Find Madison County Divorce Records

Madison County divorce records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Danielsville and cover all divorce cases filed in the county. Whether you need a certified copy of a divorce decree, want to confirm whether a case was finalized, or are searching older filings from past years, this page covers the methods for finding Madison County divorce records through online databases, the Danielsville courthouse, and mail requests.

Madison County Superior Court Clerk

The Madison County Superior Court Clerk in Danielsville is the official keeper of all divorce records for the county. The clerk's office stores every case from the initial filing through the final decree, including any post-judgment matters like custody modifications or support changes. You can visit the courthouse on Albany Avenue in Danielsville during regular business hours, call for information, or send a mail request for copies.

Georgia's open records law at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 provides public access to court records. Anyone can request a divorce record without needing a legal reason. Sealed records are rare in family law cases and require a specific court order. The clerk will confirm whether a file has any access restrictions when you contact the office.

The courthouse is on Albany Avenue in Danielsville. Madison County is located in northeast Georgia, part of a region that has seen steady population growth in recent decades as communities near Athens have expanded. The clerk's office handles a regular volume of family court filings and is experienced in processing records requests from residents and out-of-county parties alike.

The Georgia GSCCCA statewide portal shown below is a useful starting point for online searches of Madison County divorce records.

Access the free statewide case search at gsccca.org to look up Madison County divorce cases before contacting the clerk.

The GSCCCA portal provides free online access to Madison County Superior Court case records, including divorce filings and status information.

Note: Madison County, Georgia, with its seat in Danielsville, should not be confused with the city of Madison, which is the county seat of Morgan County in central Georgia.

How to Search Madison County Divorce Records

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority at gsccca.org is the primary online tool for searching Madison County divorce records. The search is free and returns basic case data including filing dates and status. Using this portal before visiting or calling the Danielsville courthouse helps you arrive with the case number in hand, which speeds up any request for certified copies.

Georgia E-Access at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ is a second state portal for court case data. Check both systems for complete coverage, as some records may appear in one but not the other depending on upload timing and format. The two tools together provide the most thorough online search for Madison County records.

For older Madison County records before electronic indexing, the clerk at (706) 795-6300 is the direct contact. Provide the full names of both parties and an estimated filing year. Staff will manually search the paper archive. Older records may take a business day or more to retrieve, especially for cases stored in off-site locations.

Mail requests are handled through the clerk's office. Write to 91 Albany Avenue, Danielsville, GA 30633 with party names, filing year, document type, and a money order for the fee. Confirm fee amounts by phone before sending to avoid processing delays.

Filing a Divorce in Madison County

Georgia's residency requirement under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2 mandates that at least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months and in Madison County for at least thirty days before filing. This is a jurisdictional condition. Without it, the Superior Court here cannot hear the case.

Under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3, Georgia provides both no-fault and fault grounds for divorce. The no-fault ground, that the marriage is irretrievably broken, is used in the vast majority of Madison County divorce cases. It does not require proving specific misconduct. Fault grounds, including adultery, cruel treatment, and desertion, remain available but are less commonly pursued because they require evidence and complicate the proceedings.

After filing the petition, the respondent must be served. Service can be completed through the Madison County Sheriff, a private process server, or by the respondent signing a voluntary waiver of service. Once served, the respondent has thirty days to respond. Georgia imposes a mandatory thirty-day waiting period after service before the final decree can be entered. This applies to all cases without exception.

Madison County uncontested divorces with no children and agreed terms can conclude relatively quickly after the waiting period. Contested matters involving property, custody, or support may require mediation or court hearings and can take several months to resolve.

Note: Madison County is part of a judicial circuit that also covers neighboring counties. The circuit judge presides over cases in multiple counties on a rotating schedule.

Copy Fees for Madison County Records

Copy fees at the Madison County Superior Court Clerk's office follow standard Georgia rates. Plain copies cost less than certified copies. Certified copies, which carry the court seal and clerk's signature, are required when presenting a decree to a government agency, financial institution, or an out-of-state court. Ordering the right type from the start prevents multiple requests.

The Georgia DPH provides divorce verification for records reported to the state from 1952 through 1996. This search costs $10 at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. The DPH record is a summary-level entry confirming the basic facts of the divorce, not the terms of the order. It works for genealogical research and basic verification of older events.

For divorces after 1996 or when you need the full court order, contact the Madison County clerk at (706) 795-6300 to confirm current fees before submitting payment. Money orders are the safest option for mail-in requests.

Legal Aid and Self-Help in Madison County

Madison County residents who want to file for divorce without a lawyer can use the Georgia Courts E-Forms portal at eforms.georgiacourts.gov. These Georgia Supreme Court-approved forms are free and designed for uncontested divorces. They work for cases where both parties fully agree and no minor children or major property issues are in dispute.

Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org serves income-eligible residents in Madison County. Their online intake form is the first step. Legal Aid can assist with advice, forms review, or direct representation in qualifying cases. The Northeast Georgia Legal Aid service area typically includes Madison County.

For contested cases, a licensed family law attorney familiar with the Athens area or the northeast Georgia judicial circuit is the most effective resource. The State Bar of Georgia's referral service can identify qualified attorneys who regularly handle Madison County Superior Court matters.

Divorce Decrees and State Records

The Madison County Superior Court decree is the complete legal document ending the marriage. It contains the judge's specific orders on property, alimony, child custody, and support. Certified copies come from the clerk in Danielsville and are required for most legal, financial, and official purposes.

Georgia's DPH maintains a statewide divorce index under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-22. This is a summary record submitted by counties to the state. It shows the date, county, and parties but does not contain the terms of the court order. The DPH record works for genealogical research and basic confirmation of historical events during the covered period.

For most official needs, the certified court decree from Madison County Superior Court is the right document to request. The DPH record is supplementary and should not replace the decree when specific terms need to be established.

Nearby Counties

Madison County is in northeast Georgia. Cases near county borders may have been filed in one of the adjacent jurisdictions below.