DIVORCE
LAW FORUM
Basic Legal Knowledge For Anyone
Considering Divorce Or Custody Proceedings
GEORGIA DIVORCE LAW
Here you will find Georgia specific divorce information, grounds, divorce law statutes, articles on Divorce law, state laws, child custody, child support, spousal support, visitation, legal separation, dissolution and links to free divorce forms, divorce records, divorce papers, divorce lawyers, divorce attorneys and support calculators.
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS:
In Georgia, at least one spouse must have been a resident of the state for six months before filing a petition for divorce.
[See Georgia Code - Section: 19-5-5]
LEGAL GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE:
The following are the recognized grounds for divorce in the state of Georgia:
Marriage between close blood relations.
Mental incapacity at the time of the marriage.
Impotency at the time of the marriage.
Force, menace, duress, or fraud in obtaining the marriage.
Pregnancy of the wife by a man other than the husband, at the time of the marriage, unknown to the husband.
Adultery in either of the parties after marriage.
Willful and continued desertion by either of the parties for the term of one year.
The conviction of either party for an offense involving moral turpitude, under which he is sentenced to imprisonment in a penal institution for a term of two years or longer.
Habitual intoxication.
Cruel treatment, which shall consist of the willful infliction of pain, bodily or mental, upon the complaining party, such as reasonably justifies apprehension of danger to life, limb, or health.
Incurable mental illness.
Habitual drug addiction, consisting of addiction to any controlled substance as defined in Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Title 16; (13) Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.
[See Georgia Code - Section: 19-5-3]
MEDIATION OR COUNSELING REQUIREMENTS:
If a divorce is contested, the judge may order the couple to an appropriate mediation, counseling or other alternative dispute resolution program prior to a trial, if such dispute resolution program is reasonably available without additional unreasonable expense to the parties.
[See Georgia Code - Section: 19-5-1]
PROPERTY DISTRIBUTION:
Georgia is an equitable distribution state. Under the Georgia Code, there are currently no specific factors a Court will consider regarding the distribution of the property in a divorce case. Generally, property that was owned by each spouse prior to the marriage shall remain the separate property of that spouse.
[See Georgia Code - Section: 19-3-9]
ALIMONY/MAINTENANCE/SPOUSAL SUPPORT:
A Court may award alimony on either temporary or permanent basis. If it is established by a preponderance of the evidence that the grounds for the divorce was caused by one parties adultery or desertion, that party will be barred from collecting alimony. If Alimony is awarded the Court shall consider the needs of the party seeking alimony, and the ability of the other party to pay. Unless otherwise provided, alimony shall end upon the remarriage of the party receiving alimony. In determining whether or not to grant alimony, the court shall consider evidence of the conduct of each party toward the other. The following shall be considered in determining the amount of alimony, if any, to be awarded:
The standard of living established during the marriage.
The duration of the marriage.
The age and the physical and emotional condition of both parties.
The financial resources of each party.
The time necessary for either party to acquire sufficient education or training to enable him 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.
[See Georgia Code - Sections: 19-6-1 and 19-6-5]
LEGAL SEPARATION:
In situations where spouses are living separately, either spouse may file a petition with the court for alimony or child support without a divorce pending. The non-filing party will be notified if such a petition is filed, and the judge can grant such an order, to be enforced in the same manner as a divorce.
[See Georgia Code - Section: 19-6-10]
CHILD CUSTODY:
Custody may be awarded to either parent. In order to determine which parent shall be awarded custody a Court shall make a determination of what is in the best interest of the child or children and what will best promote their wellbeing. If the child has reached the age of 14 years, the child shall have the right to select the parent with whom he or she desires to live. The child’s selection shall be controlling, unless the parent so selected is deemed unfit to have the custody of the child. In all cases in which the child has reached the age of at least 11 but not 14 years, the court shall consider the desires, if any, and educational needs of the child in determining which parent shall have custody.
At any temporary or permanent hearing the court may grant sole custody, joint custody, joint legal custody, or joint physical custody where the Court deems it appropriate.
[See Georgia Code - Sections: 19-9-1 and 19-9-3]
CHILD SUPPORT:
Georgia uses an income-shares model to determine the amount of child support. The court will consider the existence of special circumstances and may adjust child support based on:
Ages of the children.
A child's extraordinary medical costs or needs in addition to accident and sickness insurance, provided that all such costs or needs shall be considered if no insurance is available.
Educational costs.
Day-care costs.
Shared physical custody arrangements, including extended visitation.
A party’s other support obligations to another household.
Income that should be imputed to a party because of suppression of income.
In-kind income for the self-employed, such as reimbursed meals or a company car.
Other support a party is providing or will be providing, such as payment of a mortgage.
A party’s own extraordinary needs, such as medical expenses.
Extreme economic circumstances including but not limited to, unusually high debt structure or unusually high income of either party or both parties, which shall be construed as individual gross income of over $75,000.00 per annum.
Historical spending in the family for children which varies significantly from the percentage table.
Considerations of the economic cost-of-living factors of the community of each party.
In-kind contribution of either parent.
The income of the custodial parent.
The cost of accident and sickness insurance coverage for dependent children included in the order.
Extraordinary travel expenses to exercise visitation or shared physical custody.
Any other factor which the Trier of fact deems to be required by the ends of justice, as described below:
Child support shall continue until the child becomes 18 years of age, dies, marries, or otherwise becomes emancipated, except that if the child becomes 18 years of age while enrolled in and attending secondary school on a full-time basis, then such support shall continue until the child completes secondary school, provided that such support shall not be required after the child attains 20 years of age. A non-custodial parent may be ordered to provide insurance for the child or children for so long as he or she is obligated by this order to provide support. Where applicable, the court shall also include income deduction orders.
[See Georgia Code - Section:
19-5-12]
Disclaimer
This site is not meant to provide legal representation or to be relied on in place of an attorney. We recommend that anyone serious about going forward with a Divorce or Child Custody claim seek the advice and counsel of a qualified attorney in their respective state.
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