Superior Court of DeKalb County
Court-Level Rules, Filing Procedures & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Document Filing Requirements13 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
A person or organization seeking to record a court proceeding must apply to the judge using the Exhibit A form.
Any other persons or organizations, including representatives of the news media, desiring to record a court proceeding shall make application to the judge on the form in Exhibit A following this rule.
Document Type
Recording Request
We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.Mandatory?
• A written request signed by both parties must be taken to Calendar Clerk for a case to be referred to mediation (written request must include civil action number and signature of both parties)
Machine summary and details
Summary: A request for referral to mediation must be in writing, signed by both parties, include the civil action number, and be taken to the Calendar Clerk.
Document Type
Mediation Referral Request
We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.Mandatory?
• Checklist before filing: o Answer o Verification of Answer o Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit o Child Support Worksheet & Schedules o Certificate of Service
Machine summary and details
Summary: An answer-filing package must include the answer, verification, financial affidavit, child-support worksheets and schedules, and certificate of service.
Document Type
Answer
We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.Mandatory?
• Checklist for both parties to bring to hearing: o Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit o Child Support Worksheets & Schedules o Parenting Plan (see Family Law Information Center Resources available)
Machine summary and details
Summary: Both parties must bring their financial affidavit, child-support worksheets and schedules, and parenting plan to the temporary hearing.
Document Type
Temporary Hearing
We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.Mandatory?
• Plaintiff must request temporary hearing (Rule Nisi) in writing (Rule Nisi form see Family Law Information Center Resources available)
Machine summary and details
Summary: The plaintiff must request a temporary hearing in writing using a Rule Nisi form.
Document Type
Request For Temporary Hearing
We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.Mandatory?
• 5 days before hearing date both parties must exchange updated Domestic Relations Financial Affidavits and Child Support Worksheets & Schedules;
Machine summary and details
Summary: At least five days before the temporary hearing, both parties must exchange updated financial affidavits and child-support worksheets and schedules.
Document Type
Temporary Hearing Exchange
We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.Mandatory?
o Take the following to Calendar Clerk: proof of service of Complaint; Rule Nisi form; Certificate of Service
Machine summary and details
Summary: The plaintiff must take proof of service of the complaint, the Rule Nisi form, and a certificate of service to the Calendar Clerk.
Document Type
Rule Nisi Submission
We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.Mandatory?
• Checklist before filing: o Complaint for Divorce o Verification of Complaint o Summons o Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit o Child Support Worksheet & Schedules o Proper service form
Machine summary and details
Summary: A complaint-filing package must include the complaint, verification, summons, financial affidavit, child-support worksheets and schedules, and proper service form.
Document Type
Complaint Filing Package
We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.Mandatory?
• Plaintiff to file the following documents in Clerk’s Office: o Settlement Agreement o Combined Child Support Worksheet & Schedules o Parenting Plan o Child Support Addendum
Machine summary and details
Summary: When an agreement is reached, the plaintiff must file the settlement agreement, combined child-support worksheets and schedules, parenting plan, and child-support addendum.
Document Type
Settlement Agreement Filing Package
We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.Mandatory?
• Checklist for Defendant to bring to hearing: o Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit o Child Support Worksheet & Schedules o Parenting Plan o Child Support Addendum o Copy of filed Certificate of Attendance at Divorcing Parents Seminar
Machine summary and details
Summary: At a final hearing without settlement, the defendant must bring the financial affidavit, child-support worksheets and schedules, parenting plan, child-support addendum, and attendance certificate.
Document Type
Final Hearing Without Settlement Defendant
We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.Mandatory?
• Checklist for Plaintiff to bring to hearing: o Copies of filed Settlement Agreement, Combined Child Support Worksheet & Schedules, Parenting Plan and Child Support Addendum o Copies of Certificates of Attendance at Divorcing Parents Seminar for both parents o Income Deduction Order (see Family Law Information Center Resources available) o Final Judgment and Decree of Divorce Incorporating Settlement Agreement (see Family Law Information Center Resources available)
Machine summary and details
Summary: At a final hearing after settlement, the plaintiff must bring copies of the settlement agreement, combined child-support worksheets and schedules, parenting plan, child-support addendum, both parents’ attendance certificates, income deduction order, and proposed final judgment and decree.
Document Type
Final Hearing After Settlement
We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.Mandatory?
• 10 days before hearing date both parties must exchange updated Domestic Relations Financial Affidavits and Child Support Worksheets & Schedules;
Machine summary and details
Summary: At least ten days before a final hearing without settlement, both parties must exchange updated financial affidavits and child-support worksheets and schedules.
Document Type
Final Hearing Exchange
We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.Mandatory?
• Checklist for Plaintiff to bring to hearing: o Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit o Child Support Worksheet & Schedules o Parenting Plan o Child Support Addendum o Copy of filed Certificate of Attendance at Divorcing Parents Seminar o Income Deduction Order (see Family Law Information Center Resources available) o Final Judgment and Decree of Divorce (see Family Law Information Center Resources available) o Publisher’s Affidavit (if applicable)
Machine summary and details
Summary: At a final hearing without settlement, the plaintiff must bring the financial affidavit, child-support worksheets and schedules, parenting plan, child-support addendum, attendance certificate, income deduction order, final judgment and decree, and a publisher’s affidavit if applicable.
Document Type
Final Hearing Without Settlement Plaintiff
Filing & Service rules
Service and Proof of Service Rules
The Clerk's Office must serve the domestic-cases standing order on the plaintiff in person or by mail when the case is filed.
It shall be served on the plaintiff at the time of filing of any domestic cases by the Clerk's Office in person or by mail.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | STANDING ORDER GOVERNING STANDING ORDERS
Service of the complaint is made through the Sheriff’s Office.
• Service by Sheriff’s Office
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 1 | Step 2: Service of Complaint
The defendant must serve the plaintiff with the answer and all documents filed with it.
• Serve Plaintiff with Answer and all documents filed
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 1 | Step 4: Answer Preparation and Filing
The domestic-cases standing order must be served on the defendant with the complaint.
It shall be served on the defendant with the complaint.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | STANDING ORDER GOVERNING STANDING ORDERS
For covered adoption actions, the Clerk's Office must serve the standing order on the plaintiff in person or by mail when the action is filed.
The standing order shall be served on the plaintiff by the Clerk's Office in person or by mail at the time of filing of any adoption action.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | STANDING ORDER GOVERNING STANDING ORDERS
The defendant must be served with the completed Rule Nisi form and certificate of service.
o Serve Defendant with completed Rule Nisi form and Certificate of Service
We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.
Page 1 | Step 3: Request for Temporary Hearing
Filing Fees and Waivers
The filer must pay the service fee when filing the case and leave the service copy and payment with the clerk for forwarding to the Sheriff’s Office.
o Pay service fee at Clerk’s Office when you file the case and leave the service copy with the clerk. The clerk will forward your payment and legal documents to the Sheriff’s Office for service.
We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.
Page 1 | Step 2: Service of Complaint
The court service cost is $50, subject to change.
• Service cost $50.00
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 2 | Superior Court Clerk’s Office
A $100 publication fee applies when publication is required, and court fees are subject to change.
• Publication fee, if applicable $100.00
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 2 | Superior Court Clerk’s Office
The court filing cost is $210, subject to change, and payment options are listed on the clerk’s website.
• Filing cost $210.00 (please see Clerk’s website for payment options)
We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.
Page 2 | Superior Court Clerk’s Office