Are Divorce Records Public in Georgia?
The state of Georgia allows people to search divorce records online. However, in order to receive a certified copy of your divorce decree, you must contact the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where your dissolution of marriage took place.
Obtaining a divorce record verification is important for many reasons, including background checks. The process of obtaining these documents is easy, but there are some things to keep in mind.
Divorce records are public records
In Georgia, divorce records are public and can be accessed by anyone. However, if you want to keep the details of your divorce private, you can petition the court for a divorce record seal. This is done by submitting a request to the clerk of court in your county’s Superior Court. The request must be made in person and you may have to pay a fee to obtain the records.
Divorce records are part of a larger group of family law documents that include birth and death certificates, marriage licenses and custody agreements. While most of these documents are available to the general public, some may be sealed if they contain sensitive information such as domestic violence or financial disputes.
In order to search for divorce records, you must contact the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the divorce was filed and finalized. You can also search for them through government-sponsored public records portals or third party online record search services.
Divorce records are sealed
Generally speaking, divorce records are public, and anyone can access them through the county clerk’s office or third party websites. However, some details of a divorce may be sealed by a judge in order to protect the privacy of those involved.
These cases typically involve a balancing process, pitting the right of the public to have open access to information that is deemed to be of “legitimate benefit or public interest” against the rights of individuals to privacy. Georgia case law gives judges broad discretion to assess these interests.
If you are looking to keep the details of your divorce private, you should consider using collaborative law or mediation instead of going to trial. These processes are designed to reduce conflict, and the results can be kept confidential. They also require a much lower cost than litigation. Regardless of which pathway you choose, it is important to consult with an experienced family law attorney to learn more about your options.
Divorce records are available online
Georgia divorce records are available online through the state’s department of public health, Vital Records. However, the office only provides a verification service and not the actual documents themselves. A person wishing to obtain certified copies of these records must contact the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the dissolution of marriage took place.
The courts in Georgia consider all family law affairs to be public record, including divorce proceedings. However, these proceedings can be sealed if a party requests it. A court must weigh the need to protect private information against the public’s right to access these records.
Many of these records are available online through third party sites like GO Certificates and VitalChek. They offer a variety of services, from birth and death certificates to marriage and divorce records. Regardless of where you live in the state, these websites can save you time and money on your record search. The process is easy, fast, and secure.
Divorce records are not available online
Georgia divorce records are public, but judges can seal court files if they believe that the release of the information will cause harm to a person or family. This is a balancing act that pits the public’s right to access information deemed of legitimate benefit and interest against an individual’s privacy interests. The Judicial Council of Georgia hosts an electronic access portal known as E-Access that allows interested parties to search court records for various Superior Courts across the state.
Divorce records and decrees can be found online in some counties, but most require you to visit or contact the clerk of the Supreme Court in the county where the divorce was filed or granted. Generally, the court will provide a copy of your divorce certificate, which will verify that you are indeed divorced and can be used to change your name on important documents. Alternatively, you can use a third-party service that will conduct a search for you for a fee.