Atlanta Divorce Lawyers

If you are facing divorce, our Atlanta divorce lawyers can help you through it with as little conflict and cost as your situation allows. Atlanta Holistic Family Law represents spouses across metro Atlanta, in Fulton, Cobb, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cherokee, Forsyth, and Paulding counties.

We work to settle your divorce outside of court, because a negotiated agreement is easier on your family and costs less than a trial. If your spouse will not negotiate in good faith, we are ready to take your case to court.

Start with a free call. Call 770-214-4767 or schedule your free call online. We listen to what is happening, answer your questions about the Georgia divorce process, and help you decide on a next step.

Our Atlanta Divorce and Family Law Team

Our lead attorney, Jeanette Soltys, has twenty years of Georgia family law experience. She is a Certified Amicable Divorce Professional through the Amicable Divorce Network, has been selected to Super Lawyers every year since 2020, and is the author of Holistic Divorce: A Calmer, Smarter Way to End Your Marriage Without Falling Apart, Going Broke, or Messing Up Your Kids. She is also divorced herself, so she has been through this process as a client. You can meet our attorneys and read our client reviews.

Divorce Cases We Handle

Amicable Divorce

This is the path we usually recommend. Each spouse has an attorney, and the two of you negotiate an agreement without a court fight. If negotiations break down, the same attorney can represent you in court.

Divorce Mediation

A neutral mediator helps the two of you reach a settlement agreement. Whether you choose mediation or the court orders it, we prepare you for it and review any agreement before you sign.

Uncontested Divorce

When the two of you already agree on everything, we draft the settlement agreement and the filings and see the case through to a final decree.

Contested Divorce

When you cannot reach an agreement, we handle discovery, temporary hearings, and trial in the superior courts across metro Atlanta.

Child Custody and Child Support

We work out the parenting plan and child support as part of the divorce.

Divorce for Men

We represent husbands and fathers as well as wives and mothers.

Along with divorce, custody, and support cases, our family law attorneys prepare prenuptial agreements and postnuptial agreements and handle adoptions.

Courts and Counties We Serve

A Georgia divorce is generally filed in the superior court of the county where the responding spouse lives. In metro Atlanta, those courts include Fulton, Cobb, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cherokee, Forsyth, and Paulding County. Our office is at 1229 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 203, in Marietta, and the firm has been named Best Divorce Attorney in East Cobb.

The Georgia Divorce Process

One spouse must have lived in Georgia for at least six months before filing. Georgia allows a no-fault divorce on the ground that the marriage is irretrievably broken, so neither spouse has to prove fault.

Once we file, your spouse is served and has time to respond. If the two of you agree on every issue, the judge can grant the divorce as soon as 31 days after service. If you do not agree, we gather the financial disclosures and negotiate, often with a mediator. While the case is pending, we can ask the judge for temporary orders on support, custody, and who stays in the home.

The final decree settles the issues that apply to your family:

• Property division. Under Georgia law, marital property and debt are divided equitably, which means fairly, and not always equally. We identify what is marital and what is separate, including the house, retirement accounts, and family businesses, and we handle complex high-asset divorces.
• Alimony. Georgia judges can award spousal support based on factors that include the length of the marriage, each spouse’s income and earning capacity, and the standard of living during the marriage. We use your financial records to show whether alimony should be paid, how much, and for how long.
• Child custody and parenting time. Custody is decided on the best interests of the child. Our 21-point checklist covers each factor.
• Child support. Support is calculated from both parents’ incomes using the Georgia child support guidelines. We check the incomes and expenses that go into the calculation and challenge inaccurate figures.

Book a free call, and we will walk you through how these issues apply to your family.

Resolving Your Divorce Outside of Court

A divorce trial puts testimony about your finances and private life on the public record, can take a year or more, and costs far more than a negotiated settlement. We work to resolve your case through negotiation or mediation first, and we compare these options in our guide to divorce options beyond the courtroom.

Our holistic approach means we look at how a settlement will affect your finances and your daily life after the divorce, because its terms stay with you for years. However, we are always prepared to litigate when necessary. When a spouse hides assets or anyone’s safety is at risk, going to court may protect you better than a settlement would.

Divorce Questions

How long does a divorce take in Georgia? An uncontested divorce can be final a month or two after your spouse is served. Contested divorces take longer, usually a year or more, depending on how many issues are in dispute and the court’s calendar.

How much does a divorce cost in Atlanta? It depends mostly on how much of it is contested. A divorce settled through negotiation or mediation costs a fraction of a trial. On your free call, we walk you through how our fees work.

Do I need my own lawyer if we agree on everything? One attorney cannot represent both spouses. Even in an uncontested divorce, each of you should have your own lawyer review the settlement agreement before you sign it.

Is Georgia a 50/50 state when dividing property? No. Georgia is an equitable division state, so a split does not have to be equal. You and your spouse can agree on how to divide your property. If you cannot, the court divides it based on factors such as each spouse’s contributions and financial situation. Property one spouse owned before the marriage, or received by gift from someone other than the spouse or by inheritance, is usually separate. Separate assets commingled with marital assets can lose that protection, so we trace it early.

Which county do I file my divorce in? Usually the county where your spouse lives. If your spouse has moved out of Georgia, you may be able to file in your own county. We confirm the right court before anything is filed.

How do I choose a divorce lawyer in Atlanta? Look for a family law attorney who regularly handles divorces in the metro Atlanta courts and whose approach matches the divorce you want. Ask how they handle a case that stays amicable and one that turns contested. Our post on choosing a divorce lawyer who shares your values covers what to look for.

Can my spouse and I keep our divorce out of court? Yes, if the two of you settle. A short final hearing may be the only time you appear before the judge.

Talk to an Atlanta Divorce Lawyer

Call 770-214-4767 or schedule your free call, and we will talk through your situation and the next step.