Are Cobb County Divorce Records Public?

Under the Georgia Open Records Act, most divorce records in Cobb County are publicly accessible. This means the general public can legally inspect or request copies of the records from designated government agencies. In turn, the law requires agencies to release the records to interested parties, provided they meet the legal requirements. Such requirements may include the provision of search data, valid IDs, and search fees.

Note that some divorce information is not open to the public. Such records are generally exempt since they contain information whose disclosure does not benefit the public. Examples of exempt divorce records include:

• Records that are sealed due to court order.
• Records that contain personal and financial data, such as bank information and child support data.

Who Can Access Cobb County Public Records?

All interested persons and entities have the legal right to access public records in Cobb County. The county’s government agencies do not restrict out-of-state or country requesters from obtaining records.

Nevertheless, certain public records are not accessible to the general public. Such records typically contain confidential information that, if disclosed, will violate the privacy and safety of concerned parties. Under state laws, record custodians will only disclose confidential data to the record subjects, immediate family relations, and their legal representatives. Legally eligible parties seeking to obtain confidential data must provide proof of identity or relationship documents to the record custodian.

There are also instances when third-party requesters may access sensitive records from record custodians. In such cases, the inquirer must tender a court order or a signed letter of authorization from the record subject.

Do I Need to State My Purpose and Use When Requesting Divorce Records in Cobb County?

No, you do not need to state the reasons for requesting a divorce record in Cobb County. Government entities are legally required to disclose records upon receiving an oral or written request from inquirers. Inquirers, in turn, must provide enough divorce information when requesting the records.

How do you Request Divorce Records in Cobb County?

In Cobb County, you can request divorce records by using the following steps:

1. Find the government entity responsible for maintaining the record
   Interested parties can obtain divorce records from Cobb County’s superior court clerk. The public entity generates and maintains divorce records.
2. Select a preferred method of accessing the record.
   The superior court clerk’s office allows mail- or in-person-based requests for divorce records in their custody.
3. Order Cobb County divorce records through the preferred option
   For mail-based orders, applicants must send a written request along with the required fees to the superior court clerk at:

Mailing Address:
Clerk of Superior Court
Court Division

P.O. Box 3370
Marietta, GA 30061.

The written request must include case information, such as the case party’s name, divorce decree date, and other relevant details.

In contrast, you can order the records in person by visiting the county superior clerk’s physical location at:

Clerk of Superior Court
Court and Administrative Divisions
70 Haynes Street
Marietta, GA 30090
Phone: (770) 528-1300

1. Pay the required fees

Cobb County divorce decrees with agreements cost $9 and $24 for regular and certified copies, respectively. In contrast, decrees without an agreement are $3 for regular copies and $10 for certified ones. Note that it is relatively cheaper to obtain divorce records in person. The superior court clerk charges $0.5 per page of divorce records received in person.

What Information is Included in a Cobb County Divorce Record?

Cobb County divorce records may include the following information:

• Case parties’ full names.
• Divorce filing date
• Case number
• Court name and location
• Court’s disposition and final divorce decree.
• Financial information, including alimony and asset division.
• Lead attorney’s name.

Note: The county superior court clerk may redact financial data and information on minors from public divorce records. Only legally eligible parties can obtain such confidential data.

Fees for Accessing Cobb County Divorce Records

In Cobb County, the costs of accessing divorce records may vary based on the request option, document type, and volume of the requested document. For example, the superior court clerk charges $0.5 per page of divorce records produced during in-person requests. However, inquirers using the mail-in option may pay $9 and $29 for regular and certified divorce decrees, respectively.

Note: While there is no information on fee waivers, interested parties may contact the superior court clerk for more details

How Long Does It Take to Obtain Divorce Records in Cobb County?

According to the Georgia Public Record Act, record custodians must produce copies of divorce records within three business days of receiving the request. While this is the general requirement, the volume and availability of the requested document may affect the processing time. In such situations, the superior court clerk’s office will provide a timeline of when the records will be available.

Can I Request Divorce Records Online in Cobb County?

There are no official sources for accessing divorce records online in Cobb County. However, users can look up the records on third-party search sites like Georgiacourtrecords.us. The site has a user-friendly interface that enables users to conveniently input relevant search data to get divorce records.

In addition, the sites may allow users to download divorce documents directly to their devices. However, users must exercise caution while using third-party sites since they are unregulated and may not contain accurate data.

Are There Any Exceptions to Accessing Cobb County Divorce Records?

There are no limitations or restrictions to accessing public divorce decrees and case records in Cobb County. However, the superior court clerk’s office may prevent public access to divorce records that violate the safety and privacy of concerned parties. For example, the agency will generally redact personal and financial data, such as social security numbers and bank statements, from public access. Information on minors is also redacted from public divorce decrees.

Persons or entities seeking to access restricted divorce records must have a legal right to do so. For instance, record subjects and their legal representatives have the right to obtain such records.