Contested Divorce in Georgia

Filing for a divorce in Georgia that is contested by the non-filing spouse is usually the beginning of a long and very frustrating experience. There are 12 fault grounds for filing a divorce in Georgia where the court can apply legal justification for filing for divorce. The attitude of the non-filing spouse, and their willingness to negotiate fairly, will then determine the aggravation level of the process.

An contested divorce is far more difficult financially and emotionally than an uncontested divorce.

Divorce Attorney in Atlanta

We certainly want the best outcome for our clients and this includes trying to keep your costs for divorce as low as possible. Our strategic approach considers how to get you through the divorce process as quickly as possible without unreasonably compromising what you should receive or agreeing to something that will be a long term burden.

When you find yourself in the miserable position of needing a divorce attorney your emotions, fears and the disruptions in your life need to settled as quickly as possible. We offer FREE CONSULTATIONS to help you understand your situation, your options and ease your fears which are so common when filing for divorce in Georgia.

After your free divorce consultation you will probably be calmer because you have taken the first step towards gaining control of your situation. There is something that is very liberating when you know that you have a good divorce attorney that will fight your battles and protect you from the bullying or intimidation by an angry spouse. We're here to help you and protect you.

To learn more about filing contested divorce in Georgia, click the button below to contact us online.

What to Expect

The first thing to expect in a divorce is a wide range of strong emotions. As your divorce attorney, part of our job is to help you to make logical decisions at a time when you may not be thinking clearly. People going through a divorce can make a lot of bad choices due to anger, misplaced trust or even a desire to "just get it over with". Call us for a FREE CONSULTATION to learn more.

Grounds for a Contested Divorce

In Georgia, there are defined grounds for filing for a contested divorce. The established grounds for filing uncontested divorce in Georgia are:

  • Marriage between close blood relatives
  • Mental incapacity at the time of marriage
  • Impotency at the time of marriage
  • Adultery occuring during the marriage
  • Habitual intoxication
  • Willful and continued desertion
  • Incurable mental illness
  • Cruel treatment including willful infliction of pain which reasonably justifies concerns of danger to life, limb or health.
  • Criminal conviction requiring incarceration of two years or longer.
  • Pregnancy of the wife by a man other than the husband, at the time of the marriage, unknown to the husband.

A Warning to You

From the moment your fights started including the word "divorce" your actions and words may be recorded or otherwise documented. You need to restrain yourself from displays of anger, inappropriate behaviors and certainly any acts of aggression or violence. This is a time when you need to be on your absolute best behavior. One seemingly simple mistake can cost you a lot.

Temporary Orders

Temporary Orders are almost a certainty when you file for divorce. There is a need to clarify where each spouse will live, how much access they may have to their home or possessions, child custody and visitation and more. If your divorce is especially nasty you may need a restraining order or Temporary Protective Order to protect yourself.

Legal Separation

In Georgia, when spouses are living separately, either spouse may petition the court for child support or spousal support without having filed for divorce. The other party will be notified of such a petition, and the judge can grant a support order, which is legally enforceable, and subject to contempt charges if disobeyed.