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Divorce in Fayette County, Georgia: costs, court rules and local help
Summary
Divorces in Fayette County are filed with the Fayette County Superior Court. The filing fee is $218, and sheriff service is $50 per defendant.
Fayette is part of the Griffin Judicial Circuit, with Spalding, Pike and Upson counties.[1]
Where to file
Fayette County Clerk of Superior Court
One Center Drive
Fayetteville, GA 30214
Phone: 770-716-4290[2]
Filing fee
$218 to file. Sheriff service: $50 per defendant.[3]
Parenting class
Georgia courts may require divorcing parents to attend a seminar of up to four hours.[4] Fayette County's court pages don't list one, so ask the clerk whether it applies to your case.
Mediation
Contested family cases, including divorce, must go through the Sixth District ADR Program for mediation before they're placed on the court calendar. Family violence petitions aren't mediated, and when there's been domestic violence, the person who was harmed decides whether to mediate. If the ADR office assigns the mediator, the fee is up to $100 an hour, split between the spouses, with a 2-hour minimum, and fee waivers or reductions are available if you ask at least 3 days ahead.[5]
Standing order
A domestic relations standing order signed October 24, 2024 applies to divorce and other family cases, but not to family violence petitions. Among other things, it bars taking the children out of the court's jurisdiction without permission, harassing or threatening the other party, selling or hiding property in a divorce or separate maintenance case, and canceling or changing insurance or utilities. Breaking it can be contempt.[6]
Also good to know
If you want a hearing recorded by a court reporter, you have to arrange it with the judge's court reporter ahead of time and pay $43.31 an hour, plus a $400 daily rate if yours is the only case being reported that day.[6]
Free and low-cost help in Fayette County
- Griffin Circuit Family Law Workshop. A free online workshop, 6 to 7:30 p.m., for people handling their own divorce, legitimation, paternity, contempt or child support modification, run with the Sixth District ADR Program. You have to register ahead. Forms are free to download, or $20 a packet at the workshop or ADR office (money order only).
141 W. Solomon Street, Suite 200, Griffin, GA 30223
Phone: 770-228-3758[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] Fayette's clerk posts a civil interpreter request form, and the case filing form asks whether an interpreter is needed and for which language.[8]
Fayette County Superior Court website
Sources
- ^ O.C.G.A. § 15-6-1, judicial circuits (Justia) (law.justia.com)
- ^ Fayette County Clerk of Superior Court (fayetteclerk.com)
- ^ Fayette County Courts fee schedule, revised July 1, 2024 (fayetteclerk.com, PDF)
- ^ Uniform Superior Court Rule 24.8, parenting seminars (rulesofcivilprocedure.com)
- ^ Sixth District ADR Program, FAQs (adr6th.org)
- ^ Fayette County Domestic Relations Standing Order (PDF): standing order and other court rules (fayetteclerk.com, PDF)
- ^ Sixth District ADR Program, Family Law Workshops (adr6th.org)
- ^ Fayette County Clerk of Superior Court, forms (fayetteclerk.com)
- ^ 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.