How do you get a divorce in Georgia?
Joint application, documents, fee and timing.
Short answer
A divorce in Georgia is registered on the spouses' joint written application at a Public Service Hall (House of Justice) for a 60 GEL fee, 5 working days after filing. One spouse can apply alone if there is a court divorce judgment, the court has declared the other spouse missing, or the other spouse has been sentenced to at least 3 years. Data from sda.gov.ge as of 10.11.2026.
Why
- A divorce takes effect only once the civil status registration authority registers it (Article 55 of the Law of Georgia on Civil Status Acts).
- The law applies if one spouse is a Georgian citizen or holds a Georgian residence permit, or if the marriage was registered by a Georgian authority (Article 55).
- Article 56 of the same law lets one spouse apply alone only in listed cases: a court divorce judgment, a spouse declared missing, or a spouse sentenced to at least 3 years.
Details
The application is filed at a territorial office of the Public Service Development Agency or at a Public Service Hall (House of Justice). For a joint application you need a written application from both spouses, identity documents of both, and the marriage certificate. If a spouse cannot attend, a representative brings a duly certified power of attorney and their own identity document. The fee for registration and the certificate is 60 GEL, and registration takes place 5 working days after filing (sda.gov.ge, as of 10.11.2026). Article 60 of the law speaks of 5 days from the application and adds that registration does not go ahead if a spouse withdraws during that time.
If the divorce comes from a court, the court sends its judgment to the registration authority within five business days after it enters into force (Article 58). At divorce a spouse may keep the surname taken at marriage or return to the premarital one (Article 59). For marriage rules for foreigners see how foreigners can get married in Georgia, and for certifying documents for another country see how to get an apostille or power of attorney.
Tip
If one spouse cannot attend, arrange a duly certified power of attorney for a representative in advance: the Agency accepts it together with the representative's identity document.
What may differ
The procedure depends on the case: when one spouse applies alone, separate deadlines apply, for example a convicted spouse has up to 1 month to reply if serving a sentence in Georgia and up to 6 months if imprisoned abroad. Fees and terms can change, so check sda.gov.ge. If neither spouse is a Georgian citizen or holds a Georgian residence permit and the marriage was not registered in Georgia, the law does not require a Georgian authority to register the divorce.
Common misconception
A divorce in Georgia always has to go through a court.
What actually happens
Spouses can file a joint written application with the Agency, and the divorce is registered after 5 working days. A court judgment is needed in the listed cases where one spouse applies alone.
People also ask
- How to get a divorce in Georgia?
- How do you register a divorce in Georgia?
Sources
This answer is for reference and does not replace legal advice. Fees and terms change, so check sda.gov.ge.
Divorce in Georgia for foreigners: procedure and documentsRelated questions
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What should a foreigner do after losing a passport in Georgia?
A foreigner who loses a passport in Georgia should contact the embassy or consulate of their own country for a replacement or an emergency travel document.
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How do you change your first name or surname in Georgia?
A first name or surname in Georgia is changed on an application at a Public Service Hall or an Agency office, for a 75 GEL fee within 60 calendar days.
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How do you get a birth certificate for a child born in Georgia?
Birth registration and the certificate are free in Georgia, and the record is made no later than the next working day after the required documents are submitted.
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How do you get an extract from the public registry about a property owner?
Anyone can request an extract about immovable property from Georgia's public registry for a fee of GEL 13 to 75, depending on the turnaround and how you apply.