August 23, 2019
How Much Does A Divorce Cost in Georgia?
Our firm endeavors to bill our clients as conservatively as possible. We are committed, however, to taking any and all actions necessary to prevail and obtain the results that our clients hope to achieve. Divorce cases may may become quite expensive based upon a variety of reasons. Martindale-Nolo conducted a study to find out about the experiences of Georgia litigants with their divorce cases and the costs incurred.
According to the survey, the average divorce in Georgia costs $14,700, including $11,600 in attorneys’ fees. Attorneys’ fees are a significant chunk of the cost of divorce because the average hourly rate for attorneys in Georgia is $280. Your attorney’s hourly rate—plus the rate of any paralegals and other firm staff—factored with the total time spent on your divorce case will determine the amount of attorney’s fees you’ll pay. Other expenses include fees for things like court filings, the cost of copying and sharing documents, and compensation for expert witnesses and consultants (like child custody evaluators, appraisers, or financial analysts).
What Can Increase the Cost of Divorce in Georgia?
Spouses who have minor children or a high-net worth have higher divorce costs than the state average. In addition, if you file for a divorce in Georgia based on fault, such as adultery, cruelty, or abandonment/desertion, the cost of your divorce is likely to be higher than the average.
Having Minor Children
The most expensive category of divorce in Georgia is one involving children. The cost of a divorce that involves child custody and/or child support issues can be about 50% more expensive than the average. According to our survey results, divorce costs an average of $22,000 in Georgia when minor children are involved, including $18,600 in attorneys’ fees. However, costs for divorce with children are significantly lower for spouses who are able to reach a settlement before trial than those who go to divorce court to let a judge resolve their disputes.
Having a Dispute Over Alimony
Whether or not minor children are involved, divorces in Georgia that involve a dispute over alimony also cost more than the average. In alimony disputes, spouses often disagree on how much the working spouse actually makes or how much the non-working spouse should be able to earn. According to our survey results, divorce involving alimony disputes costs an average of $20,300 in Georgia, including $16,900 in attorneys’ fees.
Getting to a settlement or preparing for trial in these situations can be expensive because of the costs of hiring and reviewing the opinions of financial experts and vocational analysts. And of course, the more alimony a spouse requests, the more the other spouse will fight it, and the more expensive it becomes.
Having Property Division Issues
Divorces in Georgia where property needs to be divided cost more than the average, especially for high-net worth couples and couples who have to go to trial on their issues rather than settle them out of court.
According to our survey results, divorce with property division issues cost $20,700 in Georgia, including $16,900 in attorneys’ fees.