Atlanta/Sandy Springs
Divorce takes an emotional toll on everyone, no matter how tough you are. Your finances, your living situation, even your relationship with your children are suddenly threatened.
During this challenging time you need a partner you can count on who will listen to your concerns and work diligently to champion your rights and the rights of your children in family court.
Our Atlanta, Georgia, attorneys know how stressful this transition can be. The firm’s Atlanta attorneys will work with you to preserve what is important and help you move on to the next chapter of your life.
Divorce Attorneys Dedicated to Helping Men
Cordell & Cordell’s Sandy Springs attorneys exclusively practice family law with a focus on men’s divorce. Cordell & Cordell’s Alpharetta divorce attorneys and Roswell divorce lawyers are also well-versed in the intricacies of family law and how it affects men and fathers. That enables them to have a greater understanding of the family court system and the unique challenges you face as a man and father.
Our Atlanta/Sandy Springs attorneys can handle a wide range of family law issues from uncontested divorce to complex asset division. Cordell & Cordell’s Alpharetta divorce lawyers and Roswell divorce attorneys also can guide men through each stage of di vorce.
Throughout the entire divorce process it is our mission to be advisors and advocates for men before, during, and after divorce.
Practice Areas
Advocates For Dad’s Rights and Fathers’ Rights
Since it was founded in 1990 by Joseph E. Cordell and his wife, Yvonne, Cordell & Cordell has grown into one of the largest family law firms serving men in the world with more than 100 offices across the country. In May 2015, the firm opened its first office in the United Kingdom.
Frequently Asked Atlanta/Sandy Springs Divorce Questions
How long do I have to live in Atlanta to file for divorce?
In order to file for divorce in Georgia, you must be a resident of this state for at least six months preceding the filing of the action.
In Georgia, all actions for divorce must be brought in the county where the defendant resides if he or she is a resident of Georgia. If the defendant is not a resident of Georgia, the action must be brought in the county where the plaintiff resides.
Generally, the county of residence for the defendant will be the one in which he or she has resided for the six months preceding the filing of the action. Georgia law does provide, however, that a divorce case may be tried in the county of residence of the plaintiff if the defendant has moved from that same county within six months from the date of the filing of the divorce action and this county was the site of the marital domicile at the time of the separation of the parties.
Is there a mandatory waiting period in Atlanta before a divorce can be granted? How long will a divorce take?
Georgia does not have a “waiting period” for a court to grant a divorce. The general rules of civil litigation, however, regarding entry of a judgment apply to divorce and other domestic cases in Georgia.
In Georgia, all civil cases, including divorce matters, can be tried anytime after the last day upon which defensive pleadings were required to be filed. This means that a final decree of divorce may be taken at any time after 30 days from the date of service of process on the defendant.
If you are filing an uncontested divorce (all issues are agreed upon between the parties), the Georgia Uniform Superior Court Rules provide the court can grant your divorce beginning at 31 days after service on the defendant.
If your divorce is contested, the length of the divorce will depend on several factors. If few issues are contested, you could reach an agreement and be divorced within a couple of months after filing for divorce.
On the other hand, if the case is highly contested, your divorce could last anywhere from several months to a few years.
How can I serve my spouse in Atlanta? If attempts to serve do not work, can I serve by publication?
In Georgia, you must have your spouse personally served with a copy of divorce complaint. You can use the Sheriff’s Office of the county in which you filed for divorce to have your spouse served.
Typically, you would contact the civil process division of the Sherriff’s Office to request service of a divorce action.
Most counties will allow you to use a private process server. If you use a private process server, depending on the county in which you are filing for divorce, you may need to obtain an order from the court granting you such permission.
Each county varies on these requirements, and you would need to contact the clerk of the county in which you filed for divorce to determine the requirements.
If you are unable to locate your spouse, you may serve him or her by publication. State law requires that you obtain an order from the court granting you permission to perfect service by publication.
Georgia law requires that service by publication be made in the paper in which sheriff’s advertisements are printed, be published four times within the ensuing 60 days, and publications to be at least seven days apart.
Where do I file for divorce in Atlanta?
In Georgia, you cannot file for divorce in the municipal, city, or state court. The Georgia Constitution provides that the superior courts of the state shall have “exclusive jurisdiction” in divorce actions.
You must file for divorce in the Superior Court of the county in which the opposing party resides.
How much are filing fees?
The cost to file for a divorce varies by courthouse and can be as little as $200 in Greene County to as much as $218.50 in Fulton and Cobb counties.
Are there any Atlanta-Specific laws that are different from how other family law cases around the state are handled?
Every superior court in Georgia will follow the Uniform Superior Court Rules. These rules outline how much time you have to respond to certain motions or to prepare and file certain documents, as well as which documents are required for the filing of certain actions. If you are not aware of the timing of when you need to respond or prepare basic forms, you could negatively impact the outcome of your case.
As far as the laws are concerned, every county will adhere to the same state law; however, the interpretation of the laws is up to the judge that is assigned to your case.
Certain counties are known for frequently awarding maintenance while others are not. This is not because that county follows a different set of rules. The reason behind the diverse outcomes in similar situations is due to individual judges interpreting the laws in his or her unique way.
The only local county that has its own rules in addition to the Uniform Superior Court Rules is Fulton County. Fulton County handles its domestic relations cases differently.
In 1998, the Fulton County Family Division was established. Today, there are three Superior Court Judges who exclusively oversee domestic relations cases. The purpose of the Family Division is to make domestic relations cases less adversarial, under the theory that parties who reach an agreement are less likely to litigate in the future.
National Client Testimonials
“[My attorney] does very well. I always joke that I’m going to get her a magic wand because she’s so good at working magic. Seriously, she’s so attentive and understanding, and those are just a few of her qualities that I appreciate so much.”
“I couldn’t have asked for better representation during my divorce. I always knew what options I had. I never felt like I was being rushed off the phone or out of the office. I always received responses within 24-48 hours max. I appreciated having the office work with me on final payment …”
“It has been a good experience considering the bad circumstances. Jill is doing [a] real good job providing useful advice. … It has been a very good experience since my initial consultation. Opposing counsel wanted me to sign everything over to opposing party, but someone told me to first hire Cordell & Cordell. I’m glad that I chose you all and did not sign anything first!”