how much is a divorce attorney in georgia

by Mr. Dallin Satterfield 8 min read

In Georgia, divorce lawyers charge starting from $200 and up to $600 per hour. The price for an attorney’s services will differ by county and depends on the professional’s experience, reputation, and success. The amount of time a lawyer will spend on a case and the efforts it will take to finalize it determine the attorney’s fee.

Full Answer

How long does a divorce take to become final in Georgia?

Jul 15, 2020 · How Much Does a Divorce Lawyer Cost in Georgia? Most attorneys charge from $100-$300 per hour depending on their experience. Many offer payment plans for legal fees and some may offer a flat fee divorce package. Attorneys who focus on specific areas, such as divorce with children with special needs or incapacitated adults, may charge more.

How much does it cost to get divorce in Georgia?

The short answer is the average cost is between $10,000 and 20,000 with Georgia divorce attorney hourly rates ranging from $200 to $600. But a more detailed answer is below. In general, Georgia divorce lawyers charge between $200 and $600 per hour. Divorce lawyers in the metro Atlanta, Georgia area may charge more than in more rural counties.

How can you get a divorce free in Georgia?

Aug 18, 2020 · TYPICAL HOURLY FEES. $250 -. $300. On average, Georgia divorce lawyers charge between $250 and $300 per hour. TYPICAL TOTAL FEES. $10,500-$12,700. $10,500-$12,700. Average total costs for Georgia divorce lawyers are $10,500 to $12,700 but typically are significantly lower in cases with no contested issues.

What to know when divorcing in Georgia?

In Georgia, divorce lawyers charge starting from $200 and up to $600 per hour. The price for an attorney’s services will differ by county and depends on the professional’s experience, reputation, and success. The amount of time a lawyer will spend on a case and the efforts it will take to finalize it determine the attorney’s fee.

How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Georgia?

The short answer is the average cost is between $10,000 and 20,000 with Georgia divorce attorney hourly rates ranging from $200 to $600. But a more detailed answer is below. In general, Georgia divorce lawyers charge between $200 and $600 per hour.

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

$200 to $400How Much Are Divorce Filing Fees in Georgia? Filing fees will vary by county in the state of Georgia, but they typically range from $200 to $400. To find your exact filing fees, you should call the clerk of court in the county where the divorce will be initiated.Jul 15, 2020

How much does a divorce cost without a lawyer 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.

Who pays for divorce in Georgia?

As a general rule, parties in a Georgia divorce are responsible for their own attorneys' fees. In many cases, however, one spouse will ask the court to order the other spouse to pay his or her attorneys' fees.Jan 15, 2016

How can I get a quick divorce in GA?

In Georgia, the quickest way to get a divorce is through an uncontested divorce, which can be finalized in as short as a month. An uncontested divorce is one in which all issues related to the divorce have been settled between the parties, including equitable division, child custody, child support, and/or alimony.

How long does divorce take in Georgia?

about 45 to 60 daysThe average timeline for most no-fault divorces in Georgia is about 45 to 60 days. There is a mandatory 30-day waiting period after the petitioner files a Complaint. For fault divorces, the timeline varies depending on the complexity of the case and can be anywhere between 6 months and a year.

Does it matter who files for divorce first in Georgia?

Our law firm's Atlanta divorce lawyers are often asked if it makes a difference whether you file first for divorce in Georgia. The short answer is yes it can matter. In general, there are slight strategic advantages to filing first.

What are the 13 grounds for divorce in the state of Georgia?

Irretrievably broken marriage (no-fault) Adultery (either party; heterosexual or homosexual; indirect evidence allowed) Cruel treatment (“willful infliction of pain, bodily or mental, upon the complaining party, such as reasonably justifies apprehension of danger to life, limb, or health”)

What are grounds for divorce in Georgia?

Divorce in Georgia is no-fault based, and the most common ground is irreconcilable differences, meaning the parties simply cannot get along and their marriage is at an end. Other grounds for divorce in GA include adultery, habitual intoxication and abandonment.

How much does a simple divorce cost?

An uncontested divorce is without a doubt the least expensive type of divorce. Our fees for a local uncontested divorce is R 800.00 if you live in the Western Cape and R 8500.00 if you live in another province, all-inclusive and for an international uncontested divorce R 18 000.00.

Who pays for divorce in adultery?

where adultery is the fact proven, the respondent will pay for 100% of the costs of the divorce (including the court fee). For unreasonable behaviour, the couple will split the costs 50/50. For separation or desertion, the petitioner will pay 100% of the costs.

What is a Uncontested divorce?

In an uncontested divorce, the husband and wife have to file a petition in the family court of the location where they last lived. After receiving the petition and recording the statement of both the spouses, the court adjourns the matter for 6 months.Oct 22, 2019

How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Georgia?

Average total costs for Georgia divorce lawyers are $10,500 to $12,700 but typically are significantly lower in cases with no contested issues. Divorce is often expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. No one can predict exactly how much your own Georgia divorce will cost, but knowing what others have spent could help you be prepared ...

What is the average hourly rate for a family lawyer in Georgia?

The average minimum across Georgia was $250 per hour, and the average maximum was $300 per hour. This range is close to the national average rates for family lawyers, and it’s significantly lower than typical hourly rates in expensive states like New York and California. In addition to the differences between states, ...

What does a judge consider when awarding alimony in Georgia?

In Georgia, judges may consider a spouse’s misconduct during the marriage when awarding alimony or dividing the couple’s property. They may also take into account any evidence of domestic violence or a parent’s substance abuse when they’re making decisions about child custody.

What is alimony in divorce?

alimony, and. the division of marital property and debts. Because it takes time for your lawyer to resolve these disputes, they can have a big impact on the total cost of your divorce. First off, the attorney will need to spend time on discovery.

Do lawyers in Georgia charge higher hourly rates?

Location within Georgia. Attorneys with offices in big cities with a higher cost of living usually charge higher hourly rates than their counterparts in smaller towns. And because so many lawyers are concentrated in those big cities, they tend to skew the statewide average upward.

Can you file for a no fault divorce in Georgia?

For a no-fault divorce, you simply claim that the marriage is “irretrievably broken,” which basically means that there’s no hope of reconciliation. For a fault divorce, you must accuse your spouse of one of the “grounds” (or reasons) for divorce listed in Georgia law, including:

What is the flat rate for divorce?

If you and your spouse have reached an agreement concerning the major issues in your divorce, a divorce attorney may offer a flat rate to memorialize your agreement properly, prepare all required documentation and finalize your divorce. In uncontested cases, you may have the option of a flat-rate. Uncontested cases allow the attorney to more accurately estimate the time for your case from the onset. However, in an uncontested divorce, the rate may be higher if your case involves children. In cases with children, there is additional paperwork that must be prepared and filed with the court.

What is retainer in divorce?

A retainer is the more common fee structure that divorce attorneys use. When an attorney is unsure how much time they will spend on a case, a retainer fee structure is easier . If you have child custody issues or complicated financial matters in dispute, you can expect a higher initial retainer. If the initial retainer is depleted before the divorce is able to be finalized, an additional retainer will be required.

How Much Does Contested Divorce Cost in Georgia?

The cost of a contested divorce in Georgia is around $15,000. Hiring a divorce lawyer in Georgia, especially in Atlanta or Columbus, can cost as much as $350 per hour.

How Much Does a Divorce Lawyer Cost in Georgia?

The average hourly rate for a divorce lawyer in Georgia is between $200 and $600. There are many factors that affect the cost of divorce lawyer apart from their experience, case complexity, and your location:

Georgia Divorce Attorney Fees

The majority of legal professionals request that clients sign retainer agreements and pay a certain sum in advance. This is a preliminary payment for the law services – not a full one, and you will have to make an additional payment once the retainer balance is low.

How much does it cost to get divorced in Metro Atlanta?

Our fee for an uncontested divorce with minor children in Metro Atlanta is $1,225.

How to get an uncontested divorce in Georgia?

To have an uncontested Georgia divorce , you and your spouse must agree on all essential issues in advance of filing the divorce proceedings. Basically, this means that you both sign a marital Settlement Agreement and all other documents necessary to file the uncontested divorce.

Do you have to sign an uncontested divorce agreement?

Instead, your spouse simply signs a document acknowledging receipt of the uncontested divorce paperwork that we prepare for you. If you and your spouse do not agree on the issues in a Settlement Agreement, you do not have an uncontested divorce.

Can you serve your spouse in Georgia?

Using our process for a Georgia uncontested divorce, your spouse will not be “served” by the Sheriff . Serving your spouse adds to the cost (at least $50) and aggravation of a divorce so we eliminate it. Instead, your spouse simply signs a document acknowledging receipt of the uncontested divorce paperwork that we prepare for you.

Is a divorce uncontested?

Of course, that assumes that you start with the plan and desire that your divorce is going to be uncontested. If you start the process as a contested case and then later settle it as an uncontested divorce, the cost will be much higher – basically the same as a contested divorce.

Does Georgia require e-filing for divorce?

Since January 1, 2019 a new Georgia law has been in effect that affected court costs somewhat. Not only are we be required to e-file all of our divorce cases but the law also changes the way that courts and e-filing companies can charge for the costs of e-fi ling.

Is divorce expensive in Georgia?

Let’s face it: A divorce can be expensive. But, it does not have to be. Using our process, you can be divorced in less time that you might imagine and at a lower cost than what you thought possible. And, you can have an experienced Georgia divorce attorney handle it all for you so that you have a quality but inexpensive Georgia divorce.

How much does a divorce attorney charge in Atlanta?

Divorce Attorneys in Atlanta charge anywhere from around $50 per hour to upwards of $700 depending on where you live and the divorce attorney’s experience, credibility, reputation, etc., though you can probably expect to pay somewhere in the ballpark of $250 per hour as a general average. You should also note that just because an attorney charges more does not mean they are better. However, there’s a fine line between over paying for a divorce attorney in Georgia and getting a cheap divorce lawyer that isn’t an expert with the Georgia divorce laws.

How much does it cost to get divorced in Georgia?

The initial filing fee to start a divorce action in Georgia can range anywhere from less than $100 to more than $500.

How long can you have spousal support?

In marriages of short duration, less than ten years, the length of spousal support is limited to one-half the length of marriage. There is minimal controversy concerning this law. In fact, the certainty of the law serves to guide expedient spousal support settlements.

What happens if you and your spouse own a business together?

If you and your spouse own a business together, you may be forced to sell the business, buy them out of their equity of the business, or provide them with cash flow from the business. It’s sometimes difficult, depending on the length of the marriage, to determine what property is marital and what property is separate.

Is a gift or inheritance considered separate property in Georgia?

Property acquired before the marriage, or by gift or inheritance, is considered separate property. The question of whether a spouse’s gift or inheritance has remained separated property is highly fact-intensive, and the Georgia divorce courts must weigh the evidence and make the determination of who gets what in the divorce. However, even property that is separate can be subject to division in lieu of alimony and in other extraordinary situations when equity so demands.

Is divorce easier in Georgia?

Divorces that are ‘by the books’ are easy divorces and can mitigate how much a divorce costs. Making your divorce more complex will only increase how much it is to get a divorce. Some of the ways that divorce in Georgia can become more complex are discussed below.

Can divorce be stressful?

Divorces most certainly can be one of the most stressful events in a person’s life. You may lose your house, your kids, your loved ones, your retirement savings, and anything else that your divorce attorneys can cook up.