Georgia recognizes both fault and no-fault grounds for divorce, giving the filing spouse flexibility in how they frame the case. No-fault divorce is available on the ground of irreconcilable differences under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3, but Georgia also permits fault grounds — including adultery, cruel treatment, and habitual intoxication — that can directly affect the court's award of alimony. A spouse who committed adultery is generally barred from receiving alimony in Georgia, which means the choice of grounds has real financial consequences that must be weighed carefully at the start of the case.

Georgia is an equitable distribution state, meaning marital property is divided fairly rather than equally. Courts consider each spouse's financial contributions, the length of the marriage, each party's earning capacity, and other factors when allocating assets and debts. The family home, retirement accounts, and business interests are all subject to equitable division. Separate property — assets owned before the marriage or received as gifts or inheritance — is generally excluded, but commingling those assets with marital funds can complicate that analysis significantly and may cause a court to treat previously separate property as partially marital.