About the Program

The Divorcing Parents Program was established in the Western Judicial Circuit in 1992, with the Northern and Alcovy circuits adding this requirement within five years. The goal of the program is to assist the parents in understanding the impact of divorce on their children, reduce potential conflicts, and offer practical solutions to future problems.

All parties filing for divorce with children under the age of 18 are required to attend this program before the final divorce decree is entered. The program is two hours in length, including a 30-minute video depicting scenarios affecting children, such as having the children carry messages between the parents and quizzing the children about the activities of the other parent. The remaining 1.5 hours is full of information presented by Athens Family Counseling Services with written materials for future reference. The cost is $25 per parent.

This program provides parents with the tools and information needed for this new phase of their family life and makes the transition smoother and happier for everyone, especially the children.

Program Locations

• Parents with divorces filed in Athens-Clarke, Madison, Oconee, and Oglethorpe counties will attend the program in Athens, Georgia
• Parents with divorces filed in Elbert, Franklin, and Hart counties will attend the program in Elberton, Georgia.
• Parents with divorces filed in Newton and Walton counties will attend the program in Social Circle, Georgia.

Parents in all nine counties will be automatically scheduled for this program and a notice will be mailed to each parent through regular United States mail.