what happens in ga during a divorce process if one party has no lawyer

by Harrison Abbott 6 min read

Under Georgia law, there is a formal process to force the other party to respond – a Motion to Compel. If the Motion to Compel is granted, the Court may also order the party who refused to properly respond to pay reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses incurred by the other party in bringing the Motion to Compel.

Full Answer

Can I get a divorce without a lawyer in Georgia?

If you are involved in an uncontested divorce, you may be able to manage the case to completion without the services of a divorce lawyer, saving yourself hundreds or thousands of dollars in legal fees. Many Georgia residents have been able to complete their divorce with the assistance of the tools at 3StepDivorce.com.

How does the Georgia divorce process work?

The divorce process in Georgia at it's basic level is simple: One party files a complaint for divorce & the opposing party responds with an answer. The parties will conduct discovery and gather evidence. The parties will have temporary hearings if necessary and attempt mediation or settlement.

Who is the respondent in a divorce in Georgia?

As the filer, you are called the Petitioner and your spouse is the Respondent. You should file the Petition with the Clerk’s Office of the Superior Court of the Georgia county in which your spouse resides.

What is a pro se divorce in Georgia?

This is called pro se. If you are involved in an uncontested divorce, you may be able to manage the case to completion without the services of a divorce lawyer, saving yourself hundreds or thousands of dollars in legal fees. Many Georgia residents have been able to complete their divorce with the assistance of the tools at 3StepDivorce.com.

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Can you file an uncontested divorce without a lawyer in Georgia?

Georgia law allows you to represent yourself in all legal cases. With this, you can apply for a divorce without an attorney.

How long does an uncontested divorce take in Georgia?

There is a mandatory waiting period, even if the divorce is considered no-fault is 30 days before the court issues the Final Order and Decree of Divorce. The average duration of the process for uncontested divorces is 45 – 60 days depending on the court's availability.

Can you get a divorce without the other person signing in Georgia?

Under the no-fault grounds, irreconcilable differences between you and your spouse are sufficient for the court to grant the divorce. Therefore, even if you do not “sign” the divorce papers, your spouse can still obtain a divorce in Georgia.

What happens at an uncontested divorce hearing in Georgia?

Hearings for uncontested divorces are usually brief. Typically, the judge will ask you a few questions. With or without a hearing, the judge will usually sign your divorce decree after determining that you've met all the legal requirements. At that point, your divorce will be final.

Can I get divorced without a lawyer?

Yes, it is possible to file your own divorce and complete the process without the aid of an attorney.

Does it matter who files for divorce first in Georgia?

Generally, it does not make a difference. The party who does not file the Complaint for Divorce has the opportunity to file an Answer to the Complaint and Counterclaim for Divorce requesting the same things as the filing party (ex: child custody, child support, alimony, equitable division of property).

How much does a uncontested divorce cost in Georgia?

Georgia filing fees for an uncontested divorce are generally around $200, and for an additional fee, the sheriff or an appointee from the court can deliver your petition to your spouse.

What happens if my husband doesn't agree to divorce?

If the matter is not resolved amicably and mutual consent is not reached, firstly file a claim under S. 125 of CrPC for maintenance. After that you can file for a contested divorce on the grounds of cruelty under S. 13 (1) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.

What is considered abandonment in a marriage in Georgia?

In Georgia, abandonment is defined as the continued and willful desertion of one spouse for at least one year. A spouse is considered to have committed marital abandonment if they unilaterally decide to physically leave the marital home and reside in a different place than their partner.

Who gets the house in a divorce in Georgia?

During divorce in Georgia, separate property is typically retained its original owner. Marital property, on the other hand, is subject to division according to the principle of equitable distribution. This means that the property is divided between the spouses according to what is “equitable,” or fair.

Can you get a divorce without the other person signing the papers?

Overview: It is not necessary that both the spouses have to agree to file for a divorce. One of them may file for a divorce without the others' consent if they are sure that they have strong grounds for breakdown of the marriage.

What are Georgia Divorce Laws?

Georgia divorce laws require at least one spouse to be a resident of the state for 6 months. Divorce in Georgia is no-fault based, and the most com...

How much does it cost to file for divorce in Georgia?

There is no way to predict the total cost of a divorce. The best way to control fees is to ensure you have a solid litigation plan. A solid plan is...

Do I really need to hire an attorney?

Yes. Domestic law is complex. Never try to represent yourself. You will agree to things you might otherwise not have to agree to. If you go to cour...

Does Georgia grant divorces based on marital fault?

Georgia is not a fault-based state. Fault, such as adultery, can be used as a factor in determining alimony. Other fault issues can also figure int...

Can I get maintenance or will I have to provide maintenance to my spouse?

Alimony, as it is called in Georgia, is determined on a case-by-case basis. Typical factors used to determine if alimony will be awarded and how mu...

How long do you have to be married to get alimony in GA?

This answer will vary between cases. However, a marriage of fewer than three years is rarely awarded alimony in Georgia. Marriages of less than a d...

What is a spouse entitled to in a divorce in Georgia?

Under Georgia law, each spouse is entitled to an “equitable” share of the marital property. This does not equate to an equal division, but instead...

Is Georgia a 50/50 state when it comes to divorce? How are assets divided in a divorce in Georgia?

Georgia is an equitable distribution state, meaning instead of dividing the marital property equally, a judge will divide the property fairly based...

Can I change my name at the time of divorce in Georgia?

The wife may have her maiden name returned by having language included in the Final Judgment and Decree of Divorce indicating that her maiden name...

Divorce Laws in Georgia

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A marriage can end through an annulment or a divorce in Georgia. Separate maintenance, which is similar to legal separation, is also allowed and permits couples to decide many of the issues related to a divorce without actually going through the actual divorce itself. There are 13 grounds for divorce in Georgia. To …
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Property Issues

  • Marital Property and Division of Assets in Georgia
    Georgia is an equitable distribution state. This does not mean that property division will be equal. After taking many factors into consideration, the courts will decide on a division of assets that is fair after taking many factors into consideration. The first step in this process is determining wh…
  • Debts
    Any debts you or your spouse incur after marriage in Georgia is considered marital debt and both parties are responsible for those amounts. If you incurred debt before you were married, then that will be your sole responsibility and the court will not order your spouse to help you pay it back. W…
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Support Issues

  • Alimony in Georgia
    Alimony is granted in Georgia only in limited situations in comparison to other states. It can either be rehabilitative or permanent. Rehabilitative alimonyis granted in the short-term and is intended to help a spouse get back on their feet by giving them the ability to go back to school or seek trai…
  • Child Support in Georgia
    Child support in Georgia is established based on Georgia Child Support Guidelines that consider the income of both parents and the number of children who are involved. Other factors may also come into play such as how much time each parent spends with the children and if there are an…
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Custody and Visitation

  • Child Custody in Georgia
    Like most other states, child custody in Georgia is guided by the best interests of the child when making custody determinations. In Georgia, both parents are considered equal when it comes to custody and as such, the court may award joint custody or sole custody depending on the circu…
  • Substance Abuse
    Because Georgia is both a no-fault and fault-based divorce state, habitual drug addiction can be cited as one of the reasons for getting a divorce in the state. The spouse making the claim must be able to prove the addiction in court and that the addiction is to one of the controlled substanc…
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Process

  • Bifurcation of marital status
    Bifurcation means that both parties in a divorce can legally divide their divorce into two stages. The first part satisfies the grounds for the divorce and the second part addresses the financial aspects of the divorce such as child custody, visitation, child support, alimony or other contentio…
  • Disclosing Assets
    As part of the divorce process in Georgia, each spouse is required to complete a Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit(DRFA). After they have been completed, these affidavits must be filed with the court and served on the other spouse. The purpose of this document is to make su…
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