GEORGIA DIVORCE PAPERS WITH EXPLANATIONS

The documents listed below are the primary documents for a Georgia uncontested divorce. You will notice that some of the documents apply with children. If you do not have minor children, these documents are typically not required.

• Disclosure Statement: A one-page statement filed by the petitioner. The form states whether the parties have achieved a marital settlement agreement.
• Petition for Divorce: A two-page form filed by the petitioner. This form states that the marriage is irretrievably broken and asks that an agreement between the spouses be made part of any final decree. This is the form that officially asks the court for the divorce and initiates the divorce action.
• Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit: Filed by both parties. This form profiles the income and expenses as well as assets and liabilities.
• Marital Settlement Agreement: The MSA is a contract voluntarily entered into between a husband and a wife establishing the terms and conditions of their divorce and resolving such matters as property division, debts, child custody, child support, visitation, debt, alimony, insurance, tax, and settlement of any property issues when they end their marriage to each other. Signed by both parties, the MSA is approved by a judge and made part of the final judgment or decree.
• Parenting Plan: A parenting plan is required in all cases of child custody. Parents must develop a parenting plan that deals with custody and visitation. Parents who can work together can submit a joint plan, but if they do not agree, each parent submits a proposed plan to the judge, who decides on the plan to make into a court order.
• Schedule for Visitation of Minor Children: The schedule spells out the visitation routine of the children and the noncustodial parent.
• Schedule A - Child Support Percentages and Explanation: This schedule is used to tally the gross incomes of both parents, which is then used to calculate child support.
• Child Support - Official Code of Georgia, 19-6-15: This section deals with child support in final verdict or decree; guidelines for determining amount of award; continuation of duty to provide support; duration of support.
• Child Support Worksheet: The worksheet is used to calculate child support of noncustodial parents.
• Affidavit Regarding Custody: This form, signed, notarized and filed by the plaintiff, identifies the minor children of the marriage, establishes their place of residence for the past five years, stipulates whether or not the plaintiff has been a party to any litigation concerning the custody of the children, whether or not he or she has any information about "any custody proceeding concerning the children" in Georgia or elsewhere, and whether or not the Plaintiff knows of any other party who "has physical custody of the children or claims to have custody or visitation rights".
• Report of Divorce, Annulment or Dissolution of Marriage: This form records the divorce for vital statistics for the state of Georgia.
• Acknowledgement of Service and Consent to Jurisdiction: In this one-page form, the defendant consents the jurisdiction of the Court and waives further notice of hearings bypasses the need for a formal service of a Summons. This action moves the divorce action expeditiously.
• Final Judgment and Decree: This form, which is signed by he judge, ends the marriage. The MSA is incorporated into the Final Decree by reference, which outlines the final terms of the divorce.
• Domestic Relations Case Final Disposition Information Form: This one page form records the deposition and the relief granted ordered by the court.