Search Polk County Divorce Records

Polk County divorce records are held by the Superior Court Clerk in Cedartown and include all divorce cases filed in the county, from the opening petition through the final order. This guide explains where to find Polk County divorce records, how to search for them online, how to request copies, and what legal resources are available to county residents.

Where to Get Polk County Divorce Records

The Polk County Superior Court Clerk in Cedartown holds all divorce case records for the county. The office is located at 100 Prior Street, Cedartown, GA 30125. Reach the clerk at (770) 749-2114. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. All requests for copies, case file access, and mail-in records requests for Polk County divorce records go through this office.

Divorce records in Polk County are public records under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, Georgia's Open Records Act. Any person can request access to completed divorce case files. The rare exception is records sealed by the court. If a record is sealed, the clerk will inform you when you make your request.

Cedartown is the county seat of Polk County in northwest Georgia. When visiting the courthouse, bring a photo ID. Having the names of both parties or an approximate filing year speeds up the search, especially for older records that may exist only in paper form.

The Georgia DPH vital records portal, shown in the screenshot below, is the place to start for verifying Polk County divorces that occurred between 1952 and 1996.

The DPH page explains what information their statewide index includes and how to submit a verification request for older Georgia divorces.

Online Search Options for Polk County Divorce Records

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority at gsccca.org maintains a statewide index of civil filings, including divorces, from most Georgia counties. Polk County is included in this index. Free basic searches by party name or case number let you confirm a case exists and get the docket number before requesting copies. This is usually the fastest way to confirm a record exists before contacting the clerk.

Georgia Courts E-Access at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ is a second statewide tool that provides case status and docket information for Superior Court cases. Use it to confirm and cross-reference what you find on GSCCCA. Neither tool provides the full case file or certified copies. You still need to go through the Polk County clerk's office for those.

For older Polk County cases not indexed online, call the clerk at (770) 749-2114. Staff can search the physical index and confirm whether a case exists in the county's paper files. Having the approximate year of filing and the names of both parties makes manual searches faster.

Note: When searching GSCCCA, use both the petitioner's and respondent's names. Divorce records are indexed under both parties. One name may return results where the other does not.

Filing Divorce Cases in Polk County

Polk County divorces are filed at the Superior Court Clerk's Office on Prior Street in Cedartown. Georgia requires at least one spouse to have lived in the state for six months before filing, as stated in O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2. Cases are generally filed in the county where the defendant lives, or in the plaintiff's county if the defendant resides outside Georgia.

Georgia recognizes thirteen grounds for divorce under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Most people use irretrievable breakdown because it requires no evidence of fault. After service on the defendant, a 30-day waiting period begins. The court cannot enter a final divorce decree until that window closes. Uncontested cases can proceed quickly after that. Contested cases involving children, property, or support take longer depending on what's in dispute.

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

Fees for Polk County Divorce Record Copies

The Polk County Superior Court Clerk charges fees for divorce record copies. Certified copies are more expensive but are required for legal use. Uncertified copies are cheaper and work for personal reference. The total fee depends on the page count and whether you need the court's certification. Call the clerk's office at (770) 749-2114 to confirm current rates before submitting a request by mail or in person.

The Georgia Department of Public Health offers a statewide verification service for divorces from 1952 through 1996. The fee is $10 per verification, and requests are submitted at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. The DPH record confirms the divorce took place but does not contain any of the terms from the court's order. For the complete record, you need a certified decree copy from the Polk County clerk.

Legal Help in Polk County

Polk County residents who need help with a divorce case can access free civil legal services through Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org. This organization serves low-income individuals statewide on family law matters, including uncontested divorces. The site has eligibility guidelines and contact information for regional offices.

For people who want to file without a lawyer, the Georgia Courts E-Forms portal at eforms.georgiacourts.gov has state-approved fillable divorce forms with instructions. If the case involves contested custody, property disputes, or a disagreement over support or alimony, hiring a private family law attorney is the better choice. The Georgia State Bar's Lawyer Referral Service can connect you with an attorney in the northwest Georgia area for a reasonable initial consultation.

Note: Polk County is in the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit. Court schedules depend on the circuit calendar, which spans more than one county. Ask the clerk's office about upcoming Superior Court dates in Cedartown when you file.

Divorce Decrees vs. State Certificates

The divorce decree and the state divorce certificate are not the same thing and are not interchangeable. The decree is the court order signed by the Polk County Superior Court judge. It contains every term ordered by the court: property division, custody and visitation, child support, alimony, and any name restoration. Certified copies of the decree are issued by the clerk's office and carry the court seal. This is the legal record that controls what was actually ordered.

The state divorce certificate is a DPH summary record. It confirms a divorce happened and provides basic identifying details, but it has no terms or legal specifics. It covers statewide divorces from 1952 through 1996. If you need the record for any official purpose, whether for a legal filing, an agency requirement, or to enforce an order, the certified decree from the Polk County Superior Court Clerk is the only document that will satisfy that need. Submit DPH verification requests at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords.

Nearby Counties

Polk County is in northwest Georgia and borders several counties with their own court records systems.