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Georgia divorce costs by county
Summary
In the Georgia counties we've checked so far, filing for divorce at the Superior Court clerk costs $213 to $220. In most of them, having the sheriff deliver the papers to your spouse adds about $50 per person served; a few counties post no sheriff fee, and Glynn builds service into a $267 total.
What differs more from county to county is the court's own rules: whether mediation is required, when a parenting class has to be done, and what the local standing order bars while the case is open. Each county's page covers those rules.
Fees change. Check with your county's clerk before you file.
Filing fees by county
Checked against each court's website on November 11, 2026.
Fees are for filing a divorce at the Superior Court clerk. Lawyers' fees, mediator fees, parenting classes and copies are separate. Counties are added here as each one is checked against its court's own sources.
Which county do you file in?
Usually you file in the county where your spouse lives. If your spouse has left Georgia, you can file in the county where you live. If your spouse moved out of the county where you lived together within the last 6 months and you still live there, you can also file there.[1] At least one of you generally has to have lived in Georgia for 6 months before filing.[2]
If you can't pay the filing fee
You can ask the court to let you file without paying fees by signing a sworn statement that you can't afford them, often called a pauper's affidavit.[3] The other side or the court can challenge it, and the judge then holds a hearing. Your county's clerk can tell you which form to use.
Where mediation is required
Several circuits require mediation in a contested divorce before the final hearing, but the deadlines differ. Chatham County's order sets a 90-day deadline after service, Hall County's order also uses 90 days after service, and Coweta's circuit uses 150 days after filing. Clayton, Cherokee and Fayette send contested cases to mediation, Douglas, Paulding and Whitfield set a 60-day window for the first session (after the answer in Douglas, after service in Paulding, after filing in Whitfield), Muscogee and Bartow require mediation before the final hearing, Glynn does too in contested cases involving custody, alimony or child support, and in Lowndes, contested cases still open 150 days after filing are referred to mediation. Other courts, such as Richmond and Clarke, send cases to mediation when the judge orders it or the spouses ask. Family violence cases are generally exempt or screened first. Check your county's page for its exact rule.
Parenting classes
Georgia lets Superior Court judges require the parties in a family case to attend a seminar of no more than four hours on how divorce affects children.[4] Deadlines vary by county: within 30 days after service in Coweta, within 31 days in Muscogee and Richmond, registration and payment within 31 days after service in Whitfield, within 45 days in Lowndes, before the final decree in Clarke, and before the final order in Bartow. Some courts list approved providers, and some accept online classes.
Standing orders
Most of these counties have a standing order that takes effect automatically when a divorce is filed. What it covers varies: some are short or limited to certain cases, and others bar either spouse from harassing the other, hiding or selling property outside the ordinary course of business, cancelling insurance or utilities, or taking the children out of the court's area or the state. The details and the start date differ, so read your county's order or its summary on the county page.
Questions you might ask a lawyer
- Which county should our case be filed in?
- Does this court require mediation or a parenting class, and by when?
- Besides court fees, what costs should I expect?
Common questions
What is the cheapest county in Georgia to file for divorce?
Among the counties we've checked so far, Clayton County lists the lowest filing fee at $213, and Fulton and Gwinnett list the highest at $220. You usually have to file in the county where your spouse lives, so you can't simply pick the cheapest one.
Does the filing fee include serving my spouse?
Usually not. In most counties we've checked, sheriff service is about $50 per person served, on top of the filing fee; Glynn is an exception, with service included in a $267 total. If your spouse signs an acknowledgment of service, you don't need the sheriff.
Can I file for divorce in Georgia if I can't afford the fee?
Often, yes. You can ask the court to let you file without paying fees by signing a sworn statement that you can't afford them.[3] The statement can be challenged, and the judge then decides after a hearing.
Sources
- ^ Georgia Constitution, Art. VI, Sec. II, Para. I, where divorce cases are filed (Justia)
- ^ O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2, residence requirements (Justia)
- ^ O.C.G.A. § 9-15-2, filing without paying fees (FindLaw)
- ^ Uniform Superior Court Rule 24.8, parenting seminars
Laws and court rules change. If something here looks out of date, email help@divorce.city.