Georgia • Uncontested • No minor children
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Divorce Cost Estimate
Georgia Divorce Cost Calculator
Estimate divorce costs in Georgia using state-specific filing fee, attorney rate, mediation, children, property, and case complexity assumptions.
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Filing fee$220
Service of process$75
Attorney range$2,400 - $4,800
Mediation$400
These estimates are for planning only. They use the existing state-specific filing, attorney, and mediation assumptions and are not legal advice.
Georgia Divorce Cost Snapshot
Use this 2026 Georgia divorce cost guide to compare filing fees in major counties, attorney expenses, Georgia's 31-day minimum before an agreed divorce can be granted, financial disclosure requirements, and the cost difference between agreed and contested cases.
CategoryTypical range
County divorce filing fee$217–$223
Filing fee plus local service$267–$281 in cited examples
Georgia family-law rate$360/hr average
Uncontested planning range$3,000–$8,000
Contested planning range$15,000–$50,000+
Planning timeline2–24+ months
How Much Does Divorce Cost in Georgia?
Starting a divorce in the Georgia counties reviewed here requires a Superior Court filing fee of $217–$223. Formal service may add $50–$58 in the published Cobb and Fulton schedules, before e-filing, payment, or other charges.
Attorney time usually becomes the larger expense when spouses disagree about custody, parenting time, child support, alimony, real estate, retirement accounts, debt, businesses, or division of marital property.
Georgia follows equitable division rather than community-property rules, so a fair distribution need not be exactly equal. Clio's March 2026 data reports a $360 average hourly rate for Georgia family lawyers. These figures remain planning ranges—not legal advice or attorney quotes.
Local court charges are only the starting point in Georgia; attorney involvement, property issues, mediation, and contested proceedings can have a much larger effect on the final budget. See our national guide to divorce costs for a deeper explanation of how those expenses fit together.
Georgia Divorce Filing Fees by County
Georgia divorces are filed in Superior Court. Fees are collected locally and may exclude service, e-filing, payment charges, publication, copies, mediation, classes, and later filings.
CountyCurrent filing feeWhat to know
Fulton County$223Divorce filing fee; the same schedule lists a $58 process-server charge. Court source
Gwinnett County$220Divorce filing fee; out-of-county service and publication are paid separately. Court source
Cobb County$218General civil filing including divorce; sheriff service is listed separately at $50 per party. Court source
DeKalb County$217Divorce or annulment; a Vital Statistics Report is required with the initial filing. Court source
- Sheriff or private service, e-filing, payment processing, publication, certified copies, motions, mediation, parenting seminars, child professionals, valuations, and retirement orders may add costs.
- Georgia's self-help divorce materials include an Affidavit of Poverty for a filer asking the court to waive qualifying fees.
- County fees and local filing requirements should be confirmed with the applicable Superior Court Clerk before filing.
Georgia Divorce Rules That Can Affect Cost and Timing
Six-month residency rule
Georgia's official divorce forms generally require either the filing spouse or the nonfiling spouse to have resided in Georgia for at least six months before the action, depending on who files and where the parties live.
31-day agreed-case minimum
Uniform Superior Court Rule 24.6 allows a divorce by written consent any time 31 days after service or acknowledgment of service. Completion is not automatic on day 31.
No-fault and fault grounds
A divorce may allege that the marriage is irretrievably broken, while Georgia also retains statutory fault grounds. Litigating disputed fault allegations can add evidence, discovery, and hearings.
Parenting plans
Georgia requires parenting plans in custody or visitation cases. Parents may submit a joint plan when they agree or separate proposals when they do not.
Official child-support calculator
Cases involving support generally require the Georgia child-support worksheet and applicable schedules generated under the state's income-based guidelines.
Georgia's Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit
Georgia uses a sworn Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit, or DRFA, in covered matters involving child support, alimony, equitable division, or attorney fees. Uniform Superior Court Rule 24.2 governs the financial information and timing requirements.
Incomplete or inconsistent information can lead to additional correspondence, discovery, subpoenas, amended affidavits, or delayed hearings.
- Employment, self-employment, bonus, and commission income
- Household and child-related expenses
- Debts and monthly creditor payments
- Real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, and retirement assets
- Other assets, liabilities, and required child-support schedules
Is Georgia a 50/50 Divorce State?
Georgia is not a community-property state. Courts equitably divide marital property based on the circumstances, and a fair result is not automatically an equal split.
Property acquired during marriage may be marital even if held in one spouse's name. Premarital property, inheritances, and third-party gifts may be separate, but tracing and commingling can complicate the analysis.
- The marital home and other real estate
- Retirement accounts, pensions, and investments
- Businesses, vehicles, and marital debt
- Premarital property or inheritances mixed with marital funds
- Claims that marital money was transferred or spent improperly
How Children Can Affect the Cost of a Georgia Divorce
A divorce involving minor children generally requires additional documents addressing custody, parenting time, a parenting plan, child support, health insurance, medical costs, child care, transportation, and decision-making.
Agreement can reduce uncertainty and professional time. Disagreement may require mediation, temporary hearings, a guardian ad litem, evaluations, or trial. Local circuits may also require parenting seminars.
Uncontested vs. Contested Divorce Costs in Georgia
Agreed or uncontested Georgia divorce
- The spouses have resolved property, debt, alimony, custody, parenting time, support, and child expenses.
- Fewer disputes generally mean fewer attorney hours, discovery requests, hearings, and expert costs.
- A very simple self-represented case may cost less, while real estate or retirement orders may cost more.
Contested Georgia divorce
- One or more major parenting, support, property, or alimony issues remain unresolved.
- Discovery, subpoenas, depositions, temporary hearings, appraisals, mediation, child professionals, and experts add cost.
- Prolonged custody litigation, substantial assets, business valuation, or trial can exceed the range.
Attorney time often becomes the largest variable when a Georgia case remains disputed. Our divorce lawyer cost guide explains retainers, hourly billing, and why total legal fees vary.
What Can Make a Georgia Divorce More Expensive?
Filing and service costs matter initially, but attorney time and unresolved parenting or financial disputes usually determine the eventual total.
- Competing custody or parenting-plan proposals
- Disputed income, self-employment, bonuses, or cash flow
- Incomplete DRFAs and added financial discovery
- Real estate, retirement benefits, businesses, or separate-property tracing
- Alimony disputes, temporary orders, child professionals, experts, or trial
How Long Does Divorce Take in Georgia?
Georgia residency requirement
Generally six monthsThe applicable spouse must ordinarily satisfy Georgia's residency requirement before filing, as described in the official forms.
Minimum after service
At least 31 daysWith written consent, an agreed divorce may be granted 31 days after service or acknowledgment when all other requirements are satisfied.
Straightforward agreed divorce
Often 2–4 monthsService, settlement documents, financial or support paperwork, local procedures, and court scheduling affect completion.
Agreed case with children or property
Often 3–8 monthsParenting plans, support worksheets, real estate, retirement accounts, and detailed settlement terms can add time.
Moderately contested divorce
Often 6–12 monthsDiscovery, temporary hearings, mediation, financial disputes, and custody negotiations extend the case.
Complex contested divorce
Often 12–24+ monthsBusiness valuation, extensive discovery, child-professional involvement, experts, or trial can take longer.
Example Georgia Divorce Scenarios
These examples illustrate how different facts can change a planning range. They are not predictions or legal quotes.
Agreed Cobb County divorce
- No minor children
- No real estate
- Limited marital property
- Complete written agreement
Uses Cobb County's $218 filing fee plus approximately $3,000–$6,000 in professional help; service, e-filing, and copies may be additional.
Gwinnett County divorce with children
- Two minor children
- Parenting plan and support worksheet
- Jointly owned home
- Private mediation expected
The parenting plan, child support, home, financial affidavit, and mediation matter far more than the $220 filing fee.
Contested Fulton County divorce with assets
- Atlanta-area home
- Retirement accounts
- Business ownership
- Alimony and parenting disputed
Valuation, financial discovery, appraisal, depositions, child-professional involvement, mediation, and trial preparation may be required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does divorce cost in Georgia?
A professionally assisted agreed divorce may cost roughly $3,000–$8,000, while a contested case may cost $15,000–$50,000 or more. Children, property, alimony, discovery, experts, and trial shape the total.
What is the filing fee for divorce in Georgia?
The official schedules cited here list $217 in DeKalb County, $218 in Cobb, $220 in Gwinnett, and $223 in Fulton. Service, e-filing, processing, publication, and later filings may cost extra.
How long must you live in Georgia before filing for divorce?
Georgia's official forms generally require either the filer or the other spouse to have resided in Georgia for at least six months, depending on who files and where the spouses live.
Is there a waiting period for divorce in Georgia?
With written consent, an agreed divorce generally cannot be granted until at least 31 days after service or acknowledgment of service. The case does not finish automatically on day 31.
Is Georgia a 50/50 divorce state?
No. Georgia uses equitable division, and a fair division of marital property does not have to be exactly equal.
Does Georgia require a parenting plan?
Georgia requires parenting plans in custody and visitation cases. Parents may submit a joint plan when they agree or separate proposed plans when they do not.
How is child support calculated in Georgia?
Georgia uses income-based statutory guidelines and an official online calculator that produces the worksheet and schedules used in court.
What is a Georgia Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit?
A DRFA is a sworn statement covering income, expenses, assets, debts, and other financial information. Rule 24.2 requires it in covered support, alimony, equitable-division, and attorney-fee matters.
Can Georgia divorce filing fees be waived?
A filer who cannot afford court costs may ask to proceed with an Affidavit of Poverty or applicable local pauperis paperwork. The court determines eligibility.
Can I file for divorce without a lawyer in Georgia?
Yes. Georgia Courts provides self-help forms for divorces with and without minor children. Complex property, support, or custody issues may require additional documents and legal analysis.