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Divorce in Carroll County, Georgia: costs, court rules and local help
Summary
Divorces in Carroll County are filed with the Carroll County Superior Court. The current filing fee isn’t posted online, so ask the clerk. Counties that post theirs charge $208 to $224.
- Carroll County runs its own mediation center, at 311 Newnan Street, 5th Floor, in Carrollton. Its phone number is 770-830-5993.1
- Once a mediation session is set, neither side can cancel or reschedule it alone. Missing it, or cancelling with less than 48 hours' notice, can leave you owing the mediator's fee, up to $200.2
- If there are concerns about domestic violence or abuse, a pending criminal case or DFCS involvement, you fill out a Domestic Relations Screening Form from the ADR office before mediation.3
- Carroll and Heard counties make up the West Georgia Judicial Circuit.4
Where to file
Carroll County Clerk of Court
311 Newnan Street
Carrollton, GA 30117
Phone: 770-830-58305
Filing fee
The clerk doesn't post its divorce filing fee or sheriff service fee online, so call the clerk at 770-830-5830 before you file. The clerk's office is open weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For comparison, Georgia counties that post their fee charge between $208 and $224 to file a divorce. Compare counties.5
Parenting class
In a divorce involving minor children, both parents must complete a court-approved parenting seminar within 30 days of filing. Mediation can't go forward until both of you have completed it or the court has excused it, and the mediation office's form asks whether each of you has filed the certificate of completion.6
Mediation
Carroll County runs its own mediation program. When your divorce goes to mediation:
- The ADR office assigns a mediator from its approved list in rotation, unless you both ask for a specific mediator by email when you send in the initiation form.
- With an assigned mediator, the fee is $100 an hour with a two-hour ($200) minimum. You and your spouse split it equally and pay the mediator at the session.
- If you can't afford your share, ask the ADR office for a fee reduction or waiver before the session, on the office's forms.
- If you choose your own mediator instead, that mediator sets the fee and cancellation policy.7
Court forms
The clerk posts free divorce packets with instructions, for contested and uncontested divorces, with and without minor children, plus a poverty affidavit for asking to file without paying the fee. Its forms page says to file a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings with every divorce case. Go to the forms.8
Also good to know
If custody, child support or visitation will be mediated, both parents must attend the parenting seminar before the mediation is scheduled. At the session:
- Bring copies of your financial affidavit if child support, alimony, property division or attorney's fees will be mediated.
- Bring everything you'll need for the issues being discussed. Without it, the first session can be stopped and rescheduled.
- Someone with full authority to settle must be there. Lawyers are welcome but not required, and the mediator and staff don't give legal or financial advice.
If you don't have a lawyer, you have 3 days to have one review and approve any agreement you reach, unless the agreement says otherwise.9
Free and low-cost help in Carroll County
- West Georgia Domestic Violence Shelter. A state-certified family violence program in Carrollton, formerly the Carroll County Emergency Shelter. It serves Carroll, Haralson, Heard, Coweta and Meriwether counties. The number below is its crisis line; its office is 770-834-9178.
Phone: 770-834-114110 - Georgia Legal Services Program. Free civil legal help, including family law, for people with low incomes in 154 of Georgia's 159 counties. Apply online or call the intake line.
Phone: 833-457-752911 - Child Support Services, Carrollton office. The state's child support office for Carroll and Heard counties. The phone number is the state's 24-hour information line.
1124 North Park Street, Suite R, Carrollton, GA 30117
Phone: 877-423-474612
If you need an interpreter
If you or a witness needs an interpreter, including sign language, tell the court in writing before the hearing, at least 5 days ahead where you can. The court then works to provide a licensed interpreter at its own expense.13
Carroll County Superior Court website
Sources
- ^ Carroll County Mediation Center (carrollcountyga.gov)
- ^ Carroll County Mediation Center, scheduling (carrollcountyga.gov)
- ^ Carroll County ADR Program, domestic relations initiation form, May 2018 (PDF) (carrollcountyga.gov)
- ^ O.C.G.A. § 15-6-1, judicial circuits (Justia) (law.justia.com)
- ^ Carroll County Clerk of Court, contact information: address and phone and filing fees (carrollcountyga.gov)
- ^ West Georgia Judicial Circuit ADR Program, domestic relations initiation form, January 2026 (PDF) (irp.cdn-website.com, PDF)
- ^ Carroll County Mediation Center, mediator assignments and fees (carrollcountyga.gov)
- ^ Carroll County Clerk of Court, forms (carrollcountyclerk.com)
- ^ Carroll County Mediation Center, special instructions and information (carrollcountyga.gov)
- ^ Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, state-certified family violence agencies (PDF) (cjcc.georgia.gov)
- ^ Georgia Legal Services Program, what we do (glsp.org)
- ^ Georgia Division of Child Support Services, local office locations (childsupport.georgia.gov)
- ^ Uniform Superior Court Rule 7.3, interpreters (gasupreme.us)
Court fees and rules change. Check with the clerk before you file. If something here looks out of date, email help@divorce.city.
Nearby counties
Fees and court rules differ from county to county. Guides for neighboring counties: Coweta County, Douglas County, Fulton County and Paulding County.
Carroll County also borders Haralson and Heard counties. Their clerks are listed on the Georgia page.