Find Lee County Divorce Records

Lee County divorce records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Leesburg and cover all divorce cases filed in the county. Whether you need to verify a divorce, get a certified copy of a final decree, or search historical case filings, this guide covers every available method for locating Lee County divorce records through online resources, the Leesburg courthouse, and mail-in requests.

Lee County Superior Court Clerk

The Lee County Superior Court Clerk in Leesburg holds all official divorce records for the county. This includes the original petitions, temporary orders, final decrees, and any post-judgment modifications. The office serves both walk-in and mail-in requests and handles records from current cases as well as historical filings going back many years.

Georgia's open records law under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 makes court records accessible to the public. You don't need to be a party to the case or provide a reason for your request. Sealed records are rare and require a specific court order. The clerk can confirm on the spot whether a file is open or restricted.

The courthouse is on Leslie Highway in Leesburg. Lee County borders Albany and the Dougherty County line, and it has a steady volume of family court filings as a growing south Georgia county. If you plan to visit, call ahead to confirm whether the specific record is available and how long it will take to retrieve.

Note: Leesburg, Georgia, is the county seat of Lee County and is distinct from the larger city of Albany, which is in neighboring Dougherty County.

How to Search Lee County Divorce Records

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority at gsccca.org provides free online case searches. Lee County records are part of this statewide system. Enter a party name or case number to find basic case information including filing date and status. Getting the case number online before contacting the clerk speeds up the process considerably.

Georgia E-Access at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ offers an additional search option. Some counties upload more data here than to GSCCCA. Checking both portals before visiting the Leesburg courthouse is the most thorough approach, especially if you are uncertain about the exact filing year.

For Lee County records not found through online tools, particularly those from before electronic systems were in place, contact the clerk at (229) 759-6018. Provide both party names and an approximate year. Staff will manually search the file room and archive. This process can take a day or two for older cases that require pulling physical files from storage.

The Georgia DPH vital records portal shown below provides divorce verification for records from 1952 through 1996.

For Lee County divorces recorded at the state level between 1952 and 1996, visit dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords to request a verification search for $10.

The DPH statewide portal covers Lee County divorce events recorded at the state level and provides a convenient verification option for older records.

Mail requests are processed by the clerk's office. Send your request to 100 Leslie Highway, Leesburg, GA 31763 with party names, filing year, document type, and a money order for the fee. Confirm the fee amount by phone first so your payment matches what is owed.

Lee County Divorce Filing Process

Filing for divorce in Lee County requires meeting Georgia's residency standard. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2, at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months and in Lee County for at least thirty days before the filing date. This is a jurisdictional requirement, meaning the court cannot hear the case until it is met.

Georgia allows divorces on no-fault grounds. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3, the most widely used ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. This does not require proof of wrongdoing and is available to any couple. Fault-based grounds like adultery, willful desertion, and cruel treatment are also available and may be relevant when property division or alimony is disputed, but they require supporting evidence.

After the petition is filed, the non-filing spouse must be served with the divorce papers. Service is typically done through the Lee County Sheriff or a private process server. The respondent has thirty days after service to file a response. Georgia law then requires a thirty-day waiting period from service before the final decree can be entered, regardless of whether the case is contested or not.

Uncontested Lee County divorces can close relatively quickly after the waiting period passes. Cases involving children, significant assets, or disputes over support may require additional proceedings and can take several months to resolve.

Note: The thirty-day waiting period starts from the date of service, not the date the petition was filed, so the timeline can vary based on when service is completed.

Copy Fees for Lee County Divorce Records

Fees for copies of divorce records from Lee County Superior Court vary by document type. Plain copies cost less than certified copies. Certified copies are needed when submitting the decree to another government office, a court in another state, or a financial institution. The certification adds an official seal and the clerk's signature to confirm authenticity.

For divorces between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia DPH provides a $10 verification search through dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. This is a summary record confirming basic facts about the divorce, not the full decree. It is useful for genealogical research or basic confirmation but is not a replacement for the certified court order when terms matter.

For any divorce after 1996 or when the full terms are needed, the Lee County clerk is the source. Call (229) 759-6018 to confirm current fees before sending any payment. Fee amounts are set by the court and may change, so confirming in advance avoids delays from underpayment.

Legal Aid and Resources in Lee County

Lee County residents filing for divorce without an attorney can access the Georgia Courts E-Forms system at eforms.georgiacourts.gov. These free, Georgia Supreme Court-approved forms are for uncontested divorces where both parties agree on all terms. They work best for cases without minor children and without complex property or debt issues.

Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org serves income-eligible residents across the state, including those in Lee County. Their website has an online intake process. Staff can help with forms, provide advice on rights under Georgia law, or refer you to a local attorney if direct representation is not available in your area.

For contested cases involving children, businesses, or significant property, a licensed family law attorney is the most reliable resource. The State Bar of Georgia can refer you to an attorney familiar with the Lee County Superior Court and the Albany judicial circuit courts in south Georgia.

Divorce Decrees vs. State Divorce Records

The Lee County Superior Court divorce decree is the official court order. It contains the complete terms of the divorce, including property division, alimony, child custody, and support. This document is the legal proof of divorce for most official purposes. Certified copies come from the clerk's office in Leesburg and are the right document to request for most legal needs.

Georgia's DPH maintains a statewide divorce index under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-22, which records basic facts about divorces submitted by counties. The DPH entry confirms the event and the date but does not include the court's orders or any terms. This record works for genealogical research and basic confirmation of older divorces but cannot substitute for the certified decree when terms need to be verified.

Knowing which document fits your purpose before you contact the court or the DPH saves time and prevents you from getting the wrong record for your needs.

Nearby Counties

Lee County is in southwest Georgia. Divorce cases near county borders may have been filed in an adjacent county. Check the resources below.