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Divorce in Chatham County, Georgia: costs, court rules and local help
Summary
Divorces in Chatham County are filed with the Chatham County Superior Court. The filing fee is $218, and sheriff service is $50, plus 50 cents a page for copies of the papers served.
Chatham County is its own judicial circuit, the Eastern Judicial Circuit.[1] Contested cases have to mediate, or be exempted, within 90 days after the other spouse is served.[2]
Where to file
Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court
Eugene H. Gadsden Courthouse, 400 W. Oglethorpe Avenue, Suite 178
Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: 912-434-8920[3]
Filing fee
$218 to file. Sheriff service: $50, plus 50 cents a page for copies of the papers served.[3]
Parenting class
If you and the other parent have minor children together, you'll both likely have to take the Transitional Parenting Seminar. It's a four-hour, self-paced online class you can start, stop and come back to.[4]
Mediation
Under an order the court reissued in May 2026, every contested divorce and other family case has to go to mediation, or get an exemption, within 90 days after the other spouse is served. Within 15 days after service, both spouses must fill out a confidential domestic violence screening questionnaire online through the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution, or by phone with the county ADR office at 912-652-7519. Family violence petitions are exempt. When domestic violence factors are present, mediation is skipped if the spouse at risk chooses not to mediate or the ADR office finds it can't be done safely.[2]
Court forms
The court doesn't provide family law forms and asks you not to use forms found online from other places. It accepts forms from the Family Law Resource Center, the Judicial Council of Georgia's Access to Justice forms, and Odyssey Guide & File. Go to the forms.[4]
Standing order
A standing order on production of documents applies to any divorce or family case asking for child support, alimony, property division or other financial relief. At least 5 days before mediation or any hearing (other than the final hearing in an uncontested case), each spouse must give the other their domestic relations financial affidavit, the last three years of tax returns with W-2s, 1099s and K-1s, and pay stubs for the past 12 months, and file a certificate saying so. A copy is served on the other spouse with the complaint.[5]
Free and low-cost help in Chatham County
- Family Law Resource Center. A local, court-funded center that helps people without a lawyer choose, fill out and file the right forms for divorce, legitimation, modification, contempt, adult name change and child support. Pre-register online; plan on about two hours. The fee is $40, with waivers based on income. Open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
7505 Waters Avenue, Unit C-11, Savannah, GA 31406
Phone: 912-354-6686[6] - 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: 833-457-7529[7]
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.[9] Chatham's Superior Court assigns qualified interpreters at no cost, including for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Ask through the court's online request form or by fax at 912-652-7130.[8]
Chatham County Superior Court website
Sources
- ^ O.C.G.A. § 15-6-1, judicial circuits (Justia) (law.justia.com)
- ^ Eastern Judicial Circuit, order mandating mediation, May 2026 (PDF): key points and mediation (cdn.chathamcountyga.gov, PDF)
- ^ Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court, civil fees and contact: address and phone and filing fees (superiorcourtclerk.chathamcountyga.gov)
- ^ Eastern Judicial Circuit Superior Court, Self Help: parenting class and court forms (courts.chathamcountyga.gov)
- ^ Eastern Judicial Circuit, standing order for production of documents (PDF) (cccdn.blob.core.windows.net, PDF)
- ^ Eastern Judicial Circuit Superior Court, Family Law Resource Center (courts.chathamcountyga.gov)
- ^ Georgia Legal Services Program, what we do (glsp.org)
- ^ Eastern Judicial Circuit Superior Court, interpreters (courts.chathamcountyga.gov)
- ^ Uniform Superior Court Rule 7.3, interpreters (rulesofcivilprocedure.com)
Court fees and rules change. Check with the clerk before you file. If something here looks out of date, email help@divorce.city.