Divorces differ in every state across the United States. The process, the length, and costs are all highly variable.
In other articles, we have explored how much this process costs in some of these states. This article is for those of you from The Peach State and are looking to learn more about the price of divorce?
Today, we will share with you how much does a divorce cost in GA. You’ll also learn about the different factors that can affect that cost.
How Much Does A Divorce Cost In GA (Georgia)?
The average cost of a divorce on a country-wide scale in the U.S. ranges from $10,000 to $15,000. But again, this is simply an average, and there are many cases that deviate or fluctuate from this average.
In the state of Georgia, the average cost a divorce ranges from $10,000 to $23,500. Whether there are kids involved tends to play a big role in how much the costs end up being.
Divorce Filing Fees in Georgia
Filing fees also differ on a state by state basis. The average filing fees for a divorce in Georgia is $200 for an uncontested divorce. But the average cost of filing fees in Georgia ranges from $200 to $400.
But the exact costs of your divorce will depend on many factors.
Factors That Increase Divorce Costs in GA
One of the factors that will affect the cost of your divorce is whether it is contested or uncontested.
A contested divorce, is one that involves issue(s) to settle. Basically you and your spouse do not agree on how to share custody of the kids, how to split your assets and/or alimony. The average cost of a contested divorce in Georgia is $15,000.
There are also other issues that are involved in a divorce case such as spousal support, division of property and more. And they make divorce more expensive.
The reason why a contested divorce is much more expensive is because of the amount of effort that will be put into settling issues. This will increase the amount of time and costs of having a divorce attorney.
Another aspect that affects overall costs of a divorce is the appeal. An appeal in a divorce is when a spouse does not agree with the decision of the judge. And that spouse has a fact-based or law-based argument to contest the decision.
Hiring a Divorce Lawyer in Georgia
The national average cost of hiring a divorce lawyer is $250 per hour. In Georgia, the average cost of a divorce lawyer ranges from $100 to $600 per hour, for an average of $350 per hour.
In the metro area of Atlanta, divorce lawyer rates are more expensive compared to rural counties in the state. Finding more experienced professionals in the field also means they tend to charge more for their services.
Although the state of Georgia is a no-fault divorce state, a fault-based divorce can still be filed. However, a fault-based divorce will make the divorce much more expensive.
The reason why a fault-based divorce is more expensive compared to a no-fault divorce is because of the time and effort that will be put into proving the defendant’s fault.
Overall, a divorce in Georgia tends to be higher than the national average cost of a divorce.