Alimony, also known as spousal support, and is an amount of money that is paid to a spouse after a divorce. The amount is court-ordered and is intended to help the spouse maintain a certain standard of living after divorce.
Courts have significant discretion when determining whether and how much alimony to award in a given case. In addition, Georgia uses a number of statutory factors to determine spousal support. If you are seeking alimony or want to minimize the amount you have to pay, it’s in your best interest to
The Alimony Process
When a marriage ends, you and your lawyer will present financial information to the court. The court will determine who is awarded alimony and the amount of alimony awarded. A number of statutory factors are used to determine who is getting alimony and how much.
The court will then set an order for that in your final court order and divorce decree. Once that has been stipulated, the payor must pay alimony according to those terms. If a spouse does not pay alimony, there are potential consequences, including
- Contempt of court citations
- Loss of driver’s license
- Wage garnishments
- Jail time
Statutory Factors in Alimony Rulings
The statutory factors that Georgia courts consider when determining how much alimony to award include:
- Standard of living
- Length of marriage
- Age, earning potentials, and health
- Debts and financial outlook of payor
- Contributions to the marriage
Contact a Family Law Attorney at Moffitt Law Today
When you are seeking spousal support, you will get the amount you deserve when you are represented by a family law attorney. Contact the family law team at Moffitt Law today to book a free consultation. We will fight to get you the amount of spousal support that you deserve.
[RELATED ARTICLE]: How Long Does Alimony Last? A Legal Perspective
FAQ
Will I lose alimony if I waved it in a prenuptial agreement?
It is possible that you will have a request for spousal support denied if you have waived it in a prenuptial agreement or are at fault for the marriage ending. Whether or not it is waived in your case will depend on the circumstances and the judge in your case.
Do I have to go to court to get an alimony award?
You don’t always have to go to court to get an alimony award. You may be able to work it out with your spouse prior to finalizing your divorce. You can attend alimony mediation or work it out with your lawyer and your spouse’s lawyer without waiting for a judge to make the final decision.
Do I need a lawyer?
It’s highly advisable for anyone involved in an alimony dispute to retain an experienced attorney.