Basic Timeline for Divorce Cases in Metro Savannah and the Surrounding Cities and Counties

Complaint for Divorce Filed
Timeframe: Day 1 of Filing for Divorce

After one spouse files for divorce, the other spouse must be officially given the divorce papers. The spouse who did not file is called the respondent, and this step is known as service. Service simply means making sure the respondent receives the official court documents that start the divorce case. It usually happens soon after the filing and can be carried out by a sheriff’s deputy, a professional process server, or, in some cases, the respondent may simply sign a paper confirming they received the documents. Once the papers are served, the 30-day clock begins for the respondent to file their Answer with the court.

Complaint is Served
Timeframe: Within a few days to a few weeks after filing for divorce
After one spouse files for divorce, the other spouse must be officially given the divorce papers. The spouse who did not file is called the respondent, and this step is known as service. Service simply means proving that the respondent has received the official court documents that start the divorce case. It usually happens soon after the filing and can be carried out by a sheriff’s deputy, a professional process server, or, in some cases, the respondent may sign a paper confirming they received the documents.

Answer to Complaint Due
Timeframe: 30 days after service
Once the divorce papers are served, the respondent has 30 days to tell the court their side of the story. This written response is called an Answer. In the Answer, the respondent can agree or disagree with what the petitioner has requested in the divorce, such as custody, child support, alimony, or division of property. If the respondent files an Answer, the case becomes contested, meaning the court will step in to help resolve disagreements. If the respondent does not file an Answer within 30 days, the case may move forward without them. This is called an uncontested divorce, and the judge can grant the petitioner’s requests, often without a hearing from the other spouse. Attorneys can help speed up the process by preparing and submitting an Answer quickly, protecting important interests such as property, assets, and children.

Temporary Hearing
Timeframe: Within the first 1–3 months
If requested, the judge may hold a temporary hearing to decide short-term issues such as custody, visitation, child support, alimony, medical and school expenses, insurance, or use of marital property. These temporary orders remain in place until the final divorce decree. However, spouses do not always have to go straight to a hearing. They can attend mediation with their attorneys to try to resolve these temporary issues first. If they reach an agreement, it can be submitted to the court for approval, making it legally binding. In Chatham County, judges often prefer the parties to attempt mediation before scheduling a temporary hearing. This process usually saves time and money, reduces conflict, and allows the spouses to craft solutions with the guidance of their attorneys.

Discovery Period
Timeframe: Typically, up to 6 months (sometimes longer in complex cases)
During discovery, there is often a lot of back and forth between the spouses. Each side may agree on some issues, disagree on others, and go through several rounds of exchanging information and considering possible deals to move the case forward. Both sides are required to share financial and personal information so the court has a full picture before any decisions are made. This usually includes financial documents such as tax returns, pay stubs, bank records, retirement accounts, and property deeds. It also includes written questions, called interrogatories, that must be answered under oath, requests for admission where one spouse asks the other to admit or deny certain facts, and depositions, which are interviews under oath with a court reporter where attorneys can question the spouses or witnesses directly. The goal of discovery is to uncover all relevant details about income, assets, debts, and custody factors. This process gives both sides the information they need to negotiate fairly and prepare for mediation or trial. Often, couples will attempt informal negotiation or attend early mediation sessions with their attorneys before the official court-ordered mediation takes place. These early efforts can serve as a buffer, reducing conflict and sometimes leading to agreements that simplify the rest of the divorce process.

Mediation
Timeframe: Usually 3–9 months after filing (often after initial discovery)
In Chatham County, mediation is often required by the court before a divorce case can proceed to trial. During mediation, a neutral third party called a mediator meets with the spouses, and often their attorneys, to help them work through disagreements and find common ground on issues like custody, visitation, support, and division of property. The mediator does not make decisions for the couple but instead guides them toward creating their own legally binding agreements. If the spouses cannot reach a settlement, the case can move forward to trial where a judge will decide the unresolved issues.

Late Case Evaluation / Judicially Hosted Settlement Conference
Timeframe: Closer to trial, often 6–12 months after filing
If mediation does not resolve the case, the court may schedule another settlement conference. At this point, the judge or another neutral professional will encourage both sides to make one final attempt to reach an agreement before trial. It is essentially the court’s way of saying this is the last chance to work things out on their own, or the court will decide for them, and the outcome may not be what they want. This stage is a crucial opportunity to settle important issues because once a trial date is set, the process becomes longer, more expensive, and far less predictable.

Final Trial
Timeframe: 6 months to several years after filing, depending on whether the case is contested
If the spouses cannot work out an agreement, the divorce will go to trial. An uncontested divorce, where both sides agree on everything, can usually be finished in about 45 to 60 days. A contested divorce, where the spouses disagree about things like custody, money, or property, can take much longer and sometimes last a year or even several years. At trial, the judge will make the final decisions on any issues that the spouses cannot not agree on. In some cases that involve property, a jury may also have a say.

Legal Grounds for Divorce in Savannah, Georgia

To file for divorce, one must submit a formal petition for divorce to the Superior Court in the county. In the petition, one must indicate the legal grounds on which the divorce is being filed. Georgia is a no-fault state. No-fault is a freedom for both parties to end their marriage on their own free will. It essentially means that either party can file for divorce at any time and not have to justify in a court of law that either party did something wrong, per the Georgia law. Even though Georgia is a no-fault divorce state, one must state one of 13 grounds for divorce, including:

• • The marriage is irretrievably broken
• • Marriage by people within illegal degrees of kinship
• • Mentally incapacitated at the time of marriage
• • Impotency at the time of marriage
• • Force, duress, menace, or fraud was committed to obtain the marriage
• • Pregnancy by someone other than the spouse at the time of marriage
• • Adultery
• • Desertion
• • Conviction of a crime of moral turpitude with a prison sentence of two or more years
• • Habitual intoxication
• • Habitual drug use
• • Cruelty
• • Untreatable mental illness

Evidence must be provided to prove any of the grounds other than that the marriage is irretrievably broken.

Summary of First Steps

To get divorced in Savannah, GA, one spouse must have lived in the area for at least six months and have legal grounds for divorce. A Complaint for Divorce is then filed in the Superior Court of Chatham County. After filing, the papers are served on the other spouse, and the court case is officially open and underway.

Legal Retainer Fee

After this $450.00 consultation, the legal retainer is also determined. A retainer is a deposit that allows the attorneys to begin representing you immediately. The amount depends on the complexity of the case and the time required. Because no two divorces are alike, each retainer is tailored to the client’s needs, ensuring the client only pays for what they need and nothing more.

The Costs Outside the Divorce Attorney’s Fee

In Chatham County, several expenses can arise in addition to an attorney’s fees during a divorce. The filing fee for the Complaint for Divorce is typically $210 to $220 or more, and serving the papers usually costs $50 to $75 or more. If a spouse cannot be located, service by publication may be required, adding another $80 to $90 or more. In contested cases, mediation is often required and can be one of the more significant costs. When children are involved, parenting classes may also be required at about $30 to $50 or more per person. Finally, additional court motions such as contempt actions or custody modifications may bring extra fees of $50 to $100 or more each. Together, these costs provide a general picture of the common expenses outside of attorney’s fees in a divorce.

Other Things to Consider When Getting Divorced in Savannah, Georgia

Separation During a Divorce

Unlike some other states, Georgia does not recognize legal separation. Instead, Georgia uses something called separate maintenance, which is similar to separation but a little different. A separate maintenance order allows spouses to live apart and addresses many of the same issues as a divorce, such as division of property, alimony, child custody, and child support. However, it does not legally end the marriage. Clients cannot remarry, and they remain legally bound to their spouse. The only way to officially end a marriage in Georgia is through divorce. A separate maintenance order simply provides a way for couples who do not want to divorce, but do want to live apart, to have legal protections in place. During this process, dating others may not be ideal, since the parties are still legally married until the court finalizes a divorce.

Your Divorce Is Public Record

As established grounds for the divorce are chosen, it is important to note that the reasons given will become a matter of public record, visible to any member of the public. Because of this, most divorce cases will cite irreconcilable differences, meaning neither side admits fault.

After Filing for Divorce

Once divorce papers are filed, it is important for clients to moderate their behavior and words. Making disparaging comments to friends or family or on social media can put a case in jeopardy. Being charged with any kind of criminal act can also hurt a case, particularly when custody is involved. At The Claiborne Firm, attorneys advise all clients on best practices during divorce proceedings.

Temporary Court Hearings and Orders

When parties dispute some elements of the divorce, the court may be asked to decide on issues like property possession, living arrangements, child custody, child support, alimony, debt payments, and other matters while the disputes are being negotiated through temporary court orders. While the divorce process is ongoing, clients are not allowed to sell or liquidate any assets or property. Court orders must be followed once decided. Failing to follow a court order could result in contempt of court charges.

The Importance of Mediation in All Divorces

The state of Georgia requires mediation before any divorce case. Both parties and their attorneys meet with a certified mediator in a neutral setting to resolve issues amicably before appearing before a court. This is such an effective tool for establishing common ground that most divorce cases in Georgia never go to trial. Through mediation, both parties can establish the boundaries of co-parenting and reach an agreement on dividing assets, which can then be codified in a separation agreement. This agreement, once mutually reached, becomes a court order. This represents a best-case scenario for everyone involved, reducing the costs associated with divorce and saving everyone the stress of litigation. It also helps preserve parental bonds as children grow older and gives both parties the power to determine their own future rather than leave it in the hands of a judge.

It is important to note that, despite contentious circumstances, approaching mediation is not giving in to the other party. It is a way for the client and the divorce attorney to work together in negotiating an exit from the marriage. The mediator works with everyone involved to resolve every issue related to the divorce and reach a middle ground where all needs are met. The decisions reached at this stage can spare everyone a drawn-out legal battle, and can even help establish whether one party will pay for the attorneys’ fees, based on the circumstances of the divorce.

The Claiborne Firm has a reputation for settling divorces through mediation, negotiating beforehand yet firmly establishing that they will continue their track record of successful outcomes at trial if necessary. It is in everyone’s best interest if a mutual agreement can be reached without leaving the outcome in the hands of a judge, and the firm will do everything possible to ensure that happens.

Dividing Property, Custody, Child Support & Alimony

In a Georgia divorce, the court addresses four main issues: property division, child custody, child support, and alimony. Marital property, which includes assets and debts acquired during the marriage, is divided through equitable division, meaning the court splits it fairly rather than strictly 50/50, while separate property such as inheritances, gifts, or premarital assets usually remains with its original owner. In deciding what is fair, the court considers factors such as each spouse’s contributions, earning capacity, age, health, length of the marriage, and other relevant circumstances. Custody decisions are based on the best interests of the child, including both legal and physical custody. Child support is calculated under state guidelines, considering the income and expenses of both parents. Alimony may or may not be awarded depending on the length of the marriage, a spouse’s financial need, the other spouse’s ability to pay, and the behavior of the spouses.

Filing for Divorce in Savannah Without an Attorney

At The Claiborne Firm, most divorce cases are resolved through mediation, not lengthy trials. Mediation saves clients thousands of dollars and spares families from unnecessary back-and-forth emotional conflict. William Claiborne’s dual role as a certified mediator and trial attorney allows him to guide uncontested cases collaboratively outside of court or, when conflicts cannot be resolved, represent one party in contested divorces through the court system. This approach is a fantastic way to preserve relationships while also saving time and money.

The Claiborne Difference

In divorce cases, not all attorneys take the same approach. Some call themselves bulldogs. They grab on and refuse to let go, no matter the cost. While that may sound tough, a bulldog often relies on brute force without strategy, fighting blindly, wasting energy, and missing the bigger picture.

The silent wolf is different. The wolf is stealthy, strategic, patient, and relentless. It studies its opponent, tests defenses, and waits for the right moment to strike. Every move is calculated, every step taken with precision and grace. A strategic wolf is calm and controlled, using its skills and communication in a way that outlasts aggression.

At The Claiborne Firm, the wolf’s approach is taken. Preparation is the foundation of everything the attorneys do. This is why most cases are resolved before trial. And if a trial is necessary, the same principle applies. The attorney who knows more about the case, the evidence, and both sides of the story is the attorney most likely to win. The better storyteller, backed by proof, always carries the advantage before a judge or jury.

Like a wolf, William Claiborne never eases up. He is strategic, patient, and relentless, building strong client relationships, uncovering every fact, and positioning each case for the best possible outcome. The wolf does not win by chance. It wins through preparation, persistence, and precision. That is the way William Claiborne and his team fight for their clients.

Unlike other attorneys in Savannah, William Claiborne is not only a wolf in the courtroom as a trial attorney defending divorce cases, but he is also a skilled certified mediator who helps resolve conflicts outside of court. In mediation, he takes on the role of the bridge builder, creating a path across conflict that allows both sides to meet in the middle. Instead of tearing families apart, mediation builds solutions that preserve relationships, reduce stress and costs, and keep decisions in the hands of the people involved rather than a judge.

Being both a certified mediator and an experienced trial attorney brings a powerful dual advantage. It combines the ability to guide clients through collaborative, respectful mediations with the legal knowledge and courtroom readiness to handle complex issues and protect clients’ rights if a trial becomes necessary. This combination ensures outcomes that are compassionate, legally sound, and tailored to both short- and long-term needs.

Divorce FAQS:

• • How to Get Legally Separated in Georgia
• • Strategically preparing for a Divorce
• • Divorce
• • Divorce, Contested
• • Contested Divorce Explained
• • Divorce, Uncontested
• • Uncontested Divorce Process
• • Divorce Annulments
• • Divorce Settlement Mediation
• • Division of Assets and Property
• • Domestic Violence and Restraining Orders in a Divorce
• • Divorce Legal Terms
• • Cheating and Infidelity in a Divorce Case
• • Child Testimony in Divorce Cases
• • High Asset Divorce
• • Business Valuations in Divorces

Schedule a Divorce Case Evaluation

Divorce is one of the most difficult experiences anyone can face. It can feel frightening and uncertain, but no one has to go through it alone. Empowering and educating yourself is the first step toward taking back your power and realizing the possibilities ahead. Speaking with a skilled divorce attorney can change the way you view your situation and your future. Explore The Claiborne Firm website to better understand your options and your rights. Call (912) 351-8775 or use the form below to submit your contact information and schedule a legal consultation.