On average, divorce in Georgia currently costs between $10,500 and almost $13,000 for an attorney, plus around $1,600 more for additional fees. These other expenses can include filing and service fees, paying for expert witnesses and more, as explained in the rest of this article.

To begin the divorce process, you must file a divorce complaint and other required documents in court. Filing a case requires you to pay a filing fee. In Georgia, these fees vary by county and currently range from about $200 to $400. Check with the superior court in the county where you’ll file for an exact fee. 

After you complete and file your complaint, you must have it served on your spouse. 

If your spouse is willing to sign an acknowledgement of service, you can deliver the complaint to them personally.

In other cases, you must have someone 18 or older personally serve the divorce complaint. To ensure that everything is served properly, many people hire process servers. Process server fees vary, but typically cost less than $100 for non-rush service, depending on how far the person has to travel and how many attempts they need to make.

Alternatively, you can have your county sheriff’s office serve your spouse. The cost for this is regulated by statute and is currently $50.

Although not required, legal counsel can be beneficial during a divorce. An experienced divorce attorney can help with every step, from properly filing the paperwork to presenting your case in court. 

Attorneys generally charge an hourly rate or a flat fee. Georgia divorce attorneys currently charge an average of about $250 to $300 per hour. That can add up to almost $13,000 for complex divorces.

If you expect a contested divorce, it’s likely the court will enter temporary orders for child custody, child support and spousal support (alimony). These orders typically remain in place until your divorce is finalized.

Most often, the noncustodial parent is required to pay child support to the custodial parent. Courts calculate the amount of support using a set formula based on each parent’s income. 

To calculate alimony, Georgia courts consider each party’s relative needs and ability to pay. If you earn more than your spouse and they don’t have enough income to meet their own needs, you’ll likely be ordered to pay temporary spousal support. The amount depends on your spouse’s need and how much you can afford to meet that need. 

Georgia courts can also order one party to help pay the divorce costs of the other party as part of a temporary alimony order.

Some Georgia courts have an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) program. In those courts, a judge may refer your divorce case to mediation in an effort to resolve it without extensive litigation. You can also choose to use mediation to try to reach a divorce agreement without going to trial even if a court doesn’t refer you.

In mediation, an independent third party, called a mediator, tries to help the parties to reach a middle ground on as many issues of the divorce as possible.

The cost of mediation varies depending on where you live. Some counties cover some of these charges, while other counties don’t. 

Mediators may charge a flat fee or by the hour. If you pay out of pocket, it’ll likely cost somewhere between $3,000 and $8,000 total, split between you and your spouse. You may also wish to hire a divorce lawyer to attend meditation and review the settlement agreement before you sign it.

Depending on the circumstances of your divorce, the price of mediation may add up. Remember, though, that mediation often results in a settlement and reduces prolonged litigation. In the end, many couples would rather pay for mediation than pay tens of thousands of dollars to go to trial.