Quitman County Divorce Records
Quitman County divorce records are held at the Superior Court Clerk's Office in Georgetown and cover all divorce cases filed in this small southwest Georgia county, from the opening petition through the court's final order. This page explains how to find Quitman County divorce records, request copies, use online search tools, and get legal help if you need it.
Quitman County Quick Facts
Where to Get Quitman County Divorce Records
The Quitman County Superior Court Clerk in Georgetown holds all divorce records for the county. The office is at 111 Main Street, Georgetown, GA 39854. You can call the clerk at (229) 334-6317. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This is the only office that handles Quitman County divorce records, including certified copies, uncertified copies, and case file access.
Quitman County is one of the smallest counties in Georgia by population. The courthouse is a compact operation, and in-person visits are typically straightforward. Quitman 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 divorce files. Sealed records are the rare exception. Bring a photo ID when visiting.
| Court | Quitman County Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 111 Main Street, Georgetown, GA 39854 |
| Phone | (229) 334-6317 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | https://www.quitmancountyga.gov/ |
Georgetown is a very small community. Because Quitman County has a limited case volume, the clerk's office typically handles requests quickly. Having the names of both parties and an approximate year for the case speeds things up even further.
The Georgia DPH vital records portal, shown in the screenshot below, covers statewide divorce verifications and is a useful supplementary resource for Quitman County divorces from 1952 to 1996.
The DPH page shows the methods available for requesting divorce verifications, including online, by mail, and in person at the state office.
Searching Quitman County Divorce Records Online
Online search options for Quitman County divorce records start with the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority at gsccca.org. GSCCCA indexes civil filings from most Georgia counties, including Quitman. Free searches by party name or case number let you check whether a divorce was filed in the county and get the case number. Because Quitman County has a small population, the index is also small, which can make searches straightforward.
Georgia Courts E-Access at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ provides case status and docket information for Superior Court cases statewide. Use it alongside GSCCCA to confirm a case or check its status. Neither tool provides the full file or certified copies; for those, you must contact the Quitman County clerk.
Because Quitman County is very small and rural, some older records may exist only as paper files at the courthouse. If online searches return nothing, call the clerk at (229) 334-6317. A phone call often resolves the search faster than any online tool for a county this size.
Note: Try both party names when searching. Cases are indexed under both the petitioner and the respondent, so one name may surface a record the other misses.
Filing for Divorce in Quitman County
Divorce cases in Quitman County go through the Superior Court. Georgia requires at least one spouse to have lived in the state for six months before filing, per O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2. Cases are typically filed in the defendant's county of residence. If the defendant lives outside Georgia, the plaintiff can file in their own county.
Georgia's thirteen grounds for divorce are listed in O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Irretrievable breakdown is the most widely used because it requires no proof of fault. After service on the defendant, there is a 30-day waiting period before the court can enter a final decree. Uncontested cases in Quitman County tend to move quickly because of the low caseload. Contested cases take longer depending on the issues in dispute.
Free, state-approved forms for uncontested divorces are available at eforms.georgiacourts.gov. Clerk staff can direct you to the correct form but cannot provide legal advice.
Fees for Quitman County Divorce Record Copies
The Quitman County Superior Court Clerk charges fees for copies of divorce records. Certified copies cost more than uncertified copies but are required for legal use. Uncertified copies work for personal reference. The total fee depends on page count and certification. Call the clerk at (229) 334-6317 to confirm current fees before mailing a request.
The Georgia Department of Public Health provides divorce verifications for cases from 1952 through 1996 at $10 per request. Start a verification at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. The DPH record confirms the event but does not include any of the terms from the court order. For the full record, request a certified decree from the Quitman County clerk.
Legal Help for Quitman County Residents
Quitman County residents who need legal assistance with a divorce case can reach Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org. Georgia Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to qualifying low-income individuals across Georgia. Family law matters, including uncontested divorce filings, fall within their services. Because Quitman County does not have a local legal aid office, residents typically connect through the statewide website or phone line.
The Georgia Courts E-Forms portal at eforms.georgiacourts.gov has fillable, printable divorce forms for people who want to file without an attorney. For contested cases involving custody, property, or support, a private family law attorney is strongly recommended. The Georgia State Bar Lawyer Referral Service can help connect you with a lawyer who works in southwest Georgia.
Note: Quitman County is part of the Pataula Judicial Circuit. Judges in this circuit cover several southwest Georgia counties. Court schedules in Georgetown are set by the circuit, so check with the clerk on when Superior Court is next in session locally.
Divorce Decrees vs. State Divorce Records
A divorce decree and a state-level verification are different documents. The decree is the official court order signed by the Quitman County Superior Court judge. It contains every term of the dissolution, including property division, custody and support for any children, alimony, and any name change orders. Certified copies from the clerk carry the court's seal and are the legally binding record of what the court ordered.
A state verification from the Georgia Department of Public Health is a summary. It covers divorces statewide from 1952 through 1996 and confirms the event with basic facts. It does not include the terms of the court order. For any official or legal use requiring knowledge of what the court decided, the certified decree from the Quitman County Superior Court Clerk is the only document that will work. Request a DPH verification at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords.
Nearby Counties
Quitman County is one of Georgia's smallest and is located in the southwest part of the state, near several other counties.