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Georgia Petition for Divorce

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Petition for Divorce

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF COUNTY

STATE OF GEORGIA

FAMILY DIVISION

Petitioner:

Respondent:

Civil Action File No:

PETITION FOR DIVORCE

I, , representing myself, state that:

1. Subject Matter Jurisdiction: I am the Petitioner in this action, and (Check (a) or (b))

a) I have been a resident of the State of Georgia for more than six (6) months prior to filing this action.

b) I am not a resident of the State of Georgia, but my spouse has been a resident of the State of Georgia and a resident of County for at least six (6) months prior to my filing of this action.

2. Venue: My spouse’s name is . He/She is the Respondent in this action. (Check (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e))

a) The Respondent is a resident of County and is subject to the jurisdiction of this Court.

1) The Respondent has consented to the jurisdiction of this Court and has acknowledged service of process and jurisdiction of this Court.

Attached to this Complaint for Divorce is a Separation Agreement which my spouse and I desire to be incorporated into our final judgment and decree for divorce.

2) The Respondent may be served at Respondent's residence address of .

3) The Respondent may be served at Respondent's work address of .

The Respondent works in County and shall be served by second original.

4) The Respondent's whereabouts are unknown to me as shown by my Affidavit of Due Diligence attached hereto and incorporated by reference, marked Exhibit “A”. The Respondent shall be served by publication as is provided by law. The clerk shall mail a copy of the Notice, Order for Service by Publication, Petition for Divorce to the last known address of Respondent which is within 15 days of filing of the Order of Service by Publication.

b) The Respondent is a resident of County, but Respondent and I lived together in County at the time we separated, Respondent has only moved from County within the past six months from the date of this filing, and I am a resident of County. The Respondent shall be served by second original at his/her home/work address of .

c) The Respondent is a resident of County, and I live in County. The Respondent has consented to the jurisdiction of this Court and has acknowledged service of process and venue of this Court.

Attached to this Complaint for Divorce is a Separation Agreement which my spouse and I desire to be incorporated into our final judgment and decree for divorce.

d) The Respondent is not a resident of the State of Georgia, but I am resident of County and (Check (1), (2), or (3))

1) The Respondent was formerly a resident of the State of Georgia and presently is a resident of the State of . Respondent may be served at Respondent's residence address of .

2) The Respondent's whereabouts are unknown to me as shown by my Affidavit of Due Diligence attached hereto and incorporated by reference, marked Exhibit “A”. The Respondent shall be served by publication as is provided by law. The clerk shall mail a copy of the Notice, Order for Service by Publication, and Petition for Divorce to the last known address of Respondent which is within 15 days of the filing of the Order for Service by Publication.

3) The Respondent has consented to the jurisdiction of this Court and has acknowledged service of process and jurisdiction of this Court.

Attached to this Complaint for Divorce is a Separation Agreement which my spouse and I desire to be incorporated into our final judgment and decree for divorce.

e) I am a resident of County and the Respondent’s whereabouts are unknown to me as shown by my Affidavit of Due Diligence attached hereto and incorporated by reference, marked Exhibit “A”. The Respondent shall be served by publication as is provided by law. The clerk shall mail a copy of the Notice, Order for Service by Publication, and Petition for Divorce to the last known address of Respondent which is within 15 days of the filing of the Order of Service by Publication.

3. Date of Marriage: (Check (a) or (b):)

a) The Respondent and I were lawfully married on

b) The Respondent and I are common law married having entered into a common law marriage before January 1, 1997 as of

4. Date of Separation: Respondent and I separated on and have remained in a bona fide state of separation since that date.

5. Children: (Check (a) or (b):)

a) There are no minor children of this marriage.

b) Respondent and I are the parents of minor children:

Name of child Sex (m/f) Date of Birth Resides with mother/father/other

6. Custody/Visitation: (If there are minor children check (a), (b) or (c):)

a) I am entitled to the temporary and permanent sole legal and physical custody of these children.

b) I am entitled to joint legal and physical custody of these children.

c) I am entitled to reasonable visitation with these children.

7. Children’s Place of Residence (If there are minor children, please complete)

The minor children of the parties currently reside at with .

During the past five years, the minor children have lived at the addresses below with the following persons:

Address Resided with

8. Other Custody Actions: (If there are minor children, check (a) or (b):)

a) I have not participated as a party, or witness, or in any capacity in any other litigation concerning the custody of the minor children in this or any other state. I do not know of any custody proceeding concerning the minor children which may be pending in a Court in this or any other state.

b) The minor children have been involved in the following custody actions.

County/State/Court Type of custody action Date Filed Status

9. Other Persons with Claims to Children: (If there are minor children, check (a) or (b):)

a) I know of no other person, not a party to this proceeding, who has physical custody of the children or claims to have custody or visitation rights with respect to the minor children.

b) The following persons who are not a party to this proceeding have custody or visitation rights with the minor children:

NameClaim

10. Child Support: (Complete if there are minor children. Check (a) or (b).)

a) I am employed by earning per month. The Respondent is an able bodied person capable of earning sufficient money to support the minor children. Respondent is employed by earning per month and I am in need of financial assistance from the Respondent for the support of the minor children.

I have have not completed the Child Support Worksheet and Schedules pursuant to the Georgia Child Support Guidelines which became effective January 1, 2007.

b) The issues of child support cannot be decided in this action because Georgia does not have personal jurisdiction over my spouse.

11. Health Insurance for Minor Children: (Complete if there are minor children. (Check (a), (b) or (c):)

a) Respondent should be ordered to maintain a policy for dental, medical, and hospitalization insurance for the minor children.

(1) Respondent should be responsible for uncovered costs.

(2) The parties should share the uncovered costs.

(3) Petitioner should be responsible for uncovered costs.

b) Respondent and I should share the costs of dental, medical, and hospitalization insurance for the minor children.

(1) Respondent should be responsible for uncovered costs.

(2) The parties should share the uncovered costs.

(3) Petitioner should be responsible for uncovered costs.

c) The issue of health insurance for the children cannot be decided in this action because Georgia does not have jurisdiction over my spouse.

12. Life Insurance for the Minor Children: (Check if there are minor children, and you want your spouse to have life insurance for the minor children. Check (a) or (b):)

a) Respondent should be ordered to maintain life insurance for the benefit of the minor children.

b) The issue of obtaining life insurance cannot be decided in this action because Georgia does not have personal jurisdiction over my spouse.

13. Alimony: I am/am not seeking alimony because .

The issue of alimony cannot be decided in this action because Georgia does not have personal jurisdiction over my spouse

14. Marital Property: (Check (a), (b), (c), or (d):)

a) Respondent and I have no marital property.

b) Respondent and I have already divided our marital property to our mutual satisfaction.

c) Respondent and I have the following marital property that I have checked, and I am seeking an equitable division of this property:

House located at

Pension/retirement account (mine- , spouse’s- )

Motor vehicles (model/year )

Furniture (list or attach list )

Bank accounts and investments (list or attach list )

Other (list or attach list )

d) The issue of the division of marital property cannot be decided in this action because Georgia does not have personal jurisdiction over my spouse.

15. Joint Debts: Check (a), (b), or (c):

a) Respondent and I have no outstanding joint debts

b) Respondent and I have the following outstanding joint debts and he/she should be solely liable for payment of these debts, jointly liable for payment of these debts, or responsible for payment of the debts that I checked.

CreditorBalance

c) The issue of the division of joint debts cannot be decided in this action because Georgia does not have personal jurisdiction over my spouse.

16. Restore Former Name: My former name is and I request that it be restored to me.

17. Grounds for Divorce. My grounds for an absolute divorce are: (Check the grounds that you can prove at trial:)

a) The marriage is irretrievably broken. My Spouse and I can no longer live together. There is no hope that the two of us will get back together.

b) Cruel treatment. My spouse committed the following acts of cruel treatment to me such that I am afraid that he/she will hurt me in the future:

c) Adultery. My spouse has had sexual intercourse outside of the marriage.

d) Desertion. On or about , my spouse, without just cause or reason, intentionally abandoned and deserted me for a period of at least one year as follows:

e) Intermarriage. My spouse and I are related as follows: .

f) Mental incapacity. I did not have the mental capacity to enter into a marriage when we married because .

g) Impotency. My spouse was impotent at the time of our marriage, and I was not aware of this.

h) Force, menace, duress, fraud in obtaining the marriage. I entered into this marriage against my will as a result of .

i) Pregnancy of the wife at the time of the marriage unknown to the husband. I did not know that my spouse was pregnant by another man when we got married.

j) Conviction of party for an offense involving moral turpitude. On or about , my spouse was sentenced to serve at least two years in the penitentiary for the following: .

k) Habitual intoxication. My spouse is repeatedly intoxicated.

l) Incurable mental illness. My spouse has been adjudged mentally ill by a court of competent jurisdiction. My spouse has been confined in an institution for the mentally ill for a period of at least two years immediately preceding this action.

m) Habitual Drug Addiction: My spouse is addicted to drugs as follows: .

FOR THESE REASONS, I request (check all that apply)

a) That a Rule Nisi be issued directing the Respondent to show cause why my prayers should not be granted;

b) Temporary and Permanent Custody of the minor children;

c) Joint custody of the minor children;

d) Visitation with the minor children;

e) Child Support;

f) Medical, Dental and Hospitalization insurance for the children;

g) Life Insurance for the benefit of the minor children;

h) Alimony;

i) An award of the marital property listed in paragraph (14c);

j) Respondent to pay the joint debts listed in paragraph (15b);

k) That all issues of child support, health insurance for the minor children, life insurance for the minor children, alimony, division of property and debts be held in abeyance until such time as this court has personal jurisdiction over my spouse;

l) A change back to my former name

m) A restraining order to restrain and enjoin the Respondent from harassing, molesting or threatening me in any way whatsoever;

n) A total divorce, a vinculo matrimonii, from Respondent;

o) Respondent be served with a copy of my Complaint for Divorce;

p) That the Separation Agreement attached to this petition be made the Order of this Court; and

q) Any other appropriate relief.

This the day of , 2 .

Respectfully submitted,

PRO SE

Petitioner’s name (print or type):

Petitioner’s address:

Petitioner’s telephone number:

Enter text✕

What the Georgia Petition for Divorce Is and What It Does

The Georgia Petition for Divorce is the initial court filing that asks a Georgia Superior Court to dissolve a marriage and resolve related matters such as property division, child custody, child support, and spousal support. Filing the petition formally starts family law proceedings in the county where either spouse resides; the document identifies the parties, states jurisdictional facts, and lists the legal grounds and specific remedies sought. The petition may be supported by financial affidavits and other exhibits required by local rules and becomes part of the court file once accepted by the clerk.

Why the Petition Matters for Your Case

Filing a clear, complete petition defines the scope of court review, preserves legal claims, and sets deadlines for service and response. Accurate initial pleadings reduce delays, lower the risk of default judgments, and help the court manage temporary relief and discovery efficiently.

Why the Petition Matters for Your Case

Who Prepares and Who Receives the Petition

Typical filers and recipients for a Georgia Petition for Divorce include the spouse who initiates the case, the respondent spouse, family law attorneys, and the county Superior Court clerk handling processing.

  • Self-represented litigants preparing pro se petitions for uncontested or simple divorces with limited assets and no custody disputes.
  • Family law attorneys drafting comprehensive petitions for contested cases, complex property divisions, or support claims.
  • Court clerks and judges who review petitions for jurisdiction, completeness, and scheduling of hearings.

Parties should confirm local court rules and filing requirements for their county, and consider legal counsel for complex financial or custody matters.

Step-by-step: Filing a Georgia Petition for Divorce

Follow these core steps to prepare and file a petition correctly and reduce avoidable delays.

  • 01
    Prepare Petition: Complete statutory forms and include jurisdictional and relief requests.
  • 02
    Attach Exhibits: Add financial affidavits, parenting plans, and property schedules as required.
  • 03
    File with Court: Submit to the county Superior Court clerk and pay filing fees.
  • 04
    Serve Spouse: Arrange proper service of process and file proof with the court.

How eFiling and eSubmission Work for Divorce Petitions

Many Georgia counties accept or require electronic filing; understand the sequence for submission, service, and clerk processing.

  • Prepare Electronic File: Create a single PDF with petition and exhibits in court-required order.
  • eFile Portal: Upload documents to the county eFile system and complete filing metadata.
  • Clerk Acceptance: Clerk reviews and accepts or rejects; corrected resubmissions may be required.
  • Proof of Service: File electronic proof that the respondent was served per state rules.

Typical digital workflow settings for online completion

Configure these settings when preparing the petition for secure online completion and submission.

Field Configuration
Document Format PDF searchable; flattened where required
Signer Authentication Email + SMS code or ID verification
Conditional Fields Show financial sections only when applicable
Retention Settings Export signed PDF and audit trail for records

Digital signing and integration considerations

Choose a platform that supports secure signatures, audit trails, and the integrations your workflow requires.

  • Authentication: Multi-factor options reduce repudiation risk
  • Integrations: Connectors for Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365
  • Document Types: Accepts PDF, DOCX; preserves metadata

Ensure the chosen provider supports ESIGN/UETA compliance and can export a complete certificate of completion for court filing or records.

Key timing expectations during a Georgia divorce case

Timelines vary by county and case complexity; the list below describes common deadlines and response periods to expect after filing.

Service of Process:

Respondent typically must be served promptly; timing affects when answers are due.

Answer Period:

Respondent commonly has 30 days to file a written answer after proper service.

Temporary Hearings:

Temporary relief hearings often scheduled within weeks to months after filing.

Discovery Deadlines:

Court may set deadlines for exchanging financial disclosures and discovery.

Final Decree Timeline:

Contested cases may take many months; uncontested matters may resolve faster.

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing a petition

  • Incomplete residency or jurisdiction statements that lead the clerk to reject or transfer the case.
  • Failing to attach required financial affidavits or property schedules, causing continuances or sanctions.
  • Using inconsistent names or dates across documents, which complicates service and verification.
  • Improper service of process or missing proof of service filings that permit default or dismissal.

Consequences of errors or omissions

Case Dismissal: Court may dismiss incomplete petitions
Default Judgment: Failure to serve can result in default against absent party
Loss of Relief: Delayed claims may be barred or limited
Perjury Exposure: False affidavits carry criminal risk
Sanctions: Court may impose fees or sanctions
Processing Delays: Errors extend case timelines

Security and compliance features to expect for digital petitions

In-transit Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3
At-rest Encryption: AES-256
Audit Trail: Comprehensive timestamped activity log
Regulatory Compliance: ESIGN, UETA support
HIPAA Support: BAA available where required
Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001

Comparison: signNow and common eSignature vendors — pricing and key features

This table summarizes starting price and common capability indicators for signNow and comparable vendors to inform platform selection for document signing and eFiling workflows.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes Varies
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Frequently asked questions about the Georgia Petition for Divorce

Answers below address common procedural, evidentiary, and digital-signing questions filers raise when preparing a Georgia Petition for Divorce.


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