Reviewed August 2026
Court Hearings in Georgia
Georgia divorce and custody cases are filed in superior court, the state's general jurisdiction trial court. Georgia does not run a separate statewide family court system. A party who needs custody, support, or property arrangements decided before the divorce is final can ask the court for a temporary hearing. A temporary hearing addresses what should happen while the case is pending. It is separate from the final trial or settlement that resolves the divorce. Georgia counties each run their own superior court calendars. Timing and format for getting a temporary hearing scheduled can vary from circuit to circuit. Georgia's self-help resources for family law cases point self-represented parties toward local family law information centers in several judicial circuits. Much of the practical process is organized at the county and circuit level, from scheduling to available help, rather than through a single statewide family court office. Georgia has 49 judicial circuits, each covering one or more counties and its own superior court judges.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how court hearings 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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Requesting a temporary hearing
In a Georgia divorce case, either spouse can ask the superior court for a temporary hearing. It can decide issues such as temporary child custody, child support, spousal support, use of the marital home, or attorney's fees while the case is pending. This request is separate from the final resolution of the divorce. It sets a working arrangement for the family during the litigation. A case can take months to reach a final decree, especially if contested. A temporary hearing gives the parties a court-ordered arrangement sooner. The request is usually filed alongside, or shortly after, the initial divorce petition itself.
Superior court and local practice
Georgia's superior courts are organized by judicial circuit. Each circuit, along with the counties within it, manages its own civil and family law docket. There is no separate statewide family court. A single superior court judge in the assigned circuit hears the divorce case from filing through final judgment, including any temporary hearing along the way. Several Georgia judicial circuits maintain family law information centers. These centers help self-represented parties handle filing and hearing procedures locally. This shows how much of the practical process depends on the specific circuit and county handling the case. Larger metro circuits, like those covering Atlanta's surrounding counties, tend to have more structured local rules than smaller rural circuits.
How temporary hearings get scheduled
After a request for a temporary hearing is filed and the other party is served, the superior court sets the matter according to that circuit's calendar. Local rules and practice vary between circuits. This affects how quickly a temporary hearing is set, how much notice is given, and how much time each side gets to present its case. Anyone requesting a temporary hearing should check with the clerk's office in the filing county or circuit. A local family law information center, where one exists, can also explain the specific scheduling process. Some circuits set standing temporary hearing calendars on fixed days of the month to keep family cases moving.
Remote hearing availability
Like most state court systems, Georgia's superior courts expanded remote and video hearing technology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many circuits have continued to offer some remote options for certain proceedings. Whether a specific temporary hearing can be by video or phone depends on the judge and the circuit's current practice, not a single statewide guarantee. Parties who need a remote appearance should raise the request with the clerk's office or the assigned judge's office well before the hearing date. Some circuits require advance written notice before approving a party to appear by video rather than in person.
What happens at a temporary hearing
A temporary hearing is narrower than a trial. The judge decides what arrangement should apply while the case is pending, not final findings on custody, support, or property division. Georgia superior courts commonly limit the length of temporary hearings, since the purpose is to set an interim arrangement, not fully litigate every disputed issue. Evidence presented is often more limited than at a final trial, sometimes relying on affidavits alongside or instead of live testimony. Typical subjects are temporary custody and parenting time, temporary child or spousal support, use of the marital home, and interim attorney's fees. The resulting order remains in effect only until the court changes it or the case concludes with a final decree.
Sources: Georgia Courts, Family Law self-help section, Georgia Courts, Self-Represented Litigants Resources, Supreme Court of Georgia, Court Information / Rules
Not independently confirmed
- The specific rule governing temporary hearing time limits (commonly cited as Uniform Superior Court Rule 24.2) was not confirmed against a directly fetched copy of the Uniform Rules for the Superior Courts of Georgia for this page.
- The statute governing temporary alimony and support during a pending Georgia divorce (commonly cited as O.C.G.A. section 19-6-3) was not confirmed against a directly fetched copy of the statute for this page.
- Which judicial circuits currently offer remote/video temporary hearings, and under what conditions, was not confirmed circuit by circuit for this page; practice varies locally.
Court Hearings in Georgia: frequently asked questions
What is a temporary hearing in a Georgia divorce?+
It is a court hearing that decides interim issues, such as temporary custody, support, or use of the marital home, while the divorce case is still pending. This hearing is separate from the final trial or settlement. It gives the parties a working arrangement sooner than waiting for the case to conclude.
Which court handles divorce and temporary hearings in Georgia?+
Superior court, organized by judicial circuit. Georgia does not have a separate statewide family court. The same superior court judge assigned to the divorce case hears any temporary hearing, as well as the final resolution. Georgia has 49 judicial circuits statewide.
How do I get a temporary hearing scheduled in a Georgia divorce?+
After filing a request and serving the other party, the case is set according to that circuit's calendar. Scheduling practice, notice requirements, and time limits vary by circuit. Check with the clerk's office in the filing county or a local family law information center.
Can I attend a Georgia divorce hearing remotely?+
It depends on the circuit and the judge. Many Georgia superior courts expanded remote and video hearing options during the pandemic and have continued some remote practices. There is no single statewide rule guaranteeing remote hearings for family law cases. Confirm with the clerk's or judge's office handling the case.
How long does a temporary order last in Georgia?+
It applies only while the divorce case is pending, unless the court modifies it earlier. Once the court enters the final divorce decree, the temporary order is replaced by whatever the final judgment provides for custody, support, and property.
Is a temporary hearing shorter than a final divorce trial in Georgia?+
Generally, yes. Georgia superior courts commonly limit the time allowed for temporary hearings, since the goal is to set an interim arrangement, not fully resolve every disputed issue. Evidence presented can be more limited than at a final trial, sometimes including affidavits alongside or instead of live testimony.
This page is general information about court hearings 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
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