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Divorce in Richmond County, Georgia: costs, court rules and local help
Summary
Divorces in Richmond County are filed with the Richmond County Superior Court. The filing fee is $218, and sheriff service is $50 per copy served.
Richmond County shares the Augusta Judicial Circuit with Burke County.[1] Before mediation in a family case, both spouses have to complete a domestic violence screening.[2]
Where to file
Richmond County Clerk of Superior, State and Juvenile Court
Augusta Richmond County Judicial Center, 735 James Brown Boulevard, Suite 1500
Augusta, GA 30901
Phone: 706-821-2460[3]
Filing fee
$218 to file. Sheriff service: $50 per copy served.[4]
Parenting class
In a divorce, separate maintenance, legitimation or other case that first decides custody, both parents must complete a court-approved parenting seminar of at least four hours within 31 days after the other parent is served, and bring the certificate to court. A certificate is good for three years. When domestic violence has been alleged, the parents attend on different days. The judge can reduce or waive the fee for someone who qualifies as indigent, or waive the seminar for good cause.[5]
Mediation
A divorce or other family case goes to mediation when the court orders it, and either spouse can ask the circuit's ADR program to refer a case once the other spouse has been served. In a family case, both spouses first complete a confidential domestic violence screening online. After that, they choose a mediator from the program's roster within 10 days and split the mediator's hourly fee equally. When domestic violence is alleged, the person harmed decides whether to mediate.[2]
Also good to know
If the other spouse has to be served by newspaper notice, Richmond's fee schedule lists $125 for publishing it in a divorce. A family violence petition has no filing fee.[4]
Free and low-cost help in Richmond County
- Augusta-Richmond County Law Library. Open to the public, with forms and information for people handling their own divorce, custody, visitation, child support or legitimation case. Staff can suggest sources but can't fill out forms or give legal advice. Computers and desk space are available.
Augusta-Richmond County Public Library, 823 Telfair Street, 2nd Floor, Augusta, GA 30901
Phone: 706-469-3362[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.[8]
Richmond County Superior Court website
Sources
- ^ Superior Court of the Augusta Judicial Circuit (augustaga.gov)
- ^ Augusta Judicial Circuit ADR Program, FAQs: key points and mediation (augustaga.gov)
- ^ Richmond County Clerk of Court, office contacts (augustaga.gov)
- ^ Superior and State Court of Richmond County cost and fee schedule, effective July 1, 2024: filing fees and other court rules (augustaga.gov)
- ^ Augusta Judicial Circuit, order on the parenting seminar, 2012 (PDF) (augustaga.gov)
- ^ Augusta-Richmond County Law Library (augustaga.gov)
- ^ Georgia Legal Services Program, what we do (glsp.org)
- ^ 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.