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Divorce in Dawson County, Georgia: costs, court rules and local help
Summary
Divorces in Dawson County are filed with the Dawson County Superior Court. The filing fee is $218, and sheriff service is $50 per entry of service.
- Dawson County has no Family Law Information Center of its own. If you're handling your own divorce, you use the center in the Hall County Courthouse in Gainesville.1
- Since January 1, 2024, a divorce filed without a lawyer has to go through that center's review before you can ask for a hearing date, with limited exceptions.2
- Every civil filing has had to be e-filed since March 1, 2025.3
- Dawson County shares the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, and its divorce rules, with Hall County.4
Where to file
Dawson County Clerk of Court
25 Justice Way, Suite 1302
Dawsonville, GA 30534
Phone: 706-344-35105
Filing fee
$218 to file. Sheriff service: $50 per entry of service.6
Parenting class
If custody or parenting time is at issue, both parents complete a court-approved co-parenting seminar: within 31 days after filing for the spouse who filed, and within 31 days after service for the other.7
Mediation
In a contested case without a written agreement, you and your spouse must mediate before the final hearing, generally within 90 days after service.7
Court forms
The circuit's Family Law Information Center posts separate Dawson County divorce form packets. Go to the forms.1
Standing order
A circuit standing order applies to every family case filed since March 1, 2025. While the case is open, neither spouse may take the children out of Georgia in a first custody case without permission, harass the other, sell or hide property, cut off utilities or internet, or cancel insurance.7
Also good to know
Since March 1, 2025, everything filed in a civil case in Dawson County, including a divorce, has to be filed and served electronically:
- Use PeachCourt, the e-filing service the clerk has approved.
- Upload PDF documents only.
- Put an active email address in the signature block of every filing.
The order covers pleadings, motions, rules nisi, proposed orders and discovery filings, with some exemptions.3
Northeastern Judicial Circuit rules
Dawson County shares its Superior Court judges and divorce rules with Hall County. The circuit's page has the full standing order, the mediation and parenting seminar rules, and the circuit's other divorce rules.
Free and low-cost help in Dawson County
- Family Law Information Center. The circuit's free self-help center for people handling their own divorce or legitimation in Hall or Dawson County. Dawson County residents use this office in Gainesville. Request an appointment in advance.
Hall County Courthouse, 225 Green Street SE, 3rd Floor, Gainesville, GA 30501
Phone: 770-531-24631 - NOA's Ark (No One Alone). A state-certified family violence program in Dahlonega serving Dawson and Lumpkin counties. The number below is its crisis line; its office is 706-344-3853.
Phone: 706-864-19868 - 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: 833-457-75299
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. The Northeastern Judicial Circuit provides spoken-language and sign language interpreters. Request one through the circuit's online form at least 10 business days ahead, or call the interpretive services coordinator at 770-538-5375.11, 10
Dawson County Superior Court website
Sources
- ^ Northeastern Judicial Circuit Family Law Information Center, divorce forms: key points, court forms and local help (nejcga.gov)
- ^ Northeastern Judicial Circuit, administrative order requiring Family Law Information Center review in self-represented divorces, 2023 (PDF) (nejcga.gov)
- ^ Dawson County Superior Court, standing order on electronic filing, February 2025 (PDF): key points and other court rules (nejcga.gov)
- ^ O.C.G.A. § 15-6-1, judicial circuits (Justia) (law.justia.com)
- ^ Dawson County Clerk of Court (dawsonclerkofcourt.net)
- ^ Dawson County Clerk of Court, court information and costs (dawsonclerkofcourt.net)
- ^ Northeastern Judicial Circuit, Dawson County domestic relations standing order, effective March 1, 2025 (PDF): parenting class, mediation and standing order (nejcga.gov)
- ^ Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, state-certified family violence agencies (PDF) (cjcc.georgia.gov)
- ^ Georgia Legal Services Program, what we do (glsp.org)
- ^ Northeastern Judicial Circuit, Interpretive Services (nejcga.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: Cherokee County, Forsyth County and Hall County.
Dawson County also borders Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin and Pickens counties. Their clerks are listed on the Georgia page.