The Alimony Factor: How Is It Decided in Georgia and What Elements Are Considered?
There are a lot of factors that go into dividing joint assets in a divorce. Many things, like child support and alimony, need to be considered as well. Although alimony isn’t always needed, especially when both parents are working and earning equal salaries, in other situations, it’s a crucial means of helping women get back on their feet after a divorce.
At Buckhead Family Law, we understand how stressful alimony negotiations can be, and we’re here to help you navigate your specific settlement. Many states have regulations and laws in place to use as guidance when determining alimony amounts, but does Georgia?
What is Alimony?
Alimony is a support payment awarded to one spouse that the other has to pay. It’s similar to child support, only it goes to support a former spouse to get them back on their feet after a Georgia divorce. The payments can be set up to be paid for a specific period of time after the divorce is settled, or only during the divorce process, ending once the final paperwork is signed.
How is Alimony Determined in Georgia?
Unlike some other states, Georgia has no pre-set formula for determining alimony amounts. Instead, a judge makes the final decision based on a number of factors, including:
How Long You Were Married – Length of the marriage is one consideration that goes into calculating how long alimony must be paid. In some cases, it may be for a time period equal to half the length of the marriage, although this varies.
Income Differences – Alimony is designed to help both spouses have a similar lifestyle after divorce, keeping things less stressful for the children. If one spouse stayed at home with the kids, then the working party will have to pay alimony to alleviate those income differences.
Who is At Fault – If the woman is found to be at fault for the divorce due to infidelity, she won’t be eligible for alimony. However, if the man, or main breadwinner is at fault, then alimony may be awarded.
Time to Recover – When one spouse, usually the woman, has stayed home for an extended period of time during the marriage, they may need some time to get back on their feet after the divorce. Things that take time, like job training, earning a degree, and getting a job, are factored into alimony amounts and lengths.
Age of the Spouses – In some cases, the age of both spouses is taken into consideration with alimony. Younger divorcing spouses are more likely to be able to get back to work quickly, requiring less alimony as they can find ways to support themselves and their children. Older divorcing couples are more likely to have one spouse paying alimony to the other, as it’s tougher to get a job at certain ages, especially after spending decades out of the workforce.
Other Issues – There are a number of other factors that can play a role in how much alimony is paid on top of the ones described above. It all depends on the specific situations of the former spouses.
Need a Top-Rated Divorce Lawyer in Georgia to Help You Receive Alimony?
Are you worried about receiving alimony after your Georgia divorce? Do you want to know more about how alimony is determined? Were you the stay-at-home spouse caring for your children, leaving you to find a job and get back on your feet after the divorce is finalized? If so, then you need a good Georgia divorce lawyer.
At Buckhead Family Law, our legal team works diligently to meet the needs of clients getting divorced in today’s tech driven world – this means taking everything online into consideration. One thing that hasn’t changed about divorce? It is still one of the most harrowing experiences someone can go through, and we understand that. That is why we always treat our clients with grace and compassion.
Need help? We are here to assist you as you begin the next chapter of your life while ensuring that all of the loose ends are tied up in the least complicated way. Schedule a consultation today by calling our legal team at 404-390-0000.
