How much does a divorce cost in Georgia?
Key Takeaways
- On average, a divorce in Georgia costs about $10,500 to $13,000 for just the attorney fees.
- You also need to pay a filing fee and the fee to legally serve your spouse the divorce papers.
- Additionally, you may need to pay for meditation, a guardian ad litem for disputed child custody matters, and more.
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 we’ll explain below.
Filing fees
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.
Service fees
After you complete and file your complaint, you must have it served on your spouse.
If your spouse is willing to sign an acknowledgment 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.
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Attorney fees
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.
Mediation
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.
Guardian ad litem
If child custody negotiations become disputed, you may need to hire a court-appointed guardian ad litem (GAL) to investigate and make an informed recommendation about the child’s best interests to the judge. These advocates may charge between $500 to $15,000, depending on the jurisdiction.
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