Screven County Divorce Records

Screven County divorce records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Sylvania and include all divorce cases filed in the county from first petition to final decree. This guide covers how to find Screven County divorce records, search online, request copies in person or by mail, and access legal help for residents who need it.

Where to Get Screven County Divorce Records

The Screven County Superior Court Clerk in Sylvania holds all divorce case records for the county. The office is at 216 Mims Road, Sylvania, GA 30467. Reach the clerk at (912) 564-2617. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. All requests for certified copies, uncertified copies, case file access, and mail-in records requests for Screven County divorce records are handled here.

Screven County divorce records are public records under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. Any person may request access to a completed divorce case file. Records sealed by court order are not publicly available, and the clerk will tell you if a specific record is sealed. Bring a photo ID and the names of both parties when you visit the office in person.

Sylvania is the county seat of Screven County in east-central Georgia, about 45 miles north of Savannah. The courthouse on Mims Road serves as the hub for all Superior Court civil and family law filings in the county.

The Georgia DPH vital records portal, shown in the screenshot below, provides statewide divorce verifications for cases from 1952 through 1996, including those filed in Screven County.

The DPH page describes the methods available for requesting a divorce verification and what information the statewide index contains for Screven County and other Georgia counties.

Searching Screven County Divorce Records Online

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority at gsccca.org includes Screven County in its statewide civil filings index. You can search by party name or case number for free to confirm a case exists and get the docket number. This is usually the best starting point before contacting the clerk's office.

Georgia Courts E-Access at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ provides case status and docket information for Superior Court cases statewide. Use it to cross-reference what you find on GSCCCA. Neither tool provides the full file or certified copies, but both can confirm a case exists and give you the information you need to make a formal request through the Screven County clerk.

If an online search returns nothing, the case may predate electronic filing in Screven County. For a rural county, some older records only exist in paper form at the courthouse. Call the clerk at (912) 564-2617 for manual lookup assistance if that's the situation.

Note: Search under both party names when using GSCCCA. Cases are indexed under both the petitioner and the respondent, so one name may surface results where the other does not.

How Divorce Cases Are Filed in Screven County

Screven County divorce cases are filed at the Superior Court Clerk's Office on Mims Road in Sylvania. Georgia law 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 county where the defendant resides. If the defendant does not live in Georgia, the plaintiff can file in their own county.

Georgia recognizes thirteen grounds for divorce under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Irretrievable breakdown is the most widely used because it requires no evidence of fault. After service on the defendant, a 30-day waiting period begins before the court can issue a final decree. Uncontested cases can conclude fairly quickly once that period ends. Contested cases involving custody, property, or support disputes take more time.

Free, state-approved divorce forms are available at eforms.georgiacourts.gov. These cover uncontested divorces both with and without minor children. Clerk staff can direct you to the correct form but cannot give legal advice on how to complete it or on your rights as a party.

Screven County Divorce Record Copy Fees

The Screven County Superior Court Clerk charges fees for copies of divorce records. Certified copies carry the court seal and are required for legal purposes such as remarriage applications, immigration forms, or court filings in other jurisdictions. Uncertified copies are cheaper and work for personal reference. Call the clerk at (912) 564-2617 to confirm current fees before submitting a request by mail or in person.

For divorces from 1952 through 1996, the Georgia Department of Public Health provides statewide verification for $10 per request. Requests go through dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. The DPH verification confirms the event but does not include the terms from the court order. For the full record, you need a certified decree from the Screven County clerk.

Legal Resources for Screven County Residents

Screven County residents who need help with a divorce case can access free civil legal services through Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org. Georgia Legal Aid serves qualifying low-income individuals across the state, including family law and uncontested divorce cases. The regional office serving the Sylvania area can be reached through the statewide website. Check eligibility requirements before applying.

For residents who want to file without an attorney, the Georgia Courts E-Forms portal at eforms.georgiacourts.gov has fillable state-approved divorce forms with step-by-step instructions. For contested cases or cases involving children, property, or support disputes, a private family law attorney is the better path. The Georgia State Bar's Lawyer Referral Service can connect you with an attorney who handles family law cases in east Georgia.

Note: Screven County is part of the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit. Judges in this circuit serve several east Georgia counties. Confirm hearing schedules with the clerk's office in Sylvania if you have a pending case or plan to file.

Divorce Decrees vs. State-Level Certificates

A divorce decree and a state-level certificate are not the same record. The decree is the official court order from the Screven County Superior Court judge. It contains every term of the dissolution of marriage: property division, child custody and support, alimony, and any name change orders. Certified copies from the clerk carry the court seal and are the binding legal record of what was ordered.

A state-level certificate is a summary record from the Georgia Department of Public Health. It covers divorces statewide from 1952 through 1996 and confirms the event with basic identifying facts. It does not include any of the terms from the court's order. For any legal or official purpose where the terms of the divorce matter, only the certified decree from the Screven County Superior Court Clerk will work. Submit DPH verification requests at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords.

Nearby Counties

Screven County is in east Georgia near Savannah and borders several other counties with their own Superior Court systems.