Pike County Divorce Records

Pike County divorce records are filed with the Superior Court Clerk in Zebulon and document all divorce cases heard in the county, from the initial petition to the final court order. This page walks you through how to search Pike County divorce records, request certified or uncertified copies, understand the filing process, and access legal help if your case needs it.

Where to Find Pike County Divorce Records

The Pike County Superior Court Clerk in Zebulon is the official custodian of all divorce case records for the county. The office is at 16001 Barnesville Street, Zebulon, GA 30295. You can reach them by phone at (770) 567-2000. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. All requests for certified copies, uncertified copies, case file review, and mail-in requests go through this office.

Pike County divorce records are open to the public under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, Georgia's Open Records Act. Any person can request access to a completed divorce file. The exception is records that have been sealed by court order, which are not publicly available. The clerk will let you know if a file is sealed when you make your request.

Pike County is a small, rural county in central Georgia. The courthouse in Zebulon serves as the hub for all Superior Court filings, including civil and family law cases. Bring a photo ID and the names of both parties when visiting in person.

The GSCCCA statewide portal, shown in the screenshot below, provides access to Pike County divorce case indexes alongside filings from all other Georgia counties.

Use the GSCCCA portal to search for Pike County cases by name or number and confirm case details before contacting the clerk.

Searching Pike County Divorce Records Online

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority at gsccca.org is the primary online tool for searching Pike County divorce records. The statewide index covers civil filings, including divorces, from most Georgia counties. Basic lookups by party name or case number are free. This tool helps you confirm whether a divorce was filed in Pike County and find the docket number for a copy request.

Georgia Courts E-Access at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ provides case status and docket information for many Superior Court cases statewide. Use it as a cross-check on what GSCCCA returns. Neither tool replaces a certified copy from the clerk, but both can give you the case number you need to make a formal records request.

If online searches come up empty, the case may have been filed before Pike County's switch to digital records. Call the clerk at (770) 567-2000 to ask about manual lookup in the physical index. For a small county, some records from decades ago may still only exist in paper form at the courthouse.

Note: When you search GSCCCA, try both the petitioner's and the respondent's name. Cases are listed under both parties. If one name returns no results, the other may still match.

Divorce Filing Process in Pike County

Divorce cases in Pike County are filed at the Superior Court Clerk's Office in Zebulon. Georgia law requires at least one spouse to have lived in Georgia for six months before filing, as set out in O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2. The case is normally filed in the county where the defendant lives. If the defendant lives outside Georgia, the plaintiff can file in their own county of residence.

Georgia law recognizes thirteen grounds for divorce under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Most people use irretrievable breakdown, which requires no proof of wrongdoing. After the defendant is served, a 30-day waiting period must pass before the court can enter a final decree. Uncontested cases can close quickly once that period expires. Contested cases involving child custody or property take much longer.

Free, state-approved divorce forms are available at eforms.georgiacourts.gov. These cover uncontested divorces with and without children. The clerk's staff can direct you to the correct forms but cannot provide legal guidance on how to complete them.

Pike County Divorce Record Copy Fees

The Pike County Superior Court Clerk charges fees for copies of divorce records. The amount depends on the type of copy, either certified or uncertified, and the page count. Certified copies carry the court seal and are needed for official uses such as remarriage applications, immigration documents, or legal filings. Uncertified copies are suitable for personal reference but are not accepted as official documents by government agencies or courts.

For divorces from 1952 through 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health offers a statewide verification service for $10 per request. Submit requests at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. The DPH verification confirms the event but does not include any of the terms from the divorce order. For the complete order, get a certified decree copy from the Pike County clerk. Confirm current fees before sending a mail request because fee schedules can change.

Legal Resources for Pike County Residents

Pike County residents who need assistance with a divorce case can turn to Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org. This statewide organization provides free civil legal services to qualifying low-income individuals, including help with uncontested divorce filings. Check the website for eligibility requirements and how to contact the office serving your area.

For those who plan to file without an attorney, the Georgia Courts E-Forms portal at eforms.georgiacourts.gov offers fillable, printable state-approved divorce forms with step-by-step instructions. If the case is contested or involves children, property, or disagreements over support or alimony, consulting a licensed family law attorney is strongly advisable. The Georgia State Bar's Lawyer Referral Service connects residents with private attorneys in the area.

Note: Pike County is part of the Griffin Judicial Circuit. Judges in the circuit serve multiple counties in the area. The clerk can provide information on court schedules and when Superior Court is in session in Zebulon.

Divorce Decrees vs. DPH Certificates in Pike County

A divorce decree and a state divorce certificate are different documents, and they are used for different things. The divorce decree is the official court order issued by the Pike County Superior Court judge. It is the complete legal document governing the dissolution of the marriage, including property division, child custody and support, alimony, and any name restoration orders. Certified copies are issued by the clerk's office and carry the court's official seal. This is the record that matters in legal and official settings.

A DPH divorce certificate is a summary record from the Georgia Department of Public Health. It covers divorces in Georgia from 1952 through 1996 and confirms the event with basic identifying information. It does not include custody terms, property orders, support amounts, or any other content from the actual court order. If you need to prove what the court ordered, or use the record in a legal proceeding, the certified decree from the Pike County Superior Court Clerk is the only document that will serve that purpose. Start a DPH verification at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords.

Nearby Counties

Pike County is in central Georgia and sits close to several other counties, each with its own Superior Court divorce record system.