Yes, divorce records are public in Georgia. Filings and final judgments from divorce cases are held by the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted, and anyone can request to inspect or copy them without explaining why. Sensitive identifiers like full Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and exact birth dates are redacted before a document is filed, but the substantive record of the divorce is open.
You don’t need to be a party to the case, a relative, or a lawyer to see the file. Georgia’s Open Records Act sets a “strong presumption that public records should be made available for public inspection without delay,” and court records held by a county clerk fall within that rule.1Justia. Georgia Code 50-18-70 – Legislative Intent; Definitions Exceptions exist, but they are read narrowly.
What’s in a Georgia Divorce File
A typical file includes the divorce petition, any response from the other spouse, and the final judgment or decree. The decree lays out how property and debts were divided, whether alimony was awarded, and any child support obligations. Both spouses’ full names, the case number, the filing date, and the date the divorce became final are all part of the public record.
The grounds for the divorce are visible too. Georgia recognizes 13 grounds, from the no-fault claim that the marriage is “irretrievably broken” to fault-based grounds like adultery, cruel treatment, desertion for at least one year, and habitual intoxication.2Justia. Georgia Code 19-5-3 – Grounds for Total Divorce Whatever ground was pleaded stays in the file. If a spouse alleged adultery or cruelty, those allegations are permanently accessible to anyone who pulls the record. People in contested cases often underestimate how much of that conflict becomes a lasting public document.
What Is Redacted or Kept Out
Georgia requires that certain personal identifiers be redacted before a document reaches the court, not after. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-7.1, any filing containing a Social Security number, taxpayer identification number, financial account number, or birth date must show only the last four digits of numbers and only the birth year.3Justia. Georgia Code 9-11-7.1 – Redacted Information The duty falls on the filer. If someone submits an unredacted document without asking to seal it, they waive the protection and the information becomes public.
So full bank account numbers, complete Social Security numbers, and exact birth dates should not appear in a divorce file that is open to the public. In practice, that depends on attorneys and self-represented parties following the rule. Errors happen, and an improperly redacted document can sit in the public file until someone notices.
Exhibits carry their own layer of protection. Financial statements, appraisals, and similar materials tendered as evidence may require the judge’s approval before a member of the public can inspect them, even though the case file itself is open.
How to Get a Copy
Start with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the divorce was finalized. Georgia has 159 counties, each with its own clerk, so knowing the county matters. If you’re not sure, the Georgia Department of Public Health can confirm that a divorce occurred but does not provide copies; it directs all record requests to the county superior court.4Georgia.gov. Request Vital Records
Many counties now offer electronic access through the Georgia Courts e-access portal, which routes you to the individual county system. Account registration is usually required. Not every county has digitized older cases, so mail or in-person requests may still be the only option for anything more than a few years old.
Bring as much as you can: the full legal names of both spouses, including maiden names, the approximate year of the divorce, and the case number if you have it. Without a case number, the clerk searches by name, which takes longer and can surface unrelated cases if the name is common.
What Copies Cost
Georgia sets copy fees by statute. Uncertified copies you pull yourself run $0.50 per page. If the clerk assists in locating the record, uncertified copies are $1.00 per page. Certified copies, which carry the clerk’s seal and function as legal proof, cost $2.50 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. Electronically transmitted copies are $2.50 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page.5Justia. Georgia Code 15-6-77 – Fees
A contested case file can run into the hundreds of pages, so full-file copying gets expensive. If you only need to prove the divorce happened, a certified copy of the final decree by itself is far cheaper.
Can You Seal a Georgia Divorce Record?
Georgia has no statute that automatically seals divorce records. If you want part or all of your file kept from public view, you or your attorney must file a motion asking the judge to seal specific documents or the whole case. Judges have inherent authority to restrict access, but they weigh it against the Open Records Act’s presumption of openness.
Targeted requests do better than sweeping ones. Sealing tends to be granted where there are domestic violence concerns, safety risks for a spouse or child, or unusually sensitive financial materials like trade secrets or business valuations. A general request to seal a whole case because it feels private rarely succeeds. A narrower request, aimed at specific exhibits like tax returns or a financial affidavit, has a better chance. Raise sealing early. Once documents are publicly filed, the horse is out of the barn.
Divorce Records and Background Checks
Because these records are public, they can appear in employment background checks. Consumer reporting agencies that compile public record information for employment must either notify you when they report public record information to a potential employer, or maintain strict procedures to ensure the information is complete and current.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681k – Public Record Information for Employment Purposes
The bare fact of a divorce rarely drives a hiring decision, and employers generally cannot make decisions based on marital status. What can matter is the content of the file: fault allegations involving fraud or substance abuse, financial disclosures showing heavy debt, or protective orders entered during the case. If you find inaccurate divorce-related information in a background report, you have the right to dispute it, and the reporting agency must investigate.7Federal Trade Commission. What Employment Background Screening Companies Need to Know About the Fair Credit Reporting Act