Quick exit

Home › Guides

Metro Atlanta divorce costs by county

Updated · General information about Georgia law, not legal advice

Summary

Filing for divorce in metro Atlanta costs about $213 to $220 at the Superior Court clerk, depending on the county. Having the sheriff deliver the papers usually costs extra, for example $50 per person in Cobb and Clayton.

If you can't afford the fees, you can ask the court to let you file without paying them.

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.

CountyFiling feeSheriff serviceWhere we checked
Cobb$218$50 per person served, within CobbCobb Superior Court Clerk
Clayton$213$50 per serviceClayton fee schedule, effective Jan. 1, 2024
DeKalb$217Ask the clerkDeKalb Superior Court Clerk
Gwinnett$220Ask the clerkGwinnett County courts fee page
Fulton$220$50 per serviceFulton County Clerk of Superior Court fee schedule
Cherokee$218$50 per copy servedSuperior Courts of Georgia cost schedule effective July 1, 2024, posted by the Cherokee County Clerk of Courts
ForsythNot posted online; ask the clerkAsk the clerkForsyth County Clerk of Superior Court
HenryNot posted online; ask the clerkAsk the clerkHenry County Superior Court divorce packet
Fayette$218$50 per defendantFayette County Courts fee schedule, revised July 1, 2024
Douglas$218$50 per serviceDouglas County Clerk of Superior and State Court fee sheet, August 22, 2024
Paulding$215$50 for one person served ($265 with the filing fee)Paulding County Clerk of Superior Court, civil case filing fees
Rockdale$208$50 per copy servedRockdale County Clerk of Superior Court fee schedule, effective July 1, 2024

Fees are for filing a divorce at the Superior Court clerk. Lawyers' fees, mediator fees, parenting classes and copies are separate. Fees not posted online will be added once confirmed with each clerk.

Which county do you file in?

A Georgia divorce is usually filed in the county where the other spouse lives. If the other spouse has moved out of Georgia, it can be filed in the county where you live. If they moved out of the county where you lived together within the last 6 months, it can usually be filed there.[1] One of you usually must have lived in Georgia for at least 6 months.[2]

If you can't afford 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 clerk can tell you which form your county uses.

Parenting classes

Georgia lets each court circuit set up a seminar for divorcing parents, up to four hours long, about how divorce affects children.[4] Where a court has one, judges can require both parents to attend, and a judge can hold up the final decree until it's done. If you have children under 18, ask your court whether a class is required and which providers it accepts.

Mediation

Many metro Atlanta courts can order contested family cases to mediation before a trial, and often do. A neutral mediator helps both spouses try to reach an agreement; the mediator doesn't decide anything. Ask your court or your lawyer whether mediation is required in your county and what it costs.

Questions you might ask a lawyer

  • Which county should our case be filed in?
  • Does this court require a parenting class or mediation?
  • Besides court fees, what costs should I expect?

Common questions

How much does it cost to file for divorce in Gwinnett County?

The Gwinnett County courts list a divorce filing fee of $220. Service by the sheriff or a process server is extra.

How much does it cost to file for divorce in Cobb County?

The Cobb Superior Court Clerk lists $218 to file, plus $50 per person the sheriff serves within Cobb County.

How much does it cost to file for divorce in DeKalb County?

The DeKalb Superior Court Clerk lists a divorce filing fee of $217.

Can I file for divorce in Georgia if I can't afford the fee?

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]

Sources

  1. ^ Georgia Constitution, Art. VI, Sec. II, Para. I, where divorce cases are filed (Justia)
  2. ^ O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2, residence requirements (Justia)
  3. ^ O.C.G.A. § 9-15-2, filing without paying fees (FindLaw)
  4. ^ Uniform Superior Court Rule 24.8, parenting seminars
  5. Cobb Superior Court Clerk, fees
  6. Clayton County court records fee schedule
  7. DeKalb Superior Court Clerk, civil and family
  8. Gwinnett County courts, fees

Laws and court rules change. If something here looks out of date, email help@divorce.city.

Related guides