A divorce in Georgia costs $200 to $25,000 or more, with Georgia’s relatively low filing fees and moderate attorney rates keeping costs below those of New York, California, or Florida. An uncontested divorce with no children and no assets costs $200 to $400 — the filing fee plus service. A flat-fee attorney for an uncontested divorce costs $1,500 to $3,500. A contested divorce in metro Atlanta with attorneys on both sides costs $10,000 to $25,000 per side if the case settles before trial. Georgia has a 30-day waiting period from the date of service — one of the shortest in the country — and the divorce can be finalized as soon as the 31st day after the respondent acknowledges service.
Georgia is both a no-fault and a fault divorce state. The vast majority of divorces are filed on the no-fault ground — the marriage is irretrievably broken. Fault grounds — adultery, desertion, cruel treatment, habitual intoxication, drug addiction, mental incapacity, and imprisonment — exist but are rare. A fault-based divorce in Georgia has one unique consequence: if the divorce is granted on fault grounds, the at-fault spouse is barred from receiving alimony by statute. This makes Georgia one of the few states where proving fault has a direct, automatic financial consequence.
Georgia Divorce Cost by Type
| Divorce Type | Typical Cost (Per Side) | Time to Final |
| DIY / pro se (uncontested, no kids, no assets) | $200-$400 | 31-60 days |
| Uncontested with attorney (flat fee) | $1,500-$3,500 | 2-4 months |
| Mediated (some disputes, resolved) | $3,000-$8,000 | 3-6 months |
| Contested — settles before trial | $10,000-$25,000 | 6-18 months |
| Fully litigated trial | $25,000-$50,000+ | 12-24 months |
Georgia-Specific Cost Factors
| GA Divorce Law | How It Affects Cost |
| Equitable division of property | GA divides marital property fairly — not necessarily equally. Only property acquired during the marriage is divided. Separate property brought to the marriage or received by inheritance is retained by the owning spouse. |
| Alimony — fault bars the at-fault spouse | GA statute OCGA § 19-6-1 provides that alimony is barred to a spouse whose adultery or desertion caused the divorce. Proving fault to avoid paying alimony can justify the cost of a contested fault-based trial — the only scenario in Georgia divorce law where proving fault has a direct financial payoff. |
| No mandatory financial disclosure form | Unlike FL or NY, Georgia does not require a specific statewide financial affidavit form in every divorce. Financial disclosure is obtained through discovery — interrogatories, requests for production, depositions — making discovery somewhat simpler and less expensive than in mandatory-disclosure states. |
| Jury trials available | Georgia is one of the few states that allows a jury to decide divorce issues — custody, property division, alimony — if either party requests it. A jury trial adds unpredictability, cost, and time. Most divorce attorneys strongly advise against jury trials in divorce, but the option exists and is occasionally used strategically. |
Metro Atlanta vs. Rural Georgia: The Cost Divide
| Region | Attorney Hourly Rate | Typical Contested Cost (Per Side, Settled) |
| Metro Atlanta — Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett, DeKalb | $300-$450/hr | $15,000-$25,000 |
| Suburban Atlanta — Cherokee, Forsyth, Henry, Paulding | $250-$400/hr | $12,000-$22,000 |
| Mid-size cities — Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Savannah | $200-$350/hr | $10,000-$18,000 |
| Rural Georgia counties | $180-$275/hr | $7,000-$14,000 |
Georgia’s 30-day waiting period is one of the shortest in the nation — but it begins on the date of service, not filing. The clock starts when the respondent is personally served or acknowledges service in writing. If the respondent avoids service for weeks, the 30-day clock does not start. A spouse who wants to delay the divorce can effectively add weeks or months by evading service, forcing the petitioner to use service by publication — which requires court approval and adds $200 to $500 to the cost.
FAQ: Common Questions About Georgia Divorce Costs
Is it worth filing for a fault-based divorce in Georgia to avoid paying alimony?
It depends on the alimony exposure and the strength of the evidence. If the other spouse’s adultery or desertion is provable — with clear, admissible evidence, not suspicion — and the alimony that would be awarded in a no-fault divorce is significant, the cost of a fault-based trial ($15,000 to $25,000 per side) may be justified by barring alimony that would cost far more over time. If the alimony exposure is modest — a short marriage, both parties employed — the cost of proving fault likely exceeds the alimony that would be paid. A Georgia family law attorney can evaluate whether the evidence and the financial stakes justify a fault-based case.
What is the cheapest divorce in Georgia?
An uncontested divorce with no children and no assets, filed pro se using the forms available from the Superior Court clerk in the county where either spouse resides. The filing fee is $200 to $250 depending on the county, plus $40 to $75 for service by the sheriff. Both parties sign a settlement agreement. The divorce can be finalized 31 days after the respondent acknowledges service. No attorney is required.
$200 to $25,000+. The 30-Day Waiting Period Is Short. The Cost Is Moderate.
A divorce in Georgia costs $200 to $25,000 or more, with Georgia’s moderate attorney rates and short 30-day waiting period making it a faster and less expensive divorce jurisdiction than New York or California. An uncontested divorce costs $200 to $3,500. A contested divorce in metro Atlanta costs $10,000 to $25,000 per side. A fully litigated trial costs $25,000 to $50,000+.
Georgia’s unique fault-based alimony bar — adultery or desertion by one spouse automatically prevents that spouse from receiving alimony — makes fault relevant in a way it is not in most other states. The financial stakes of proving fault can justify the cost of a trial, but only if the alimony exposure is large and the evidence is clear. In all other cases, no-fault divorce under Georgia’s 30-day waiting period is the faster, cheaper, and less contentious path.
