Search Peach County Divorce Records

Peach County divorce records are held by the Superior Court Clerk in Fort Valley and cover all divorce cases the court has processed, from the first filing through the final order. This page tells you how to find Peach County divorce records, request certified copies, search online, and locate legal resources in the area.

Where to Get Peach County Divorce Records

The Peach County Superior Court Clerk in Fort Valley is the official custodian of all divorce records filed in the county. The office is at 205 West Church Street, Fort Valley, GA 31030. You can reach them at (478) 825-5331. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. All requests for certified copies, file access, and mail-in record requests go through this office.

Peach County divorce records are public records under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. Any member of the public can ask for access to completed case files. The small number of records sealed by court order are exceptions. If a record is sealed, the clerk will tell you that when you request it.

Fort Valley is the county seat of Peach County and the location of the courthouse. Bring a photo ID when visiting in person. Having at least one party's name and an approximate filing year speeds up the search, especially for older cases that may be in paper form.

The screenshot below shows the Peach County government website, which is the county's official online portal and links to clerk services and other county offices.

From the site you can find contact details for the clerk's office and links to court-related services in Peach County.

How to Search Peach County Divorce Records

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority at gsccca.org maintains a statewide index of civil filings, including divorce cases in Peach County. Searching by party name or case number is free for basic lookups. This tool lets you confirm whether a case was filed in Peach County and get the docket number you need to request copies from the clerk.

Georgia Courts E-Access at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ provides case status and docket information for Superior Court cases statewide. It is a useful secondary tool. Neither platform delivers full case files or certified copies. Those still require a formal request through the Peach County clerk's office.

If online tools don't surface the case you're looking for, the record may predate electronic filing in Peach County. Call the clerk at (478) 825-5331 to ask about manual lookup for older paper records. Staff can check the physical index and tell you whether a case exists in the county's files.

Note: Try both parties' names when searching GSCCCA. Divorce cases are indexed under the petitioner and the respondent, so one name may return results where the other does not.

The Divorce Filing Process in Peach County

Divorce cases in Peach County go through the Superior Court. Georgia requires that at least one spouse have lived in the state for six months before filing, as set out in O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2. The case is generally filed in the county where the defendant lives. If the defendant lives outside Georgia, the plaintiff may file in their own county of residence.

Georgia recognizes thirteen grounds for divorce under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Irretrievable breakdown is the most frequently cited ground and requires no proof of fault from either party. After service on the defendant, a 30-day waiting period begins. The court cannot issue a final divorce decree until that period ends. Uncontested cases can close relatively quickly after that. Contested cases involving child custody, alimony, or property division take longer depending on the complexity of the issues.

Free state-approved divorce forms are available at eforms.georgiacourts.gov. These cover uncontested divorces both with and without minor children. Clerk staff can point you to the right forms, but they cannot advise you on how to complete them or on your legal rights.

Copy Fees for Peach County Divorce Records

The Peach County Superior Court Clerk charges for copies of divorce records. The fee depends on whether you need a certified copy or an uncertified copy and how many pages the record contains. Certified copies bear the court's seal and are required when submitting records to government agencies, courts in other jurisdictions, or for legal purposes such as remarriage or a name change. Uncertified copies are lower cost and work for personal reference.

For divorces that occurred between 1952 and 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health maintains a statewide index. Verifications cost $10 each and can be requested at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. The DPH record is a summary only. It confirms the divorce took place and provides basic facts but does not include the terms of the settlement or court order. For the full record, request a certified decree copy from the Peach County clerk.

Legal Help in Peach County

Residents of Peach County who need legal assistance with a divorce case can turn to Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org. This organization provides free civil legal services to qualifying low-income individuals statewide. Family law matters, including uncontested divorces, fall within their scope of services. The website has eligibility information and instructions on how to apply.

For those filing without an attorney, the Georgia Courts E-Forms portal at eforms.georgiacourts.gov has fillable state-approved forms with instructions for each step. If your case involves contested custody, shared property, or disagreements over support, consulting a licensed family law attorney is the safer route. The Georgia State Bar's Lawyer Referral Service can help you find an attorney in your area for an initial consultation at a reasonable cost.

Note: Peach County does not have a courthouse legal aid kiosk or self-help center. Statewide resources through Georgia Legal Aid are the best option for residents who cannot afford private representation.

Divorce Decree vs. DPH Verification

People sometimes confuse these two records because both relate to a divorce. They are different in both source and content. The divorce decree is the official court order from the Peach County Superior Court. It contains every term the judge imposed: who gets what property, custody and visitation arrangements, child support amounts, alimony, and any name change. Certified copies are issued by the clerk and are the authoritative legal record of the divorce.

A DPH verification comes from the Georgia Department of Public Health's statewide vital records index. It covers divorces from 1952 through 1996 and provides a one-line or simple summary confirmation of the event. The DPH verification does not contain any of the terms from the divorce order. If you need to use the record in court, enforce an order, or show the specific terms of the divorce, you must get a certified decree copy from the Peach County Superior Court Clerk. Start a DPH verification request at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords.

Nearby Counties

Peach County is located in central Georgia and is surrounded by counties with their own divorce record systems.