Divorce in Georgia

Divorce is generally an emotional issue, even when both parties agree that parting is in their best interests. The process can be handled in different ways and often depends on the mindset of each person. An overview of how the different processes work and what issues need to be resolved will assist you when determining how you want to proceed.

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Divorce Laws

Divorce Process

Divorce Services

Divorce, Separation, and Annulment: What is the Difference?

There are three ways in Georgia in which spouses can detach from each other and go on to live separate lives without having any legal responsibility for the other one. That term is used loosely because as you will see each of these options involves a solution including Court Orders setting out the parties’ legal responsibilities.

Divorce

A final divorce decree ends the marriage, and the parties are free to remarry. Child support, child custody, spousal support, and all other relevant decisions are made either by agreement of the parties or pursuant to a court order after litigation.

Georgia Divorce Process

Separation

Georgia provides for a “Separate Maintenance” action. The court settles many of the issues the same way as in a divorce, but the parties remain married. There are financial and other benefits to this arrangement.

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Annulment

Annulment occurs when a court enters an order declaring there never was a marriage. It is as if it never happened. There are several grounds for obtaining an annulment, including fraud.

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Divorce Attorneys in Georgia

If you have decided to begin the divorce process, chances are this is a complicated time for you. Finding an experienced, professional divorce attorney can be the first step to understanding divorce proceedings and finding resolutions that work for you.

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Georgia Divorce Law & Requirements

Georgia has the following legal requirements for obtaining a divorce.

Residency
At the time a party files a divorce petition, he or she must have been a resident of the state for at least six months.

Grounds for divorce
The main ground for a divorce in Georgia is that “the marriage is irretrievably broken.” This means the couple has differences so great, they will never be able to solve them and the only solution is for them to divorce. This is a “no fault” divorce.

Waiting period
The earliest a divorce will be granted is 30 days after the respondent has been served with the divorce petition.

Division of assets
Georgia is an equitable division state, not a community property state. This means that any property acquired by the couple during their marriage, including retirement plans and bank accounts, will be divided in a way the court believes is fair and just. Each party retains his or her own separate (non-marital) property.

Resolution of child custody and visitation
If the issues cannot be resolved between the parties and they are unable to come to an agreement, the court will make the decisions based on what it determines is in the best interest of the children.

Child support and spousal support
If the couple is unable to agree between themselves on these issues, the court will resolve these issues for them.

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Divorce Process in Georgia

The divorce process in Georgia begins when one party files a petition in the court requesting a divorce and ends when the court issues its final divorce decree. Between those two events, there are many other factors involved in the process.

At any point in time, the process may change to from contested to uncontested, or uncontested to contested, or partially contested and partiality uncontested, and so on. If there are children, child custody, visitation, and support issues must all be resolved. Marital property will be divided according to equitable distribution principles. The spouses may come to their own agreements on all or some of the issues with the help of mediation, or the divorce may proceed in an adversary manner according to standard litigation.

At Stearns, Montgomery & Proctor, we guide you through each step of this process. We are always mindful of the emotional toll divorce takes and we work to give you the best possible start to your new life when the divorce is final.

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Annulment

Annulment

While they are not common in Georgia, annulments can be granted under specific circumstances. An annulment is used to end a marriage that, in the state's eyes, is invalid, compared to a divorce that ends what is considered to be legally a “real” marriage.

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Contested Divorce

Contested Divorce

A contested divorce is where parties cannot reach an agreement on whether to get a divorce or settle on the terms and details of the dissolution. The details usually center around distribution and allocation of assets, finances, alimony, child support or custody.

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High Asset Divorce

High Asset Divorce

A high-asset divorce involves one in which there are multiple high-value assets that must be valued separately. There are often ownership disputes of any property whether listed as martial property or one party’s separate property.

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Separate Maintenance Action in Georgia

Separate Maintenance Action in Georgia

Technically, there is no such thing as a legal separation in GA. However, you can file for a separate maintenance action, defined as a judicial determination to separate spouses and provide support without a judicial termination of the marriage.

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Georgia Divorce Mediation

Georgia Divorce Mediation

Mediation is an important process that couples take prior to moving forward with their divorce. Mediation involves meeting with a third party (Mediator) to consult on which issues can be amicably addressed throughout the divorce process.

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Marital Property & Asset Division

Marital Property & Asset Division

In simple terms, marital property is a state-level legal term that denotes property acquired during the marriage. If you can both agree on everything, you will generally have a much easier divorce. But sometimes you cannot agree, and mediation may be required, or a judge may have to decide for you.

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Military Divorce

Military Divorce

Many aspects of divorce requirements are different for military divorces even for those who are residents of Georgia. For example, issues that must be resolved include whether the non-military spouse will be eligible for military benefits, how custody is resolved when a military spouse is deployed, and other questions that only arise when one or both spouses are in the military.

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No Fault Divorce

No Fault Divorce

A “no-fault” divorce means one spouse must simply state a belief that the marriage is over, or “irretrievably broken.” Essentially, a no-fault divorce law gives either party the freedom to sue for divorce with only the claim of “irreconcilable differences.”

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Same-Sex Divorce

Same-Sex Divorce

One would think that same-sex divorces are legally synonymous with heterosexual divorces, and while there are consistencies in both, complications and complexities are still very prevalent. Child custody and asset distribution are prime examples of what make the two unique.

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Uncontested Divorce

Uncontested Divorce

In an uncontested divorce, the couple is in general agreement on getting the divorce and on the terms. It is generally a faster and more cost-effective way to get a divorce.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Georgia?

In short, there is no standard fee. Each case is different. If cost is a concern, read our tips about how to afford a Georgia divorce lawyer.

What are the grounds for divorce in Georgia?

The most common ground for divorce in Georgia is that the “marriage is irretrievably broken.” Georgia was one of the first states to adopt the 30-day divorce scenario. That may be because they had the most arduous process historically. Learn about the grounds for divorce in Georgia

How much does a contested divorce cost?

Much like any type of divorce, forecasting costs can be difficult because every case is different. There are many different types of expenses in a contested divorce, which vary from case to case.

How is property equity divided in a Georgia divorce case?

The standard used to divide equity in marital property in Georgia can be described as “what is fair?” It is a broad standard. So either party can say that the property should be divided one way or the other, and it will be relevant. However, it should be noted that most cases in Georgia are divided by the parties sharing the equity fifty-fifty. That is not a specific law. It is more a matter of what judges and juries have traditionally awarded when put into a “he said, she said” situation. Learn about how marital property is equitably divided in Georgia

How do I find the best divorce attorney?

Typically, we recommend looking for an experienced divorce attorney to manage any major legal case, like a divorce.

How does an affair impact a Georgia divorce case?

Other than to bar alimony, claims of adultery will not have a devastating effect on the issues in a divorce case. In other words, the law specifically prohibits alimony if you are the one asking for the alimony and are guilty of having an affair. That is not to say that an affair will not have an effect on the other issues presented in a divorce. For instance, if you are married having an affair and your child or children are having contact with the person you are having an affair with, the Courts could look at this as harmful to the child and not in the child’s best interest, which is a factor in determining custody to the other parent. You should also take heed that having an affair during the marriage may affect the property division, as the law provides it is a factor to consider. In other words, it is permissible for a Court to use this as a reason to award the other party more money or property. Learn about how adultery factors into a divorce in Georgia

Will my financial situation change after the divorce?

Typically, the parties in a divorce will be taking one household and splitting it into two different households. By definition, unless resources are unlimited, a divorce will be changing your financial situation. That is why it is especially important to plan properly. For those of you who aren’t planners, you should contact an attorney to get an idea on how to get organized. For those of you who are planners, you could save yourself a tremendous amount of time and money by contacting an attorney to learn what else you need to know to plan for the transition. Learn more about the cost of divorce

What happens post divorce?

After a final decision is made, the parties have several options if they are unhappy with the results. Some of the options involve returning to the Court to ask it to reconsider or to point out possible errors in the results. Other options involve appealing to another set of judges to ask them to reverse the final decision. Yet other options may involve filing a new action, such as a change of custody or modification. Final divorce decrees are final when it comes to the division of assets and debts. However, divorce decrees are not final when it comes to periodic alimony, child support, and custody issues. Learn about divorce resettlement

How does the Georgia divorce process work?

There are many steps in the Divorce process, but listed below is a simple list of some processes: 1. File and serve Divorce documents 2. Answer Divorce 3. Discovery process – including depositions 4. Temporary hearing 5. Mediation 6. Evaluations pertaining to children and assets, if the issues are contested 7. Motions hearings for various issues that come up along the way 8. Final Hearing 9. Appeals or other post judgment rights Learn more about the divorce process

What type of counseling is right for me?

We often hear that clients are hesitant to seek counseling because they are concerned it will make them look like there is something “wrong” with them. That is simply not true. Most courts look at the marriage as being a partnership that is sick and needs help. Marriage counselors or individual counseling is the best place to go to get help for the marriage. The partner who is willing to look at his or her part and work on the changes necessary to make the relationship better for the sake of the children will be favored. Divorce counseling and therapy options