Columbus, GA Family Law Attorney

Times Are Troubling and You’re Thinking about Divorce

Columbus, GA family law attorney Tyler Moffit, is conveniently located in Columbus, Ga.  He is a compassionate attorney with years of experience who has a deep commitment to help his clients through every step of this process.

We Represent Clients in the Following Areas of Family Law:

• Divorce
• Division of Property
• Alimony
• Child Custody and Visitation
• Child Support

Common Divorce Questions in Columbus, Ga.

Do I Need to Prove That My Spouse is “At Fault” to be Receive a Divorce?

Georgia is a no-fault divorce state. This means that neither you nor your spouse needs to prove that the other is ‘at fault’ to receive a divorce. You may receive a divorce in Georgia on the grounds that there is no hope that you and your spouse can save the marriage.  The marriage must be “irretrievably broken”. It is not necessary to show factors such as infidelity, cruelty or abandonment to receive a divorce. For a no-fault divorce, you need only prove that the marriage is unrepairable and broken with no hope of reconciliation.

Do my Spouse and I Need to Live Separately Before I File for Divorce?

In Georgia, there is no legal requirement that spouses need to live separately before one party can file a divorce petition. In a no-fault divorce, you will need to state in the Petition for Divorce that “the marriage of the parties is irretrievably broken”. You must wait until 31 days after your spouse is served with the Petition for Divorce to be granted the divorce (if your spouse lives in Georgia), 60 days (if your spouse lives in another U.S. state) or 90 days (if your spouse lives outside of the U.S.).

Can I File for Divorce in Georgia if My Spouse Lives in Georgia But I Don’t?

In order to file a complaint about divorce in Georgia, you or your spouse must be a resident of Georgia for six consecutive months prior to the filing.
If you are a Georgia resident and meet the requirement, your attorney will file a divorce complaint in your County’s Superior Court. If you aren’t a Georgia resident or do not fill the residency requirement, but your spouse does, your attorney can file a divorce complaint in the county where your spouse lives.

Will Any Income I Earned and Saved Before I Married Be Split with My Spouse During the Divorce?

In Georgia, marital property is split fairly between the spouses through the divorce. Marital property is any real or personal property, assets or income acquired by the spouses during the course of the marriage. Therefore, normally, any property acquired before marriage by one spouse is not considered marital property.

If My Spouse Committed Adultery. Do I Still Have to Pay Alimony?

Georgia Courts do not have to grant alimony in every case that comes before them. If it is proven that the cause of separation between the spouses is adultery, then the guilty party will be barred from a court’s order of alimony.

What is Alimony and What is the Allowance Calculation?

Alimony is the amount of money one spouse has to pay to the other spouse. If a judge or jury determines that one spouse needs to pay alimony, then a decision needs to be made on the amount.  Unlike Child Support, there is no particular method to calculate the alimony (also called ‘spousal support’) amount. Courts rely on a number of factors to determine the amount such as:

1. The standard of living established during the marriage
2. The duration of the marriage
3. The age and the physical and emotional condition of both parties
4. The financial resources of each party
5. Where applicable, the time necessary for either party to acquire sufficient education or training to enable him to find appropriate employment
6. The contribution of each party to the marriage, including, but not limited to, services rendered in homemaking, child care, education, and career-building of the other party
7. The condition of the parties, including the separate estate, earning capacity, and fixed liabilities of the parties
8. Such other relevant factors as the court deem equitable and proper
   

   Georgia Alimony Law Resources: Click here

What May Happen if My Spouse and I Cannot Decide on a Child Custody Arrangement?

One of the most difficult issues that lead to litigation is child custody and visitation. Many parents worry about how a change in their parenting time will affect the children. The outcome of child custody determines the amount of time you and your children will spend together.  Hiring an experienced Columbus Family Law attorney will help you make strategic decisions to win in court.

Schedule a Consultation in Columbus, Georgia

Contact us today at 762-200-2924 to arrange an appointment with our Family Law attorney. Moffitt Law, LLC proudly service clients in West Georgia from Columbus, LaGrange, and Carrollton.