Jonesboro carries a lot of history as the Clayton County seat and the real-life inspiration for “Tara”, but the families who walk into the courthouse here are living very present-day struggles, and divorce is one of the hardest. We serve Jonesboro families from our office in Lawrenceville with honest, steady counsel from filing to final decree.
Your case deserves real attention, not a cookie-cutter approach. We explain how Georgia law applies to you, push for fair terms, and keep your children at the heart of the process.
Daniels & Taylor serves Jonesboro families from our office in Lawrenceville.
What most people pay for a consultation to learn
Georgia is a no-fault divorce state: you do not have to prove the other spouse did anything wrong. You can divorce simply on the ground that the marriage is irretrievably broken (O.C.G.A. 19-5-3(13)). Georgia also recognizes twelve fault grounds, such as adultery and desertion, which can matter for alimony and for how property is divided (O.C.G.A. 19-5-3).
Georgia divides marital property by equitable division, which means a fair division, not an automatic fifty-fifty split, and separate property a spouse brought into the marriage or received by gift or inheritance generally stays that spouse’s own (Stokes v. Stokes, 246 Ga. 765 (1980)). At least one spouse must have lived in Georgia for six months before filing (O.C.G.A. 19-5-2).
How a Georgia divorce case works
A divorce is filed in the county where the responding spouse lives, and if that spouse has recently moved out of Georgia you may be able to file where you live (O.C.G.A. 19-5-2). Georgia sets a minimum of 30 days from the date the responding spouse is served before a no-fault divorce can be granted, so even an uncontested case is not immediate (O.C.G.A. 19-5-3(13)).
In the same case the court can divide marital property and debt, decide alimony based on one spouse’s need and the other’s ability to pay (O.C.G.A. 19-6-1, 19-6-5), and set custody, parenting time, and child support under the child support guidelines (O.C.G.A. 19-6-15). A divorce can resolve every one of these issues together, whether the case settles or goes to trial.
When a Georgia divorce involves children, the court decides custody and parenting time under the best-interest standard (O.C.G.A. 19-9-3), so a divorce in Jonesboro involving children resolves custody as part of the case.
Custody set in a Georgia divorce can later be changed through a modification if circumstances materially change (O.C.G.A. 19-9-3), so a parent in Jonesboro is not permanently bound to the original divorce custody terms.
Obligations set in a Georgia divorce decree are enforced through contempt if a party does not comply (O.C.G.A. 19-6-28), so a party in Jonesboro can return to court to enforce the decree.
Family-violence issues can intersect with a Georgia divorce, and a party may seek a protective order for safety (O.C.G.A. 19-13-4), which a court weighs alongside custody (O.C.G.A. 19-9-3), so a spouse in Jonesboro facing violence has protective options during a divorce.
Common questions about divorce in Jonesboro
Do both spouses have to agree?
No, one spouse can move a Georgia divorce forward.
How long does it take?
An uncontested case can finalize fairly quickly; a contested one takes longer.
How is child support set?
By Georgia’s income guidelines, which we’ll make sure are applied correctly.
What if my spouse won’t be honest about money?
We use discovery to uncover hidden income or assets.
Steady guidance can make all the difference. Request a free case evaluation. Call (770) 285-1673.
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