Georgia Divorce Forms: The Statewide Complaint, Answer and Checklist, and County Packets
Georgia family law · Last reviewed October 9, 2026
Georgia's judicial branch publishes a statewide set of self-help divorce forms through its Access to Justice program, but the set covers only the start of the case. For the rest (acknowledgment of service, settlement agreement, final decree), you'll use your county's forms or a judicial circuit's packet. Start at the Georgia courts' divorce forms page.
The statewide forms
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| Complaint for Divorce Without Minor Children | Starts the case when there are no minor children |
| Instructions for the complaint without minor children | Step-by-step help |
| Complaint for Divorce With Minor Children | Starts the case when there are children |
| Answer and Counterclaim (without minor children) | The other spouse's response |
| Answer and Counterclaim (with minor children) | The other spouse's response, with children |
| Basic self-help divorce checklist (2024) | Lists every form you'll need |
The complaint asks you to state the residency basis, the county (venue), the date you separated, and the grounds: "irretrievably broken," cruel treatment, adultery, desertion for at least a year, or another ground listed in O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3.
The other forms you'll need
The statewide checklist lists these, which come from your county clerk, your judicial circuit, or the rules themselves:
- Verification of the complaint, signed before a notary.
- Domestic Relations Case Filing Information Form and a final disposition form.
- Affidavit of indigence (poverty affidavit), if you can't pay the fees.
- Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit, required in contested cases (Uniform Superior Court Rule 24.2).
- Child support worksheets, prepared with the Georgia Child Support Commission's online calculator.
- Parenting plan, in the standard form in Uniform Superior Court Rule 24.10.
- Summons and sheriff's service papers, or an acknowledgment of service.
- Settlement agreement, if you agree on everything.
- Parenting seminar certificate, where your county requires the seminar.
- Final Judgment and Decree of Divorce.
County and circuit packets
Many counties publish complete packets. Two examples:
- Fulton County Superior Court family law forms: acknowledgment of service (with consent and waiver versions), consent to trial in 31 days, final judgment and decree, poverty affidavit and order, the domestic relations case filing form, the notice of the county's domestic standing order, and the affidavit of election for a child 14 or older.
- The Southern Judicial Circuit's self-help packets for divorce without children (consent and uncontested) and separate maintenance.
Use your own county's forms when they exist; courts can require local versions.
Acknowledgment of service
The acknowledgment of service is the form that makes an agreed divorce quick. The other spouse signs it to accept the papers without sheriff's service. Under Uniform Superior Court Rule 24.3, it must be witnessed by an official attesting officer, such as a notary, or by a lawyer. Paired with a written consent to trial, it lets the court grant the divorce 31 days after the acknowledgment.
Filing
Filing methods, including electronic filing, vary by county; check your Clerk of Superior Court's website. On a financial affidavit, Social Security and account numbers are limited to their last four digits (Rule 24.2).
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get Georgia divorce forms?
The Georgia courts' self-help page has the statewide complaint and answer forms and a checklist. Your county clerk or superior court website has the rest, including the acknowledgment of service and final decree.
Is there a Georgia divorce settlement agreement form?
Not in the statewide set. Many counties and judicial circuits publish their own; lawyers usually draft custom agreements.
Do I need a lawyer to file for divorce in Georgia?
No. The forms are designed for self-represented people, and Georgia Legal Aid and court self-help centers can help. A lawyer is wise for significant property, alimony or custody disputes.
What forms do I need for a Georgia divorce with children?
The Complaint for Divorce With Minor Children, a parenting plan, child support worksheets, a financial affidavit if contested, the parenting seminar certificate if your county requires it, and the final decree.