Divorce in Georgia
State-specific overview · Family Law
Georgia recognizes both no-fault and fault-based divorce grounds with no mandatory waiting period.
How Georgia treats Divorce
Georgia allows divorce on no-fault grounds (irretrievable breakdown) or on fault grounds including adultery, cruelty, desertion, and imprisonment. Either spouse can file without proving grounds if the marriage is irretrievably broken, and no waiting period is required. Georgia follows equitable distribution principles for dividing marital property, considering factors like each spouse's financial contribution and future earning capacity. The state also permits uncontested divorces to proceed more quickly if both parties agree on all issues.
The general definition of Divorce
The legal dissolution of a marriage, ending the spouses' rights and responsibilities to each other.
Divorce is the legal process by which a married couple ends their marriage. It involves a court officially terminating the marriage and typically requires decisions about property division, spousal support, child custody, and child support. The process can be contested, where the spouses disagree on terms, or uncontested, where they agree on the major issues. Once a divorce is finalized, both parties are free to remarry and are no longer legally responsible for each other.
Read the full Divorce entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Georgia.