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Divorce in Walton County, Georgia: costs, court rules and local help
Summary
Divorces in Walton County are filed with the Walton County Superior Court. The current filing fee isn’t posted online, so ask the clerk. Counties that post theirs charge $208 to $224.
- Walton's courts, the clerk and the District Attorney all work out of the Walton County Judicial Center at 303 S. Hammond Drive in Monroe. The clerk's office is on the third floor, and the Superior Court courtrooms and judges' chambers are on the second.1
- The clerk's office is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and handles Superior Court cases. Legal notices run in The Walton Tribune.2
- Walton County shares the Alcovy Judicial Circuit with Newton County.3
Where to file
Walton County Clerk of Courts
Walton County Government Building, 303 S. Hammond Drive, Suite 335
Monroe, GA 30655
Phone: 770-267-13074
Filing fee
The clerk's own pages don't post a divorce fee schedule. The state clerks' directory entry for Walton lists a civil filing fee of $209 but no sheriff service fee, so call the clerk at 770-267-1307 to confirm both before you file. For comparison, Georgia counties that post their fee charge between $208 and $224 to file a divorce. Compare counties.2
Parenting class
Divorcing parents in the Alcovy Circuit must attend the circuit's program for divorcing parents, a 30-minute video followed by a 90-minute presentation. You register in advance by calling 770-267-1343, and each spouse is scheduled for a different session. It costs $35, paid at the class in cash or by money order. A parent who lives outside Georgia can take an online course instead with the court's permission and file its certificate. Skipping it can delay the case, bring sanctions or affect visitation.5
Mediation
Walton County's courts use the Tenth Judicial District ADR Program, which the Alcovy Circuit joined in 2000. A divorce can be sent to mediation by the assigned judge's order, on the program director's recommendation, or when the spouses or their lawyers ask. The sessions are run by trained, registered mediators, and in Superior Court cases the spouses pay the mediator.6
Court forms
The Alcovy Circuit posts divorce form packets, with and without minor children, behind a disclaimer you have to accept, plus a request for hearing form and a fee waiver affidavit. Go to the forms.7
Also good to know
The courtroom rules posted for Walton's Superior Court ban cell phones and pagers in the courtroom, require proper dress and shoes, and don't allow hats, shorts, tank tops or similar clothing. No pocketknives, sharp objects or weapons, including chemical or defense sprays, are allowed in the courthouse.1
Free and low-cost help in Walton County
- Project ReNeWal. A state-certified family violence program with a Conyers mailing address, serving Walton, Newton and Rockdale counties. The number below is its crisis line; its office is 770-860-9770.
Phone: 770-860-16668 - 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.10
Walton County Superior Court website
Sources
- ^ Walton County Superior Court, court information: key points and other court rules (alcovycircuit.com)
- ^ Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority, Walton County clerk directory entry: key points and filing fees (gsccca.org)
- ^ O.C.G.A. § 15-6-1, judicial circuits (Justia) (law.justia.com)
- ^ Walton County Clerk of Courts, contact information (alcovycircuit.com)
- ^ Alcovy Judicial Circuit, divorcing parents seminar (alcovycircuit.com)
- ^ Tenth District ADR Program, history and how cases are referred (accgov.com)
- ^ Alcovy Judicial Circuit, forms (alcovycircuit.com)
- ^ Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, state-certified family violence agencies (PDF) (cjcc.georgia.gov)
- ^ Georgia Legal Services Program, what we do (glsp.org)
- ^ 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: Barrow County, Gwinnett County, Newton County and Oconee County.
Walton County also borders Morgan and Rockdale counties. Their clerks are listed on the Georgia page.