Search Tift County Divorce Records

Tift County divorce records are kept by the Superior Court Clerk in Tifton and are open to the public under Georgia's Open Records Act. This page covers how to search those records online, how to get certified copies at the courthouse or by mail, and how the Georgia DPH verification service complements what the clerk holds.

Where to Get Tift County Divorce Records

The Tift County Superior Court Clerk at 237 East Second Street in Tifton is the custodian of all divorce records filed in the county. The clerk's office handles domestic and civil filings, and divorce cases are part of that docket. Staff there can assist with file lookups, copy requests, and questions about what is available in the court system for Tift County.

Georgia law at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 makes divorce records public by default. A court may seal a specific case, but that requires a separate judicial order and is not the standard result. Open cases are accessible to parties and non-parties alike. If you have a reason to believe a file might be sealed, the clerk's office can confirm when you call.

Tifton is the county seat and largest city in Tift County in south-central Georgia. The courthouse on East Second Street is in the downtown core. Parking is available on the street and in nearby lots. Walk-in service is available during weekday hours. For older records that may be in storage, a phone call ahead of your visit helps the clerk prepare the file before you arrive.

The image below comes from the Georgia DPH Vital Records portal at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords, which provides a $10 verification service for Georgia divorces finalized between 1952 and 1996.

DPH verifications confirm that a divorce took place but do not include the full decree. Contact the Tift County clerk for a certified copy of the complete document.

Searching Tift County Divorce Cases Online

The GSCCCA index at gsccca.org includes Tift County divorce cases. You can search by party name at no cost and find case numbers, filing dates, and basic information. The search is free and requires no account. It is the most efficient starting point for any online research before you contact the clerk or visit the courthouse.

Georgia E-Access at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/ provides another layer of statewide court data. For Tift County, the combination of GSCCCA and E-Access covers most cases filed in the modern era. For older records that exist only on paper, a direct request to the clerk is the next step.

Mail requests to the Tift County clerk should include the full names of both parties, the approximate year of the divorce, and a return envelope. Payment is made once the clerk confirms the fee and confirms the record is available.

Note: GSCCCA may lag a few days in indexing new filings. Call the clerk at (229) 386-7810 directly for very recent cases.

Tift County Divorce Filing Process

All Georgia divorces go through the Superior Court, as required by O.C.G.A. § 19-5-1. In Tift County, the Superior Court in Tifton handles all domestic relations cases including divorce. No other court in the county has the power to grant a divorce.

Under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2, you file in the county where the defendant lives in most situations. If your spouse is in Tift County, file here. If your spouse has moved outside Georgia, you may be able to file in the county where you live. Venue questions that are not clear-cut can be answered by a local family law attorney or the clerk's office in general terms.

After the defendant is served, the court requires a 30-day waiting period before it can finalize the divorce. In uncontested matters, once that period ends, the case can often be resolved quickly. Contested cases take longer. Disputes over property, custody, or support require hearings, and the judge will not sign the final decree until those issues are resolved, which can take months.

Georgia divorce grounds under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3 include both no-fault and fault-based options. Irreconcilable differences is the no-fault ground and is used in the vast majority of modern filings. Once the judge signs the final decree and the clerk files it, it becomes a permanent public record in Tift County.

Fees for Tift County Divorce Records

The Tift County clerk charges fees for certified and plain copies of divorce documents. Certified copies carry the court seal and the clerk's official signature. They are required for government uses like changing your name with the Social Security Administration or the Georgia DMV, and for most financial and legal purposes. Plain copies cost less but are for personal reference only.

Georgia DPH at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords provides $10 verifications for divorces from 1952 to 1996. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-22, the Tift County clerk sends monthly divorce reports to DPH, so that database stays current. The DPH verification confirms the divorce and its date but does not contain the decree terms. For the complete document, the clerk is your source. Call ahead to confirm the current fee before you visit.

Legal Resources in Tift County

Georgia Legal Aid serves Tift County and the surrounding region. Qualifying residents can get free civil legal help including assistance with uncontested divorces, custody matters, and name changes. Check eligibility and apply at georgialegalaid.org. Income limits apply.

Free official divorce forms for uncontested cases are available at eforms.georgiacourts.gov. These Georgia E-Forms include the petition, settlement agreement, and final order and are accepted by the Tift County clerk. They simplify the process for straightforward cases where both parties agree on all terms. Using official forms is always better than downloading forms from unofficial websites, which may not be up to date with Georgia court requirements.

For more complex cases, the Georgia State Bar's referral service can connect you with a family law attorney in the Tifton area. Attorneys in the Alapaha Judicial Circuit handle domestic matters across south Georgia including Tift County. A single consultation can clarify your rights and help you avoid procedural mistakes that could delay your case.

Divorce Decrees and Certificates

A divorce decree is the full court order that ends the marriage. It includes everything the judge ruled on. A DPH verification is a short letter confirming the divorce occurred. For almost all practical purposes, the certified decree from the Tift County clerk is the document you need.

DPH verifications are appropriate when you only need to confirm a divorce occurred between 1952 and 1996 and don't need the actual terms. For everything else, request a certified copy of the decree from the clerk. If you need to find which county holds the record, the GSCCCA statewide search at gsccca.org is the fastest free tool to identify the correct county before you order anything.

Nearby Counties

Tift County is in south-central Georgia. Neighboring counties each maintain divorce records at their own Superior Court Clerk offices.