How to Obtain and Use Georgia Divorce Records

If you are trying to find Georgia divorce records, you should know that you are not alone. Over a million Americans – among them Georgians – get divorced every year. Not just that, according to statistics, the divorce rate goes up with every successive marriage a person enters into. If it’s 41% for 1st marriages, it is 74% for 3rd marriages! In fact, 1 out of 3 marriages in the US now is ending up in divorces, and the state of Georgia too is no exception to this.

Georgia itself ranks pretty high among states on its divorce rate. The state ranked 34th out of all the states back in 1994, and it is somewhere among the top third today. A lot of Georgians and ex-Georgians may now want to access these Georgia divorce records. Yet, Georgia took the initiative to provide pre-marital counseling as a buffer against the divorcing deluge. Unfortunately, Georgia divorce records hardly reflect its impact.
 

If You are Looking for Georgia Divorce Records, Here is What You Need to Know:

Georgia divorce records are available dating from June 9th, 1952. If you apply for copies, please remember that it is always better not to address the state office. This is because it will not issue the certified copies. Your inquiry will be forwarded to the appropriate Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted. This is where your request will be processed.

The June 1952 date is misleading because Georgia divorce records before that date are also maintained at the same County Clerks’ offices. This 1952 date actually signifies the time when the central database began being maintained. Before you submit your request for Georgia divorce records, you need to know which county or city records office to approach.

How to Apply for Your Copy of Divorce Records

When you do send that application, make sure to include all the relevant personal information you have gathered on the divorced couple to access the right Georgia divorce records. Add nothing more, which means that you should never complicate matters by mentioning unnecessary information.

That step is important. You need to write a request letter so that your application for the Georgia divorce records can get processed. To make it effective, keep a few pointers in mind:

Keep your letter concise and topical. Do also remember that you must never make too many requests at one time – this is sure to slow down the processing.

Do keep in mind that the office is almost always short-staffed and thus, those who work there are kept very busy. Make it easy for them to act quickly, not postpone action.

Provide the most complete, relevant and accurate information you can. Include all names a person may use, nicknames, alternate spellings and everything like this. List the dates and events exactly. If you do not know the exact dates, specify a likely span of years for a search.

Unless you already know the exact cost of a document, offer no advance payments. Instead send a signed, blank check with something like “Not to exceed $20.00,” or the likeliest maximum on the memo line. You may also request a quote of cost in your first letter. When that arrives, send a check for the exact amount.

At the end of this, always remember to provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope with the request.

When you request the divorce record, do not forget the essential information to be included:

•    The date of request
•    The full name of groom
•    The full name of bride (including maiden name)
•    The date of marriage
•    Date of divorce
•    City/county where the marriage license was issued
•    Your relationship to these people
•    Why you want to access the Georgia divorce records

Georgia divorce records cost $2.00 for the certification and $0.50 per page. The price can change from one case to another and this depends on the kind of inputs you provide and the information you seek. For example, if you are unable to provide the exact year, and need a large span of years to be searched, then you can expect to pay a larger fee.

You Can Now Find Georgia Divorce Records Online, Too

Did you know that it has now become possible for you to find the records you want on the Internet as well? The biggest advantage of this medium is that, when you are doing this on the Internet, you can expect to get what you need quicker and there are a lot less hassles.

There are some websites now that help you do this. If you can't decide whether to use a private website, a state or government official website, or apply directly to the state or county office, you should know that your associated charges will be much less if you choose to approach the government as opposed to a private search site.

On the other hand, when you approach a private website, you can save time and hassles; in some cases, you gain access to more information, too.