How Long Does a Divorce Take in Georgia? The 30-Day Rule and Hearing Timelines
Georgia family law · Last reviewed October 9, 2026
Georgia has a short waiting period: a divorce on the no-fault ground can't be granted until at least 30 days after the other spouse is served (O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3(13)). The court rules then set the earliest hearing dates, which depend on how your spouse was brought into the case.
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Uniform Superior Court Rule 24.6 · O.C.G.A. § 9-11-12 · earliest dates, not a promise of when a judge will sign
The key dates
| Situation | Earliest final divorce | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse signs an acknowledgment of service and both consent in writing to a hearing | 31 days after service or acknowledgment | Uniform Superior Court Rule 24.6(A) |
| Spouse served by the sheriff and doesn't answer | 46 days after service | Rule 24.6(B) |
| Spouse served by publication | 61 days after the first publication | Rule 24.6(C) |
| Contested case | When every issue is settled or tried | Rule 24.7 |
A served spouse has 30 days to file an answer (O.C.G.A. § 9-11-12).
Residency comes first
Before you can file, the spouse filing must have lived in Georgia for six months, or, if that spouse lives elsewhere, the other spouse must have lived in Georgia, and in the county where you file, for six months (O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2).
What else takes time
- Parenting seminar. Many counties require divorcing parents to attend a seminar of up to four hours. Gwinnett County, for example, requires it within 31 days of service.
- Mediation. Some circuits require contested domestic cases to go to mediation; Chatham County's circuit, for example, requires it within 90 days of service.
- Financial affidavits. In a contested case, each spouse must serve a domestic relations financial affidavit at least five days before a hearing on support, alimony, property or fees (Rule 24.2).
- Contested issues. A contested case can take many months, especially with a jury trial on property or alimony.
After the decree
- Appeals. Appeals in divorce and alimony cases go to the Court of Appeals of Georgia, and most require an application for discretionary review, filed within 30 days after the judgment is entered.
- Remarriage. Georgia has no statutory waiting period to remarry after a final divorce.
- Name. The decree can restore a former name, and since May 1, 2024 a former spouse can ask for that later by motion without publishing notice.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a divorce take in Georgia?
An uncontested divorce can be granted as soon as 31 days after your spouse acknowledges service, if both of you consent in writing. An unanswered case takes at least 46 days after service. Contested divorces take longer.
Is there a waiting period for divorce in Georgia?
Yes, a short one: a divorce on the "irretrievably broken" ground can't be granted until at least 30 days after service.
How long do you have to live in Georgia to get divorced?
Six months. The spouse filing must have been a Georgia resident for six months before filing, or, if that spouse lives elsewhere, the other spouse must have lived in Georgia, and in the county where the case is filed, for six months.
How soon can I remarry after a divorce in Georgia?
There's no statutory waiting period once the final decree is entered.