Quick answer: A Georgia divorce decree ends the marriage completely and settles property, debts, alimony, custody and support. Spouses who want support or custody orders without ending the marriage can file for separate maintenance instead (O.C.G.A. § 19-6-10). A no-fault divorce cannot be granted until 30 days after the other spouse is served (O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3). Scot Sikes handles divorces in Columbus and the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit.
When people say “divorce,” they almost always mean what the law calls an absolute divorce in Georgia — a court judgment that terminates the marriage completely and permanently. Understanding what that finality actually includes, and what the alternatives are, helps you choose the right path before you file. Here is the plain-English version from a Columbus divorce attorney.
What an Absolute Divorce Does
An absolute divorce — historically called divorce a vinculo matrimonii, “from the bonds of marriage” — dissolves the marriage entirely. Once the final decree is entered:
- The marriage is over as a legal matter. You are single again, free to remarry, and no longer owe each other the duties of spouses.
- Property and debts are settled. The court divides the marital estate under Georgia’s equitable distribution rules, and each spouse’s claims against the other’s property are resolved. See how courts handle the division of marital property.
- Children’s arrangements are fixed by court order. Custody, visitation, and support are established in the decree — enforceable, and modifiable later only if circumstances substantially change.
- Alimony is decided. Any spousal support is set in the decree; our alimony overview explains how Georgia courts approach it.
The finality runs deep: if a divorced couple later reconciles, the only way back to being married is a new marriage ceremony. There is no un-signing a decree.
Grounds: Fault and No-Fault Paths to the Same Finality
Georgia grants absolute divorces on 13 grounds. The overwhelming majority of cases use the no-fault ground — the marriage is irretrievably broken — because it requires no proof of misconduct. Fault grounds such as adultery, desertion, cruel treatment, habitual intoxication, and conviction of certain crimes remain available, and pleading them can sometimes influence alimony and property outcomes. Whichever ground is used, the end result is the same: a complete legal termination of the marriage. The mechanics of getting there are covered in our guide to filing for divorce in Georgia.
Not Ready for Finality? Georgia’s Alternatives
Some spouses need space without severance — for religious reasons, for insurance or benefits, or simply because they are not yet certain. Georgia does not offer a formal “limited divorce” the way some states do, but it does offer meaningful alternatives:
- Separate maintenance. A court action that lets spouses live apart with enforceable orders for support while remaining legally married. It resolves money questions without ending the marriage — but neither spouse may remarry.
- Separation agreements. Spouses can contract privately about property, support, and parenting while apart. Learn more about legal separation, divorce petitions, and fees.
For some couples this interim period functions as a trial run at life apart; some go on to divorce, others reconcile. Just remember that remaining married keeps you legally and financially tied — including, in some situations, for debts your spouse continues to incur.
Deciding with Your Eyes Open
Because an absolute divorce is permanent and its financial terms are difficult to revisit, the time to think hard is before the decree, not after. That is doubly true when children are involved — they live with the arrangements you litigate or negotiate. An experienced Columbus, GA divorce lawyer can map out both routes — absolute divorce or separate maintenance — and tell you frankly which fits your circumstances. Scot Sikes, an Army veteran who has practiced family law in Columbus since 2006, offers consultations for exactly that conversation.
Weighing Whether to End Your Marriage? Call Today
Call the Law Offices of Scot Sikes at 706-494-6900 or request a consultation. Located at 5 Bradley Park Court, Suite 101, Columbus, GA 31904 — minutes from the Muscogee County courthouse and the gates of Fort Benning.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is a Georgia divorce final?
When the judge signs the final judgment and decree of divorce and it is filed with the clerk. After that, the marriage is ended and either spouse may remarry.
How long does a divorce take in Georgia?
A divorce on the no-fault ground cannot be granted until 30 days after the other spouse is served (O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3). Uncontested cases often finish soon after that; contested cases take months.
What is the difference between divorce and separate maintenance?
Divorce ends the marriage. Separate maintenance sets support, property use and custody while the spouses remain married (O.C.G.A. § 19-6-10).
If we reconcile after the divorce, are we married again?
No. Once the divorce is final, a couple who reconciles must remarry to be legally married.
Keep Reading: Georgia Divorce Guides
- Thinking about divorce: what to do first
- Uncontested divorce
- Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit courts and rules
- At-fault divorce and fault grounds
- Divorce mediation
- Child custody in Georgia
- Military divorce at Fort Benning
More answers: Columbus, GA and Fort Benning family law FAQ.
About the author. Scot Sikes founded the Law Offices of Scot Sikes in Columbus, Georgia, in 2006. He earned his J.D. at Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law, was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 1999, and served as an Army judge advocate (trial counsel, Senior Defense Counsel and Deputy Staff Judge Advocate) before retiring from the U.S. Army Reserve as a lieutenant colonel in 2017. His practice centers on family law, military divorce and military family law in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit, and courts have qualified him as an expert witness on dividing military property in divorce. Read Scot Sikes’s full profile. Law Offices of Scot Sikes, 5 Bradley Park Court, Suite 101, Columbus, GA 31904 · 706-494-6900.
Last updated November 2026. Sources: O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3 (grounds; 30-day rule); O.C.G.A. § 19-6-10 (separate maintenance). This page is general information about Georgia law, not legal advice for your situation.