Fulton County Spousal Support Lawyer
Alimony, or spousal support, is often a key issue in divorces. In situations where courts award alimony, spouses may dispute the amount of support needed. Often, such support is necessary to help one individual move on with their life after the divorce.
If you need assistance with matters related to alimony, consider contacting a Fulton County spousal support lawyer from our firm. A practiced family law attorney can sit down with you to review your finances, determine your financial situation and needs, and provide you with your legal options for obtaining spousal support payments. If you need increased payments, our family attorneys could work with you to petition for a modification. Our goal is to help ensure you receive the payments you deserve.
Spousal Support Rules
Under Official Code of Georgia Annotated §19-6-1, spousal support—also known as spousal maintenance—is the payment of money from one spouse to the other in order to support that other party while they are living separately. In Fulton County and throughout Georgia, an individual cannot receive spousal support if there is sufficient evidence that they caused the separation or divorce due to adultery or desertion. In all other cases, courts will decide support payments according to the needs of each spouse and the ability of the other spouse to pay.
Temporary vs Permanent Alimony
Spousal support may be either temporary or permanent, according to O.C.G.A. §19-6-1. Temporary alimony refers to support payments made while the divorce is pending, which may include litigation expenses under O.C.G.A. §19-6-3. Courts generally have the power to decide any amount of temporary alimony or refuse to grant it altogether.
By contrast, under O.C.G.A. §19-6-4, permanent alimony refers to support payments made after a divorce, separation, or abandonment. A court may consider any or all of the following factors when determining the amount of permanent alimony to be awarded:
- Standard of living during the marriage
- Duration of the marriage
- Age, physical health, and emotional health of both parties
- Financial condition of each party
Courts may also consider the amount and effect of contributions each spouse made during the marriage. Such contributions may include support of the other spouse’s career, homemaking, and the like.
Generally, the payment of permanent spousal support ends when the spouse receiving the payments remarries, according to O.C.G.A. §19-6-4. For additional information or advice on obtaining temporary or permanent alimony, get in touch with a Fulton County spousal support lawyer as soon as possible.
Voluntary Separation or Abandonment
Under O.C.G.A. §19-6-8, in situations where spouses separate voluntarily or where one spouse abandons the other, the two parties may agree to specific alimony or spousal support payments. Such an agreement must be made via a written contract or other similar written document.
If no written agreement exists, however, either spouse may still petition a court to order spousal support, according to O.C.G.A. §19-6-9. Generally, under O.C.G.A. §19-6-10, divorce proceedings need not be pending in order for an individual to petition for spousal support. A Fulton County lawyer in could provide further information on alimony or support payments in cases of voluntary separation.
Talk to a Fulton County Spousal Support Attorney for Help
In many divorces, courts award spousal support payments to help the lower-earning spouse retain their previous standard of living. For these individuals, support payments are often invaluable in getting back on their feet and establishing a new life.
If you need help with an alimony issue in Georgia, call a Fulton County spousal support lawyer today. Our firm’s dedicated legal team could review your situation and help you determine the amount of support you need. We could then petition a court to help you obtain these support payments.
