Reviewed August 2026
Cost and Filing Fees in Georgia
In Georgia, you file for divorce in the superior court of the county where your spouse lives. The clerk of that court collects the filing fee. Georgia's statewide judicial branch does not post one dollar figure for divorce filing fees, because Georgia Code lets each county's superior court clerk set its own filing costs. Confirm the amount directly with the clerk's office in the county where you plan to file. If you can't afford the fee, Georgia law lets you file an Affidavit of Indigence (sometimes called an affidavit of poverty) under O.C.G.A. § 9-15-2. It asks the court to let you proceed without prepaying costs. Beyond the filing fee, you'll also need to pay to have your spouse served. This page covers what Georgia's court system publishes directly, and flags what varies enough that you should check with your county's clerk.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how cost and filing fees works under Georgia law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Georgia paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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Filing fee: set by each county superior court clerk
In Georgia, a divorce case starts as a Complaint for Divorce filed in the superior court of the county where the respondent lives (or, in some cases, the petitioner). Georgia Code lets superior court clerks charge costs for filing civil actions. Georgia's statewide judicial branch website does not list one dollar amount that applies in every county. Confirm the current filing fee with the clerk of superior court in the county where you plan to file before you file.
Fee waiver: Affidavit of Indigence
If paying the filing fee would be a hardship, Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 9-15-2) lets a party file an Affidavit of Indigence, sometimes called an affidavit of poverty. It asks the court to let the case proceed without prepaying court costs. File this affidavit with the clerk of the superior court along with the divorce complaint. Ask the clerk's office for the current version used in that county.
Service of process costs
After filing, your spouse must be formally served with the divorce complaint and summons. Georgia allows service by the county sheriff, by a certified process server appointed by the court, or in some cases by publication when a spouse cannot be located. Sheriff service fees are generally set by county fee schedules, not by one statewide amount. Confirm the current cost with the sheriff's office or clerk in the county of service.
Parenting seminar for cases with children
Georgia generally requires parents in a divorce, legal separation, or paternity case involving minor children to complete a parenting seminar covering the effect of the case on children. Court-approved providers offer the seminar, and it typically carries its own fee. Georgia's statewide judicial branch website does not list one cost that applies in every county. Check with the superior court where your case is filed, or with the seminar provider, for the current fee.
What drives the total cost up
An uncontested divorce, where both spouses agree on property division, custody, and support, keeps costs closer to the filing fee, service cost, and parenting seminar fee. Costs rise when the case is contested. Additional motions, discovery of financial and other records, contested hearings, and expert witnesses such as appraisers or custody evaluators all add expense beyond the base filing and service costs. Georgia's courts do not publish average attorney fee figures. This page does not estimate a total cost, because it depends on how contested the case becomes.
Sources: Georgia Judicial Branch (Judicial Council of Georgia / Administrative Office of the Courts), Georgia Judicial Branch: Self-Represented Litigants Resources, Georgia General Assembly: Official Code of Georgia Annotated (statutes portal)
Not independently confirmed
- Exact dollar filing fee for a divorce complaint by county superior court
- Statewide sheriff or process server service fee
- Name/cost of parenting seminar programs by county
- Any e-filing convenience fee for divorce case documents
Cost and Filing Fees in Georgia: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Georgia?+
The clerk of the superior court in the county where you file collects the filing fee. Georgia's statewide judicial branch does not publish one dollar figure for divorce filings, because fees are set at the county level. Contact the clerk's office in the county where you plan to file to confirm the current fee.
Can I get the filing fee waived if I can't afford it in Georgia?+
Yes. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 9-15-2) lets you file an Affidavit of Indigence, also called an affidavit of poverty, asking the court to let your case proceed without prepaying court costs. File it with the divorce complaint at the clerk's office in the county where you file.
How much does it cost to serve divorce papers in Georgia?+
The county sheriff or a certified process server typically handles service. Fees are generally set by each county, not published as one statewide amount. Confirm the current cost with the sheriff's office or clerk in the county where your spouse will be served.
Do I have to take a parenting seminar if I have kids in a Georgia divorce, and what does it cost?+
Georgia generally requires parents in a case with minor children to complete a parenting seminar, offered through court-approved providers. Cost varies by county and provider, and isn't published as one statewide figure. Check with your superior court or the seminar provider.
What makes a Georgia divorce cost more than the filing fee?+
Costs increase when spouses disagree on issues like property division, custody, or support. That leads to more motions, discovery, and possibly contested hearings or expert witnesses such as appraisers. An uncontested case, where both spouses agree, keeps costs closer to the filing fee, service cost, and parenting seminar fee.
Does Georgia publish average attorney fees for divorce?+
No. Georgia's court system does not publish average or typical attorney fee figures for divorce cases. Attorney fees vary by firm, by county, and by how contested the case becomes. The courts don't track or report this publicly.
This page is general information about cost and filing fees in Georgia, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Georgia's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Georgia. Virdix does not prepare or file Georgia divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Georgia.
More Georgia divorce guides
Virdix currently serves California and Florida
In the states Virdix serves, it guides you through that state's own court forms so your paperwork is complete and consistent before you file. If you're filing in Georgia, the resources above are the right place to start, and the form above will tell you the moment Virdix reaches your state.
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