Filing for divorce is never an easy thing to do. Having your whole life planned with someone, just to find out later that it is not the way you wanted can be difficult to process. While you are coping with that pain, having to go through the legal process of divorce can feel quite demanding. That is why the state of Georgia provides clear and well-defined laws and information for residents faced with the divorce process. To understand those laws and go by them properly, you need to have a lawyer by your side.
However, that does not necessarily have to be the case if you are going for an uncontested divorce. If you and your spouse agree with each other on all the legal requirements and decisions that need to be made for the divorce to go through the court, you can do it yourself. Child custody, child support, alimony, property division are the main things that need to be agreed on along with other aspects.
The paperwork you submit also needs to be flawless since mistakes can cause your application to be denied. Read through the following paragraphs to ensure you have all the information you need to apply for divorce correctly in Georgia.
What is an online divorce?
Online divorce is a service specifically created for couples who are going for an uncontested divorce. If the couple is on the same page about every aspect of the divorce, court hearings are not necessary to bring both parties to an agreement. It opens the door for the couple to streamline the process to just the paperwork and a final hearing. Choosing a divorce service like divorceonlinegeorgia.com can help you in this scenario, especially if you are not comfortable dealing with divorce law and legal documents. For an affordable low fee, the internet divorce company will select and complete all of the divorce documents required for your case, speeding up the process and reducing much of the stress associated with divorce.
Should you opt for an online divorce?
When you are getting a divorce, the main thing you need to worry about is the legitimacy of the process. You do not want to be stuck in a situation where you have to do things all over again. Thankfully, the state of Georgia recognizes online divorce. Top online divorce sites monitor all changes and updates to court documents and regulations for each state and county to ensure that the documents you get will always be accurate. Following the platform’s simple steps, you’ll be surprised how simple and easy it can be to get completed divorce forms fast.
So if you don’t want to deal with complicated paperwork on your own and can’t afford to pay the high cost for a lawyer’s assistance, choosing one of the many divorce companies is the perfect solution for you. The best online divorce sites will also provide you with clear filing instructions and a court acceptance guarantee.
Why choose online divorce in Georgia?
The state of Georgia is highly mindful of the sensitivity of the process of divorce. That is why you can do things with maximum ease and clarity. Choosing to apply for a divorce online in Georgia is a highly recommended method as you can get several benefits from doing so. Here are three of the main benefits you get when choosing a do it yourself divorce.
- Money-saving: This is probably the biggest reason for anyone to opt for a DIY divorce. The biggest expense that you bear when going through a divorce is the fee you have to pay for your lawyer. Look at the average fees attorneys charge per case, and you will immediately be convinced that getting a divorce online is the smart move. In case you do not already know, the figure can go as high as $13,000, which is not affordable for most people. And at $250 per hour (the average hourly rate), you are going to pay a high price no matter how fast the process goes. Of course, if any part of the divorce is contested, the overall cost will skyrocket.
- Easier to understand: The best thing about online divorce services is that the system is set up to make paperwork preparation as straightforward and simple as possible. Good sites offer comprehensive guidance through the entire paperwork preparation process. Many sites also offer plenty of tips, articles, and tutorials regarding the application of divorce online. With everything already agreed upon with your spouse, you can find information for every part of the process for free and make the whole process quite inexpensive as well. Document preparation goes as fast as possible. You may not even need to go to a lawyer or leave your home, and all potential mistakes get caught easily.
- Time compatibility: Unlike when you have to meet with an attorney when you use an online divorce service, you can do things on your own time. You and your spouse are not forced to find time when both of you can be available, so you can do it as soon as possible. Once all the documents are completed, you can submit them to the court for approval.
Factors to Consider When Filing for Divorce in Georgia
While the process of divorce in most states is almost the same, there are still some minor details that can make a big difference in how you go about the divorce process. For most couples, this is a first-time thing, so make sure you are fully aware of everything before applying for a divorce.
- Residency Requirement: To be eligible to apply for divorce in the state of Georgia, at least one of the two parties need to be a resident of the state for a minimum of six months. The filing process also needs to happen in the superior court in the county where the respondent resides.
- Filing Fees: The bare minimum expense to a divorce is the filing fee, which varies slightly by county but is usually around $200. After that, the additional cost of divorce will depend on if you hire an attorney or use any other third-party assistance with your case, like online divorce companies.
- Equitable Distribution: The state of Georgia uses the “equitable distribution” doctrine for the division of assets. This means that all the assets and liabilities present in the marriage will be split between the two partners. However, that is only the base argument. Further examination is necessary to ensure everything is divided fairly. This can include income level, behavior, future expectations, relationship with children, child preferences, and many other parameters.
- Child Custody: There are two aspects to child custody in Georgia: legal and physical. Legal custody is about making important decisions on behalf of the child, such as education, religion, and healthcare. Physical custody addresses the child’s residence, i.e., with which parent he or she will live. The default arrangement for custody in the state is a 50/50 split between parents. However, several factors, including what a child over the age of 14 prefers, can affect the outcome. The spouses can come up with their own arrangements, or the court can decide for them after considering all relevant factors.
- Child Support: The divorce process also involves calculating each parent’s financial responsibility for caring for each child. This is based on several factors, including the amount required for the child’s upbringing, the income of each parent and their ability to provide, and the amount of time each parent gets in child custody. This is a mandatory payment until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school. If the latter happens to be the case, the maximum age limit for graduation is 20 years old. You can easily find calculators for this on top online divorce sites.
- Cooling Off Period: The state of Georgia mandates that there be a gap of 30 days between the day when you file your divorce papers and the day the judge passes their final judgment. It is called the “cooling off” period because it gives the couple time to reconcile if they can. However, the process can take several weeks due to the caseload of the court.
The cost of divorce in Georgia is quite reasonable if you can agree on getting an uncontested divorce. Otherwise, you may want to hire a lawyer, which could cost thousands of dollars for each party.
