Augusta GA Child Support and Alimony

Child Support

Georgia has adopted a formula by which child support is calculated makes both parents responsible for the support of their children.  The shared income model considers each parent’s income as well as any extraordinary expenses incurred on behalf of their children including private school, health insurance, extracurricular activities, medical needs and child care expenses.

Alimony

Alimony is an award of support to a spouse for his or her maintenance and support.  It can be temporary or permanent with periodic payments, a lump sum, or “in kind,” meaning a non-cash exchange of property.  Each kind of alimony has specific legal issues surrounding it and different tax implications. Not every case is appropriate for an award of alimony.  Factors in an award of alimony include:

• The standard of living established during the marriage
• the duration of a marriage,
• the age and physical and emotional condition of the parties,
• the financial resources of each party,
• where applicable, the time necessary for either party to acquire sufficient education or training to enable either party to find appropriate employment
• 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
• the condition of the parties, including:
  • The separate estate,
  • Earning capacity, and
  • Fixed liabilities of the parties
• Such other relevant factors as the Court deems equitable and proper.

While child support is calculated by a specific formula, alimony is not formula based.   Negotiating alimony requires an extensive knowledge of the law as it applies to each case, and it requires skill in litigating alimony issues before a Court, all of which our attorneys possess.