Alimony

Augusta GA Divorce & Alimony Lawyer

There are many facets to a divorce settlement in Georgia, whether it is reached privately by mutual agreement between the parties in question or through the applicable courts. A good Georgia divorce lawyer can guide you through the the process, and indeed, there is a lot to consider. There are matters of division of property, and along with that goes the dividing of mutually incurred debt as well. If children are involved, another layer of complexity surrounds the proceedings. Things like custody, visitation rights, and child support will need to be hashed out. And beyond these issues, in many cases, the couple will have to consider the question of alimony.

Alimony in the state of Georgia is not as widely applied as it is in many states. From a legal perspective, a husband is responsible for the financial support of his wife, and the wife is mutually responsible to support her husband while they are married. Once they are divorced, this is no longer the case. However, alimony, which is a payment by one of the estranged partners to the other, is sometimes agreed upon or decreed by the courts. Alimony payments can be either permanent, or rehabilitative. These terms are rather self explanatory; a permanent alimony arrangement is just that, a permanent payment; rehabilitative alimony is temporary and intended to help the party get on sound financial footing, often times paid while the individual is getting training to re-enter the workplace.

There are a number of factors that are considered when the courts look at an alimony case. The means of each of the parties involved will be examined, and the length of the marriage will be taken into account. Time spent by one former partner caring for children and maintaining the home while allowing for the career advancement of the other will be considered. The court will also take into account the age and health of the interested parties, as well as their realistic potential earning power and previous standard of living.

Georgia divorce lawyers have a great deal of experience handling alimony cases, and they can assist you in coming up with an agreed upon plan, or advocate your interests during court proceedings. These matters are complex, and few laypeople are truly prepared to represent themselves in matters of such significant importance that have serious lifelong implications.