request.
Using either portal to find the case number ahead of time will make any in-person or mail request much more efficient, particularly in a smaller county where staff time is limited.
Haralson County Divorce Filing Process
Georgia requires at least one spouse to have been a state resident for six months before filing for divorce, under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2. The complaint is filed in the county where the defendant resides. If the defendant lives outside Georgia, you may file in Haralson County if that is your home county.
The thirteen grounds for divorce in Georgia are listed in O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage is the most commonly used ground and does not require proving fault. After filing and serving the defendant, a 30-day waiting period applies before a judge can sign the final decree. Agreed cases often resolve near that minimum; contested cases take much longer.
Free forms for uncontested divorces are available at eforms.georgiacourts.gov.
Copy Fees for Haralson County Divorce Records
Haralson County follows Georgia's standard court fee structure for document copies. Certified copies of a divorce decree generally cost around $2.50 for the first page and $0.50 per additional page. Plain uncertified copies are less. Call (770) 646-2005 to confirm the current fee before visiting or sending payment by mail.
For mail requests, address your request to the Haralson County Clerk of Superior Court, 4485 GA Highway 120, Buchanan, GA 30113. Include the names of both parties, the approximate year of filing, the document type needed, and your contact details. Send a check or money order payable to the Haralson County Clerk of Superior Court.
Legal Help in Haralson County
Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org provides free civil legal services to qualifying low-income Haralson County residents. Uncontested divorce assistance and family law help are available through their regional office. The Georgia State Bar's Lawyer Referral Service is a good starting point if you need a private attorney for a contested case or one involving custody disputes or significant property.
Free forms for self-represented filers are at eforms.georgiacourts.gov. For a straightforward uncontested case in Haralson County, these tools and the clerk's guidance are often sufficient to complete a filing without an attorney.
Divorce Decrees vs. Divorce Certificates in Haralson County
A divorce decree is the actual court order. It contains all the terms the judge approved and is the binding document ending the marriage. Certified copies come from the Haralson County Superior Court Clerk. This is the document you need for remarriage, legal name changes, immigration applications, and most other legal purposes.
A divorce certificate is a short summary document from the Georgia Department of Public Health. DPH only maintains records from 1952 through 1996. A $10 verification can be started at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. The certificate confirms the event happened but does not include terms or court orders. For any legal purpose that requires knowing what the divorce ordered, the clerk's certified decree is the only document that will work.
Nearby Counties
Haralson County is in northwest Georgia near the Alabama border and is surrounded by counties in the Tallapoosa Circuit and nearby circuits.