Schley County Divorce Records
Schley County divorce records are held at the Superior Court Clerk's Office in Ellaville and cover all divorce cases the county court has processed, from the first petition through the final decree. This page explains how to find Schley County divorce records, request certified copies, use online tools, and get legal assistance if your case needs it.
Schley County Quick Facts
Where to Get Schley County Divorce Records
The Schley County Superior Court Clerk in Ellaville is the official keeper of all divorce records for the county. The office is at 52 North Broad Street, Ellaville, GA 31806. The clerk can be reached at (229) 937-5581. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. All certified copy requests, uncertified copy requests, case file access, and mail-in records requests for Schley County divorce records go through this office.
Schley County is one of the smaller counties in Georgia by population. The courthouse in Ellaville handles all Superior Court matters for the county. Because of the small caseload, staff can often address requests quickly. Schley County divorce records are public records under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. Any person can request access to completed divorce files. Sealed records are the rare exception and the clerk will advise you if one applies to your request.
| Court | Schley County Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 52 North Broad Street, Ellaville, GA 31806 |
| Phone | (229) 937-5581 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | https://www.schleycountyga.gov/ |
Bring a photo ID when visiting in person. Having the names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce helps the clerk locate records quickly, especially older cases that may only exist in paper form.
The Georgia Courts E-Access portal, shown in the screenshot below, provides statewide case lookup including Schley County civil filings.
This statewide tool gives you case status and docket information for Schley County divorce cases without needing to visit the courthouse in Ellaville.
How to Search Schley County Divorce Records
The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority at gsccca.org indexes civil filings from most Georgia counties, including Schley. Free basic searches by party name or case number let you check whether a divorce was filed in the county and get the case number. This is often the fastest online first step before calling or visiting the clerk.
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 and cross-reference case data. Neither tool provides the full file or certified copies. Those require a formal request through the Schley County clerk in Ellaville.
Schley County is a small, rural county. Some older divorce cases may not appear in any online index because they predate electronic filing. If online searches return nothing and you believe the case exists in Schley County, call the clerk at (229) 937-5581. A phone call often resolves the search faster than online tools for a county this size.
Note: Search under both party names on GSCCCA. Divorce cases are indexed under both the petitioner and the respondent. Using only one name may miss the case entirely.
Divorce Filing Process in Schley County
Divorce cases in Schley County are filed at the Superior Court Clerk's Office in Ellaville. 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 typically filed in the county where the defendant resides. If the defendant does not live in Georgia, the plaintiff can file in their own county of residence.
Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3 recognizes thirteen grounds for divorce. Irretrievable breakdown is used in most cases and does not require proof of fault by either party. Once the defendant is served, a 30-day waiting period begins before the court can issue a final decree. Uncontested cases in Schley County tend to move quickly given the light caseload. Contested cases take longer depending on the disputes involved.
Free, state-approved forms for uncontested divorces are available at eforms.georgiacourts.gov. These cover divorces with and without minor children. Clerk staff can point you to the right forms but cannot give legal advice on how to complete them or on your rights.
Copy Fees for Schley County Divorce Records
The Schley County Superior Court Clerk charges fees for copies of divorce records. Certified copies carry the court seal and are needed for legal and official use, such as remarriage, immigration, or other court filings. Uncertified copies are less expensive and work for personal reference. The total fee depends on the page count and the type of copy. Call the clerk at (229) 937-5581 to confirm current rates before submitting a request.
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 record confirms the divorce took place but does not include any terms from the court order. For the complete record, you need a certified decree from the Schley County clerk.
Legal Help for Schley County Residents
Schley County residents who need legal help with a divorce case can access statewide free services through Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org. Georgia Legal Aid provides free civil legal help to qualifying low-income individuals, including assistance with family law and uncontested divorce. Because Schley County is small, residents typically connect through the regional office serving southwest Georgia. Check the site for eligibility and contact information.
For those who want to file without an attorney, the Georgia Courts E-Forms portal at eforms.georgiacourts.gov has fillable state-approved forms with step-by-step instructions. For contested cases or cases involving children and property, a private family law attorney is the better option. The Georgia State Bar's Lawyer Referral Service can help you find an attorney who handles family law cases in the southwest Georgia region.
Note: Schley County is part of the Southwestern Judicial Circuit. Circuit judges rotate through several counties. Ask the clerk when the next Superior Court session is scheduled in Ellaville if you have a pending case or plan to file.
Divorce Decrees vs. State Records in Schley County
A divorce decree and a state-level verification are not the same record. The decree is the official court order from the Schley County Superior Court. It contains every term the judge imposed: how property was divided, child custody and support arrangements, alimony, and any name change orders. Certified copies from the clerk carry the court's seal and are the authoritative legal document from the case.
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 divorce order. For any legal or official purpose, only the certified decree from the Schley County Superior Court Clerk will work. Start a DPH verification at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords.
Nearby Counties
Schley County is a small county in southwest Georgia and borders several neighboring counties with their own divorce record systems.