How to File for Divorce in Georgia

Watch to learn about filing for divorce in Georgia. Learn more www.georgialegalaid.org/issue...
Transcript:
This video will help you understand how to file for divorce in Georgia.
In Georgia, there is no waiting period to file divorce, but you must have lived in the state for at least six months before you can file.
It is always a good idea to have an attorney represent you when getting a divorce, but you are allowed to represent yourself.
Your first step is to file a Complaint for Divorce. You can find divorce forms and filing instructions on georgiacourts.gov.
Usually, you file the complaint in the Superior Court of the county where your spouse lives.
In the complaint, tell the court why you want a divorce and what you want the court to do.
Some things the court might decide when granting a divorce include: child custody, visitation, child support, alimony, division of property and division of debt. If your spouse is abusive, the court can order them to stay away from you.
There is a fee to file for a divorce. But if you cannot afford to pay the fee, you can ask the court to waive it by filing a poverty affidavit. You can usually find this form on your county’s court website.
You must have a copy of the Complaint for Divorce served on your spouse. This means that the sheriff or another "process server" will give the divorce papers to your spouse in the way that the law requires.
You can still file for divorce even if you do not know where your spouse is, if your spouse now lives in another state, or if your spouse never lived in Georgia.
In these cases the court may not be able to divide property or award alimony or child support, but the court can still grant a divorce.
Learn more at GeorgiaLegalAid.org