An uncontested divorce sounds straightforward on paper. Both spouses agree on the major terms, nobody’s fighting over the house or the children, and the whole thing should be simple. What surprises many people is that Georgia still requires a specific stack of forms, financial disclosures, and supporting records before any court will finalize even the most cooperative split. Missing a single document doesn’t just create a minor inconvenience. It can reset your timeline and push the finalization date well past the mandatory 30-day waiting period that begins after your spouse is served.
We’ve guided Atlanta families through divorce filings for more than 40 years, and the paperwork step is where we most often see otherwise smooth cases hit unnecessary delays. The forms themselves aren’t complicated once you know what to gather, but the combination of statewide requirements, county-specific supplements, and e-filing rules adds up quickly. Here’s what you actually need to prepare before you file in Georgia.
The Core Forms Every Uncontested Divorce Requires
Every Georgia divorce, contested or uncontested, starts with the same foundational set of documents. Getting these right before you walk through the courthouse door (or log into the filing portal) saves significant time.
Complaint for Divorce
This is the document that opens your case with the Superior Court. It identifies the parties, establishes that at least one spouse has met the six-month Georgia residency requirement, and states the grounds for divorce. In most uncontested cases, the ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken, which is the no-fault basis recognized under Georgia law. Some counties refer to this document as a Petition for Divorce rather than a Complaint, so don’t be thrown off by the different label.
Domestic Relations Case Filing Information Form & Summons
These two forms accompany the Complaint in every Georgia divorce filing. The filing information form captures administrative details the court uses to classify the case. The Summons notifies your spouse that an action has been filed and starts the clock on the waiting period.
Settlement Agreement
This is the document that makes an uncontested divorce uncontested. It lays out every agreed term: how marital property is divided, how debts are allocated, and whether any alimony will be paid. Both spouses must sign the Settlement Agreement in front of a notary before it can be filed alongside the Complaint. One that isn’t properly notarized will be rejected outright.
Additional Documents When Minor Children Are Involved
Divorces involving minor children require a second layer of documentation. Georgia courts don’t simply accept a verbal agreement between parents; every custody and support arrangement has to be reduced to writing and approved by a judge.
Parenting Plan
Even when both parents agree on every detail, a written Parenting Plan must be submitted and approved by the court. It covers legal custody (who makes major decisions about education, healthcare, and religious upbringing), primary physical custody, and the specific visitation schedule for the non-primary parent. Vague terms like “reasonable visitation” are typically rejected; the plan needs enough detail that neither parent has to guess what the schedule requires.
Child Support Worksheet
Georgia calculates child support using an income shares model, meaning both parents’ gross incomes factor into the calculation. The worksheet is generated through the state’s online Child Support Calculator, and the completed worksheet must be filed with the court. You can’t simply state an agreed dollar amount without showing how the number was derived.
Parenting Seminar Certificate
Parents of minor children are generally required to complete a court-approved parenting seminar before the divorce can be finalized. The certificate of completion must be filed with the court. Different counties have approved different providers, so check which programs Fulton County Superior Court or DeKalb County Superior Court accepts before you register.
Financial & Property Records to Gather Before You File
These are the documents people most often underestimate. Georgia courts want to see that the settlement you’ve agreed to reflects an accurate picture of both spouses’ financial situations.
The Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit is a sworn statement of each spouse’s income, expenses, assets, and debts. Both spouses must file one whenever the case involves children, alimony, or property division, which covers the vast majority of uncontested divorces. Completing it accurately requires actual numbers, not estimates, so pulling your documents early matters. You’ll want recent statements for bank accounts, retirement accounts, and investment accounts; vehicle titles for any cars being transferred; and deeds for any real property addressed in the Settlement Agreement. These records back up the representations you make in the affidavit and the settlement terms themselves.
Two additional documents establish your eligibility to file in Georgia at all: a certified copy of your marriage certificate and proof of Georgia residency. A current driver’s license paired with a utility bill or lease agreement typically satisfies the residency requirement, which means at least one spouse must have been a resident of the state for at least six months before the petition is filed.
Filing Rules & E-Filing in Fulton & DeKalb County
Knowing what documents to prepare is one part of the equation. Knowing how to submit them correctly is the part that often catches people off guard.
Georgia domestic relations cases, including uncontested divorce filings in Fulton and DeKalb counties, are now generally submitted through the PeachCourt e-filing system. Documents need to be formatted correctly, uploaded in the right sequence, and accompanied by the court’s filing fee. For Fulton County Superior Court, that fee is $220, though the exact amount is subject to change.
Beyond the statewide divorce packet, both Fulton County Superior Court and DeKalb County Superior Court maintain their own supplemental requirements. These can include additional affidavits or checklists that aren’t part of the standard Georgia divorce forms, and a filing that’s complete under statewide rules can still be rejected if a county-specific form is missing. Once the Complaint is filed and your spouse is properly served, Georgia law imposes a minimum 30-day waiting period before the court can finalize an uncontested divorce, which leaves almost no room to correct paperwork errors. A rejected filing doesn’t just mean resubmitting; it means the waiting period may restart and your finalization date moves further out.
Getting the Paperwork Right the First Time
Even a divorce where both spouses agree on everything can stall over one missing notary signature, an incomplete Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit, or a county supplemental form that didn’t come up during initial research. The agreement between spouses is the easy part; the filing mechanics are where cases get delayed.
Our attorneys and staff at Warner Bates McGinnis & Anthony handle the full document packet and PeachCourt filing on our clients’ behalf, which means county-specific requirements get addressed before anything is submitted, not after a rejection notice. If you’re preparing to file an uncontested divorce in the Atlanta area, we’re available to walk you through the process at (770) 766-8148.