Marietta Divorce Lawyers

Last updated on August 14, 2026

The decision to pursue a divorce is never easy. With so much at stake – lifestyle, finances, the relationship with your child, and your own future – you need to turn to someone you can trust.

Only an experienced Marietta divorce attorney can offer relevant, reliable, individualized advice about ending your marriage – in ways that legally dignify your relationship and minimize the damage of divorce on your children. You can turn to the Marietta law firm of Hill Macdonald, LLC.

We are thoughtful and deliberate in our counsel, aggressive with our advocacy when we need to be, and protective of the best interests of your children at all times. Arrange a divorce consultation today.

Mr. Hill,

THANK YOU so very much for your professional services.

Your guidance, honesty and professionalism far surpassed my expectations as my attorney. You and your staff were always available to answer my questions or calm my nerves.

To say the least, when I walked into your office, I was defensive and apprehensive. I had already hired two other attorneys in Marietta that did little to nothing for me.

To go through a divorce is such a gut wrenching and heart breaking experience. Emotions are high and the feeling of hopelessness is overwhelming. However, I can honestly say that you took great care of me and my family, and I appreciate your hard work so very much.

Blessings. — W.H.

Filing For Divorce In The Cobb County Superior Court

To petition for divorce in Georgia, you generally must have lived in the state for at least six months. If you live elsewhere, your spouse must have resided in the state and in the filing county for the preceding six months. The proper venue usually lies where the responding spouse lives, so your Marietta address alone does not place the matter in Cobb County.

When Cobb County is the proper venue, the clerk assigns your divorce to a Superior Court Judge. If it relates to an earlier case, the judge handling that matter usually oversees both. At the start of the proceeding, the court issues an order that limits certain property transactions and requires the parties to keep existing insurance in place.

The parties generally must complete court-connected dispute resolution before a contested matter reaches a final hearing or trial, and the process defaults to mediation unless the judge approves another method or grants an exemption.

We can assist you by preparing the petition, the required financial affidavit and any other documents that apply to your circumstances. We can also submit each item at the appropriate stage, review the judge’s procedures and represent you in court proceedings.

The Difference Between Contested And Uncontested Divorce In Marietta

A divorce is uncontested when both spouses agree on every term, including property division, support and parenting arrangements. Although this path usually takes less time and costs less, the court cannot grant a no-fault divorce until at least 30 days after service.

A divorce becomes contested when spouses disagree about property, support, parenting arrangements or other terms. They can still resolve those issues through a settlement, but the court decides any that remain at trial.

Property division often drives these disputes. If spouses cannot reach an agreement, a judge divides marital assets according to fairness rather than automatically splitting them equally. Relevant factors can include the length of the marriage, each spouse’s financial circumstances and the contributions both partners made to the household, including childcare.

Whichever path fits your situation, we build a strategy around your goals. In an uncontested case, we document the terms you have reached and complete the papers the court requires. When disputes remain, we organize evidence, assess settlement options and prepare for trial with your financial stability and parenting priorities in mind.

Comprehensive Representation In Divorce

Esteemed Marietta lawyers Vic Brown Hill and Brad E. Macdonald have 50-plus combined years experience in the family courts of Cobb County, Fulton County and Cherokee County. In or out of court, they can help you resolve conflicts and protect your interests regarding:

Good Reasons to Contest a Divorce

These days, there’s a lot of emphasis put on cooperation between divorcing spouses and couples often feel a strong push to simply come to some agreement about the division of property, issues of support and anything else that’s important and just get on with their lives with an uncontested divorce – but that’s not always the best thing to do.

Contesting your divorce doesn’t mean that you’re trying to remain married. Instead, it merely means that you want the court to step in and make some of these important decisions for you.

Why would anybody let the court take over and give up that much control? Here are some good reasons:

• Your spouse is unwilling or unable to compromise. Maybe you suspect that your spouse simply isn’t accepting the reality of the situation, so they’re constantly using delay tactics that keep moving negotiations backward. Maybe you have a suspicion (or know) that your spouse has a personality disorder that leans toward narcissism, so their expectations are simply unreasonable. Either way, you can’t get to an uncontested divorce if the other party is unwilling.
• Your spouse purposefully intimidates you. If your spouse has been physically or mentally abusive during your marriage (or even once you announced your intention to divorce), you may have difficulty negotiating from a position of strength. Abusive spouses usually know exactly how to trigger their partner’s anxiety and manipulate their reactions so that they get what they want – and that’s seldom fair.
• You think your spouse is hiding things. If your spouse’s business income suddenly dried up or you believe that they’re hiding assets, you may not have any choice but to contest your divorce. A judge has the power to take the “missing” assets and income into account when dividing what remains and ordering spousal or child support.
• You have fundamentally different approaches to parenting. When parents can’t agree on a co-parenting plan or what’s actually in their children’s best interests, a judge is almost always going to have to step in and make some of the decisions. This is particularly true if the parents are warring over things like the children’s educational needs, medical needs, living arrangements or religious instruction.

Don’t assume that an uncontested divorce is your best (or only) option. Learning more about how divorce works can help you make informed decisions in your case.

A Trial Lawyer Is Always Prepared

Uncontested divorce, mediation and other non-adversarial approaches to divorce have their advantages, but we find that aggressive preparation for trial pays dividends for our clients. This kind of efficient, proactive preparation often encourages a fair settlement and saves our clients money. We have every intention of winning when litigation becomes necessary.

Knowledgeable And Caring Divorce Advocacy In Marietta

Our doors are always open to you. We welcome the opportunity to serve you in any way we can. We want our legal leadership to be a source of comfort as you move forward with your life.

Marietta Divorce Lawyers

The decision to pursue a divorce is never easy. With so much at stake – lifestyle, finances, the relationship with your child, and your own future – you need to turn to someone you can trust.

Only an experienced Marietta divorce attorney can offer relevant, reliable, individualized advice about ending your marriage – in ways that legally dignify your relationship and minimize the damage of divorce on your children. You can turn to the Marietta law firm of Hill Macdonald, LLC.

We are thoughtful and deliberate in our counsel, aggressive with our advocacy when we need to be, and protective of the best interests of your children at all times. Arrange a divorce consultation today.

Mr. Hill,

THANK YOU so very much for your professional services.

Your guidance, honesty and professionalism far surpassed my expectations as my attorney. You and your staff were always available to answer my questions or calm my nerves.

To say the least, when I walked into your office, I was defensive and apprehensive. I had already hired two other attorneys in Marietta that did little to nothing for me.

To go through a divorce is such a gut wrenching and heart breaking experience. Emotions are high and the feeling of hopelessness is overwhelming. However, I can honestly say that you took great care of me and my family, and I appreciate your hard work so very much.

Blessings. — W.H.

Comprehensive Representation In Divorce

Esteemed Marietta lawyers Vic Brown Hill and Brad E. Macdonald have 50-plus combined years experience in the family courts of Cobb County, Fulton County and Cherokee County. In or out of court, they can help you resolve conflicts and protect your interests regarding:

• Appeals
• Asset Division
• Complex and high-asset divorce
• Legal separation
• Marital property division
• Closely held businesses
• Retirement savings
• Alimony (spousal support)
• Grounds for divorce
• Planning for divorce
• Same-sex divorce
• Uncontested divorce
• Custody and child support
• Fathers’ rights and legitimation
• Prenuptial agreements
• Post-divorce modifications
• Domestic violence protective orders
• Qualified domestic relations orders

Good Reasons to Contest a Divorce

These days, there’s a lot of emphasis put on cooperation between divorcing spouses and couples often feel a strong push to simply come to some agreement about the division of property, issues of support and anything else that’s important and just get on with their lives with an uncontested divorce – but that’s not always the best thing to do.

Contesting your divorce doesn’t mean that you’re trying to remain married. Instead, it merely means that you want the court to step in and make some of these important decisions for you.

Why would anybody let the court take over and give up that much control? Here are some good reasons:

• Your spouse is unwilling or unable to compromise. Maybe you suspect that your spouse simply isn’t accepting the reality of the situation, so they’re constantly using delay tactics that keep moving negotiations backward. Maybe you have a suspicion (or know) that your spouse has a personality disorder that leans toward narcissism, so their expectations are simply unreasonable. Either way, you can’t get to an uncontested divorce if the other party is unwilling.
• Your spouse purposefully intimidates you. If your spouse has been physically or mentally abusive during your marriage (or even once you announced your intention to divorce), you may have difficulty negotiating from a position of strength. Abusive spouses usually know exactly how to trigger their partner’s anxiety and manipulate their reactions so that they get what they want – and that’s seldom fair.
• You think your spouse is hiding things. If your spouse’s business income suddenly dried up or you believe that they’re hiding assets, you may not have any choice but to contest your divorce. A judge has the power to take the “missing” assets and income into account when dividing what remains and ordering spousal or child support.
• You have fundamentally different approaches to parenting. When parents can’t agree on a co-parenting plan or what’s actually in their children’s best interests, a judge is almost always going to have to step in and make some of the decisions. This is particularly true if the parents are warring over things like the children’s educational needs, medical needs, living arrangements or religious instruction.

Don’t assume that an uncontested divorce is your best (or only) option. Learning more about how divorce works can help you make informed decisions in your case.

A Trial Lawyer Is Always Prepared

Uncontested divorce, mediation and other nonadversarial approaches to divorce have their advantages, but we find that aggressive preparation for trial pays dividends for our clients. This kind of efficient, proactive preparation often encourages a fair settlement and saves our clients money. We have every intention of winning when litigation becomes necessary.

Knowledgeable And Caring Divorce Advocacy In Marietta

Our doors are always open to you. We welcome the opportunity to serve you in any way we can. We want our legal leadership to be a source of comfort as you move forward with your life.

Related Posts