Filing Complaint Divorce Attorney GA

The spouses need not be living separately at the time of filing the compliant. Spouses may be considered separated even if they are living in the same house if they are not sharing the same room and/or not having a sexual relationship.

A court can order one spouse to pay alimony. There are three types of alimony:

• Permanent alimony - the paying spouse continues till death or until the spouse receiving payments remarries.
• Temporary alimony – the payments are made over a short interval of time so that the receiving spouse can stand alone once again.
• Rehabilitative alimony – is paid to help a spouse with lesser employability or earning capacity becomes adjusted to a new post-marital life.

It’s possible that a former spouse might receive more than one kind of support at the same time. If a spouse is getting more than one kind of support, say rehabilitative and short-term, then when the spouse is employed again, the rehabilitative support would end. The short-term support would continue until its termination date.

We are based in Athens, GA (Georgia). Our Divorce Attorneys can represent you if you are located in Athens, Watkinsville, Carnesville, Elberton, Homer, Jefferson, Danielsville, Lexington, Hartwell, Winder, and Clarke County, Oconee County, Elbert County, Franklin County, Banks County, Jackson County, Madison County, Hart County, Barrow County and Oglethorpe County, Ben Epps Airport, University of Georgia (UGA), Piedmont Judicial Circuit, Northern Judicial Circuit and Athens-Clarke County.

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Athens GA Divorce Lawyer - Athens GA Uncontested Divorce - Contested Divorce Attorney -

Handling Athens Georgia Child Custody - Support Lawyer- GA Visitation Cases

Georgia Family Law Lawyer - GA child custody attorney

Our family law firm handles cases in Athens, Georgia. Our Georgia divorce lawyers represent clients in Athens and the Athens-Clarke County area.

Factors Considers For Divorce GA

Divorce is a dissolution of the marriage status. Divorce is different and must be distinguished from an annulment of marriage. Where a marriage is annulled, it is rendered void from the beginning. In the case of a divorce the marriage is generally held valid up to the time of its dissolution and the children born during such marriage will be legitimate. Divorce is regulated by state law. Georgia has strict residency requirements for divorce filings. You must meet the residency requirements if you want to file for divorce in Georgia. The residency requirements are provided in the Georgia Code Sections 19-5-5. Under Georgia Code, any spouse may be awarded alimony as long as he or she is not guilty of desertion or adultery. These other factors are also considered when the parties are not able to agree on an amount;

1. the participation each party had to the marital estate;
2. the duration of the marriage;
3. the future earning capacity and financial resources of each party;
4. the age and medical condition of each party;
5. the future earning capacity of each party;
6. the value of each party’s separate property;
7. the standard of living sustained during the marriage;
8. rehabilitative time one party may need to gain employment.

We are based in Athens, GA (Georgia). Our Divorce Attorneys can represent you if you are located in Athens, Watkinsville, Carnesville, Elberton, Homer, Jefferson, Danielsville, Lexington, Hartwell, Winder, and Clarke County, Oconee County, Elbert County, Franklin County, Banks County, Jackson County, Madison County, Hart County, Barrow County and Oglethorpe County, Ben Epps Airport, University of Georgia (UGA), Piedmont Judicial Circuit, Northern Judicial Circuit and Athens-Clarke County.

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Athens GA Divorce Lawyer - Athens GA Uncontested Divorce - Contested Divorce Attorney -

Handling Athens Georgia Child Custody - Support Lawyer- GA Visitation Cases

Georgia Family Law Lawyer - GA child custody attorney

Our family law firm handles cases in Athens, Georgia. Our Georgia divorce lawyers represent clients in Athens and the Athens-Clarke County area.

Method of Calculating Support Divorce Attorney GA

In determining custody, the court will consider the age and gender of each child, whether there are siblings, the relationships with the parents, and which parent has been the primary caretaker during the marriage. The court will also consider which parent, if given custody, will help the child maintain a healthy relationship with the non-custodial parent. The court almost always awards visitation to the parent not given custody. However, the court may consider family violence in making a decision about whether to award visitation to the non-custodial parent. If the parties are able to reach an agreement about custody and a visitation schedule, the court will usually approve the agreement if it is in the best interest of the child.

Georgia utilizes the percentage of income formula which determines the amount of child support as a percentage of the income of the parent obligated to pay the child support. This percentage is determined by factoring the number of children requiring support. This is the most basic or primitive method for calculating support. Many people believe that it does not take into consideration many important details, which makes this model of support calculation the least exact.

We are based in Athens, GA (Georgia). Our Divorce Attorneys can represent you if you are located in Athens, Watkinsville, Carnesville, Elberton, Homer, Jefferson, Danielsville, Lexington, Hartwell, Winder, and Clarke County, Oconee County, Elbert County, Franklin County, Banks County, Jackson County, Madison County, Hart County, Barrow County and Oglethorpe County, Ben Epps Airport, University of Georgia (UGA), Piedmont Judicial Circuit, Northern Judicial Circuit and Athens-Clarke County.

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Athens GA Divorce Lawyer - Athens GA Uncontested Divorce - Contested Divorce Attorney -

Handling Athens Georgia Child Custody - Support Lawyer- GA Visitation Cases

Georgia Family Law Lawyer - GA child custody attorney

Our family law firm handles cases in Athens, Georgia. Our Georgia divorce lawyers represent clients in Athens and the Athens-Clarke County area.

Divorce Attorney Athens GA

In Georgia, the court may look into all the circumstances of the parties, including but not limited to; the parental suitability of each parent, the needs of the child, the prior role of each parent, the wishes of the child, the location of the residences of each parent, and any agreement between the parents. If 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. In determining the "best interest" of the child, the court will sometimes appoint a Guardian Ad Litem to investigate the child's situation and make a recommendation to the Court. The Guardian Ad Litem has a duty to act on behalf of the child, advocating the child's preference if the child is old enough to express a preference. The Guardian Ad Litem's recommendation is not binding on the court, but the court will usually take the recommendation into consideration. “Custody” includes physical custody - the right to have a child live with you and legal custody – the right to make decisions about the child’s welfare and education. If you do not have physical custody of the children, you will generally be given visitation rights. If one parent has both legal and physical custody and the other has fairly limited visitation, the primary custodial parent has “sole custody.” If both spouses share physical custody, legal custody, or both it is referred to as joint custody.

We are based in Athens, GA (Georgia). Our Divorce Attorneys can represent you if you are located in Athens, Watkinsville, Carnesville, Elberton, Homer, Jefferson, Danielsville, Lexington, Hartwell, Winder, and Clarke County, Oconee County, Elbert County, Franklin County, Banks County, Jackson County, Madison County, Hart County, Barrow County and Oglethorpe County, Ben Epps Airport, University of Georgia (UGA), Piedmont Judicial Circuit, Northern Judicial Circuit and Athens-Clarke County.

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Athens GA Divorce Lawyer - Athens GA Uncontested Divorce - Contested Divorce Attorney -

Handling Athens Georgia Child Custody - Support Lawyer- GA Visitation Cases

Georgia Family Law Lawyer - GA child custody attorney

Our family law firm handles cases in Athens, Georgia. Our Georgia divorce lawyers represent clients in Athens and the Athens-Clarke County area.

Child Custody Hearing Divorce Attorney GA

Georgia Code Sections 19-5-12, 19-6-14, and 19-6-15 provide that the following factors must be considered when determining child support:

(1) the age of the children;
(2) a child’s medical costs or extraordinary needs;
(3) educational costs;
(4) daycare costs;
(5) shared physical custody arrangements;
(6) a parent’s support obligations to another household;
(7) hidden income of a parent;
(8) the income of the parent with custody;
(9) contributions of the parents;
(10) extreme economic circumstances;
(11) a parent’s own extraordinary needs;
(12) historic spending levels of the family;
(13) the cost of health and accident insurance coverage for the child; and
(14) any extraordinary visitation travel expenses.

In a child custody hearing, the decision of the court may be considered reversible error if they won't hear the child's preference. However, the court has the discretion to interview the child out of the parents' presence. A child as young as 5 or 6 years of age may be heard. Though it is rare the court will hear from a child under 7 years, the child's ability to tell the truth from fiction and maturity will be the guidelines for whether a child may be heard. A child of 10 or 12 years of age is certainly entitled to have their opinions heard and given weight in legal proceedings about custody. Additionally, the court has the power to appoint an attorney for the child in contested cases.

We are based in Athens, GA (Georgia). Our Divorce Attorneys can represent you if you are located in Athens, Watkinsville, Carnesville, Elberton, Homer, Jefferson, Danielsville, Lexington, Hartwell, Winder, and Clarke County, Oconee County, Elbert County, Franklin County, Banks County, Jackson County, Madison County, Hart County, Barrow County and Oglethorpe County, Ben Epps Airport, University of Georgia (UGA), Piedmont Judicial Circuit, Northern Judicial Circuit and Athens-Clarke County.

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Athens GA Divorce Lawyer - Athens GA Uncontested Divorce - Contested Divorce Attorney -

Handling Athens Georgia Child Custody - Support Lawyer- GA Visitation Cases

Georgia Family Law Lawyer - GA child custody attorney

Our family law firm handles cases in Athens, Georgia. Our Georgia divorce lawyers represent clients in Athens and the Athens-Clarke County area.

Who Gets Custody Of The Kids? Divorce Attorney GA

"Who gets custody of the kids?" is one of the most difficult question to answer in a divorce proceedings. If the spouses are unable to come to an agreement, the court will determine who gets the custody of the kids. Georgia law does not favor either the mother or father. Rather, they look to the relationship of each parent with the child. While grandparents and others may seek custody, there is a presumption in favor of the natural parents. Both spouses must decide whether they will share custody of the children equally, or whether one parent will be the primary custodial parent. “Custody” includes physical custody - the right to have a child live with you and legal custody – the right to make decisions about the child’s welfare and education. If one parent is the custodial parent, then the other parent almost always is required to pay child support. The reasoning is that both parents are responsible for supporting the kids, and if the kids live with one parent most of the time, chances are that custodial parent will need some help paying for the housing, food, clothing, and everything else the kids need. There are official child support guidelines set out in the statute that are to be followed in all cases in which the parents are not able to reach an agreement.

We are based in Athens, GA (Georgia). Our Divorce Attorneys can represent you if you are located in Athens, Watkinsville, Carnesville, Elberton, Homer, Jefferson, Danielsville, Lexington, Hartwell, Winder, and Clarke County, Oconee County, Elbert County, Franklin County, Banks County, Jackson County, Madison County, Hart County, Barrow County and Oglethorpe County, Ben Epps Airport, University of Georgia (UGA), Piedmont Judicial Circuit, Northern Judicial Circuit and Athens-Clarke County.

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Athens GA Divorce Lawyer - Athens GA Uncontested Divorce - Contested Divorce Attorney -

Handling Athens Georgia Child Custody - Support Lawyer- GA Visitation Cases

Georgia Family Law Lawyer - GA child custody attorney

Our family law firm handles cases in Athens, Georgia. Our Georgia divorce lawyers represent clients in Athens and the Athens-Clarke County area.

Residency Requirements for Divorce Filings GA

The compliant for divorce must be filed in the superior court of the county of the other spouse’s residence. If the other spouse has moved out of Georgia, the compliant for divorce must be filed in the superior court of county of the spouse residing in Georgia. Georgia has strict residency requirements for divorce filings. You must meet the residency requirements if you want to file for divorce in Georgia. The residency requirements are provided in the Georgia Code Sections 19-5-5. You must live in Georgia for 6 months before you can obtain a divorce. If you live out of state, you may file against a Georgia resident. There is no legal separation period required, and the divorce may be filed on the date of separation. Also, the parties may be considered separated for the purpose of divorce and still live in the same house. You may sometimes get a default divorce. The court will grant a divorce by “default” if you file for divorce and your spouse doesn’t respond to the petition despite proper service. In a default divorce, the divorce is granted even though your spouse doesn’t participate in the court proceedings at all.

If one parent is the custodial parent, then the other parent almost always is required to pay child support. The reasoning is that both parents are responsible for supporting the kids, and if the kids live with one parent most of the time, chances are that custodial parent will need some help paying for the housing, food, clothing, and everything else the kids need. There are official child support guidelines set out in the statute that are to be followed in all cases in which the parents are not able to reach an agreement.

If the parents are unable to agree to an amount of child support, there are guidelines that determine the amount of support based on the Georgia Child Support Guidelines. The guideline amount is presumed to arrive at an amount of support that is in the child's best interest. In Georgia, child support is typically calculated by using a Child Support Worksheet. The worksheet will generate an appropriate Georgia child support obligation according to each spouse’s income and other relative numeric factors such as taxes paid and retirement contributions, etc. Once this amount is determined it is essential to take a look at any appropriate Georgia child support deviation factors that may be applicable to the situation.

We are based in Athens, GA (Georgia). Our Divorce Attorneys can represent you if you are located in Athens, Watkinsville, Carnesville, Elberton, Homer, Jefferson, Danielsville, Lexington, Hartwell, Winder, and Clarke County, Oconee County, Elbert County, Franklin County, Banks County, Jackson County, Madison County, Hart County, Barrow County and Oglethorpe County, Ben Epps Airport, University of Georgia (UGA), Piedmont Judicial Circuit, Northern Judicial Circuit and Athens-Clarke County.

---------------------------------
Athens GA Divorce Lawyer - Athens GA Uncontested Divorce - Contested Divorce Attorney -

Handling Athens Georgia Child Custody - Support Lawyer- GA Visitation Cases

Georgia Family Law Lawyer - GA child custody attorney

Our family law firm handles cases in Athens, Georgia. Our Georgia divorce lawyers represent clients in Athens and the Athens-Clarke County area.