Georgia
Divorce, lawyers, and free legal help in Georgia — verified against official sources.
How divorce filing works in Georgia
Georgia's courts publish official divorce forms with instructions and a walkthrough video — separate packets for divorces with and without minor children. Start there before anything else.
Georgia Courts — Divorce Forms & Self-Help
The official starting point: downloadable divorce forms, instructions, and a form walkthrough video.
georgiacourts.gov — divorce forms →Find a divorce lawyer
State Bar of Georgia — Find a Lawyer
The Bar's public page points you to its lawyer directory plus local and voluntary bar referral services across Georgia.
gabar.org — find a lawyer →New to hiring a lawyer? Read Start Here first — it covers what to ask and what to bring.
Free or low-cost legal help
GeorgiaLegalAid.org
Free, plain-language legal information and resources — a joint project of Atlanta Legal Aid Society and Georgia Legal Services Program.
georgialegalaid.org →Report Child Abuse or Neglect
Call 1-855-422-4453 (1-855-GA CHILD) — Georgia's Centralized Intake, 24/7. Phone only; in an emergency call 911.
Call 211
Free, confidential referrals to local help. Dial 211 from any phone.
211.org →Unpaid wages in Georgia
Your boss owes you pay and won't hand it over? Here's where to file and how long you have in Georgia.
Where to go
no state agency — file with the federal Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division
Time limit to file
2 years (FLSA; 3 if willful)
What the floor is
federal $7.25 applies
Changing your name in Georgia
Whether it's marriage, divorce, or just time for a fresh start — here's the process in Georgia.
How it works
petition the superior court
Typical court fee
varies by county (~$200–$250 filing)
Newspaper notice required?
yes (once a week for 4 weeks)
Small claims court in Georgia
Suing someone without a lawyer, for smaller amounts, in a simpler court. Here's how it works in Georgia.
Maximum claim
$15,000
Filing fee
typically $50–$100 (varies by county and claim size)
Can you bring one?
yes — allowed
Clearing your criminal record in Georgia
Expungement or sealing can hide eligible arrests and convictions from background checks. Here's where Georgia stands.
Can records be cleared?
limited — record restriction only
What qualifies
non-conviction arrests; up to two misdemeanor convictions; felonies only after pardon
Waiting period
4 years after misdemeanor sentence complete; none for non-convictions
Child support in Georgia
How child support gets calculated — and when it ends — in Georgia.
How it's figured
income shares Georgia Child Support Calculator on childsupport.georgia.gov
When it ends
age 18 or high school graduation, whichever later (up to age 20 if still in high school)
Lemon law in Georgia
Bought a new car that's constantly in the shop? Georgia's lemon law may get you a refund or a replacement.
Which vehicles qualify
new vehicles purchased, leased, or registered in Georgia (cars, demonstrators, trucks under 12,000 lbs, motor home chassis)
When it's legally a lemon
3+ repair attempts for the same problem (1 for a serious safety defect) or 30+ cumulative days out of service in the first 2 years/24,000 miles
What you get
vehicle replacement or repurchase (refund)
Tenant rights in Georgia
Renting comes with rights most people never hear about until something goes wrong. Here are the key ones in Georgia.
Notice before eviction
60 days to end month-to-month; no statutory cure period for nonpayment - landlord makes a demand, then files a dispossessory action
Deposit limits & return
No statutory maximum; return within 30 days with an itemized list
When the landlord won't fix things
May repair and deduct reasonable cost after written notice and a reasonable time for the landlord to fix
DUI / DWI in Georgia
Driving under the influence carries some of the stiffest penalties in everyday law. Here's how Georgia handles it.
Blood alcohol (BAC) limit
0.08; enhanced penalties at 0.15
Typical penalties
24 hours to 12 months in jail, $300-$1,000 fine, up to 1-year license suspension
How far back DUIs count
10 years
Gun laws in Georgia
Gun laws vary a lot from state to state — what's perfectly legal in one state can be a crime in another. Here's the big picture for this state. Laws change often, so double-check anything before you act.
Carrying a concealed handgun
Permitless carry since April 12, 2022 (SB 319); shall-issue Weapons Carry License available, 21+ (18 military)
Carrying openly
Generally allowed (no license needed)
Background checks & waiting periods
Private sales: Not required No waiting period.
Extreme risk protection
No red flag law on the books here.
Reciprocity
Recognizes licenses from all other states
Filming the police: your rights in Georgia
Federal appeals courts across the country have recognized a First Amendment right to photograph and record police officers performing their official duties in public. The U.S. Supreme Court has not ruled on it directly. The right does not protect interfering with officers, trespassing, or breaking other laws while you record.
One-party consent
If you are part of a conversation, you may record it — including with police. (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-66)
No buffer-zone law
Georgia has no law setting a minimum distance for filming police. You still must not interfere with officers doing their jobs.
Audio recording needs only one party's consent; video of people in private places out of public view needs everyone's consent (§ 16-11-62(2)) — filming police in public is fine. Smith v. City of Cumming (11th Cir. 2000), a Georgia case, is the landmark federal ruling protecting filming police.
Drug & alcohol addiction help in Georgia
Addiction is a health issue, and help is out there — including court programs that can send people to treatment instead of jail. No insurance needed to call.
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential referrals to treatment — call 1-800-662-4357 (English & Spanish).
Human trafficking victims in Georgia
If you or someone you know is being forced to work or forced into sex against their will, you are a victim of a crime and help is available — immigration status does not matter.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
Call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733 — free, confidential, for victims and anyone who suspects trafficking.
Bullying in Georgia
Every state has an anti-bullying law, and every school must have a plan. If your child is being bullied, document what happens and report it in writing to the school — and know what your state’s law requires.
Homelessness help in Georgia
If you are homeless or at risk of losing your housing, help is close by. Shelters, food, health care, and long-term housing programs exist in every community.
211 homeless services
Dial 211 and press 6 for homeless services in your area.
VA homeless veterans
Homeless veterans: call the VA National Call Center at 1-877-424-3838 (877-4AID-VET), 24/7.
Deed fraud & squatters in Georgia
Thieves can forge a deed to steal your home’s title — many counties offer free recording alerts that notify you if anything is filed against your property. And if someone is living in your property without permission, your state has specific rules for removing them: you generally cannot just change the locks.
FBI: protect your property from deed fraud
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center alert on parcel-owner impersonation →