Quick answer: Georgia requires that a spouse has been a bona fide resident for six months before the petition is filed. On the ground that the marriage is irretrievably broken, the court cannot grant the divorce until not less than 30 days from the date the respondent is served. Georgia has no separation period.
This Georgia divorce timeline calculator applies O.C.G.A. 19-5-2 and the 30 days in 19-5-3(13). Enter the date residence began, your planned filing date and the service date: it shows the earliest legal dates, nothing more. A real case takes longer, because the money and parenting issues have to be settled or tried.
Georgia divorce timeline rules at a glance
| Rule | What Georgia says |
|---|---|
| Residence | No divorce unless a party has been a bona fide resident of the state for 6 months before the filing of the petition (O.C.G.A. 19-5-2) |
| Military post | A person living on a U.S. army post or military reservation in the state for 1 year may file in an adjacent county (19-5-2) |
| Nonresident filing | A nonresident may file in the county where the respondent has lived for 6 months, if the respondent lived in the state that long (19-5-2) |
| Waiting period | On the irretrievable breakdown ground, not less than 30 days from the date of service on the respondent (19-5-3(13)) |
| Ground | The marriage is irretrievably broken, or one of 12 other listed grounds (19-5-3) |
| Separation period | None |
How does the Georgia divorce timeline work?
- Residence and where to file. See Georgia divorce residency and where to file.
- Agreement or dispute. See uncontested versus contested divorce in Georgia.
- Grounds. See the grounds for divorce in Georgia.
What does this divorce timeline calculator check?
The calculator adds six months to the date residence began and tells you whether your planned filing date is early; if it is, it uses the first valid filing date. It then counts 30 days from the service date, which is the filing date if you leave it blank, and shows the day after the 30th day as the earliest date the court may grant the divorce. It cannot say how long the court will take, and it applies only to the irretrievable breakdown ground. Support and custody questions that arise during the case are covered by the Georgia alimony calculator and the Georgia parenting time calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long must I live in Georgia before filing for divorce?
A party must have been a bona fide resident of Georgia for six months before the petition is filed.
Is there a waiting period for divorce in Georgia?
On the irretrievable breakdown ground, the court cannot grant the divorce until not less than 30 days from the date the respondent is served.
Does Georgia require a separation before divorce?
No. The ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken, with no separation period.
Can a nonresident file for divorce in Georgia?
Yes, in the county where the respondent has lived for six months, if the respondent has lived in Georgia that long.
Does the calculator tell me how long my Georgia divorce will take?
No. It shows only the legal minimums; the real timeline depends on the court and on whether the spouses agree.