Blawg of Attorney Christine M Bechtold

Yes, you can request a certified copy of your final divorce Order with the Clerk of Courts where the final Order was entered. For divorce and family law issues, request a certified copy from the Superior Court Clerk. Be sure that you specifically request a certified copy if that is what you need. A legal certified copy is, “a copy of a document signed and certified as a true copy by the officer to whose custody the original is intrusted.” thelawdictionary.org . Some organizations will not accept standard copies and require that your copy be certified. The Superior Court Clerk can assist you with a certified copy request. You should contact the Clerk first to be sure they have the document you will be requesting. Be prepared with your Civil Action Number, the original names of the parties, the County where the case was finalized, and the approximate date of the Order you are requesting. Certified copies are generally only obtained in person at the Clerk's office. Typical

Yes, you will likely be ordered to take a parenting seminar if you are divorcing in Georgia with a shared minor child, but the requirements vary by county. “The superior court judges, under whose authority the program shall function, may require any or all parties to attend an educational seminar of no more than four hours in any domestic relations action before the court.” Georgia Superior Court Rule 24.8(B) Georgia Superior Court Rule 24.8(B) . “The goal of this program is to assist the parents in understanding the impact of divorce on children, reduce potential conflicts, and offer practical solutions to future problems.” www.alcovycircuit.com . “The seminar focuses on the developmental needs of children, with emphasis on fostering the child's emotional health during periods of stress.” www.gwinnettcourts.com . Information on various county parenting programs are listed below: Alcovy (Newton and Walton Counties) $25.00 Divorce action must be filled with the

Divorce cases are filed as Domestic Civil Cases in Superior Court. Filing fees to the Superior Court vary by county, see list and links below for the most recent filing fees as of July, 2016. Alcovy (Walton and Newton Counties) $210.00 www.alcovycircuit.com Athens-Clark County $215.00 athensclarkecounty.com Dekalb County $214.00 www.dksuperiorclerk.com Fulton County $221.00 www.fcclk.org Gwinnett County $211.00 www.gwinnettcourts.com Rockdale County $209.00 www.rockdaleclerk.com The filing fee is paid to the Clerk’s office for the filing and processing of your case. If your case requires service of process by the Sheriff, there is a separate fee to the Sheriff’s office of $50.00 per person, per address. If your county is not listed above, call the Clerk of the Superior Court in your county for the most recent fees. This is an update to the prior 2015 post: How Much Does It Cost to File My Divorce? .