Source: http://www.atlantadivorceattorneyblog.com/2011/03/
Timestamp: 2013-06-18 07:18:12
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» Posted On: March 28, 2011
Under Georgia law, alimony may be awarded in a divorce action “to either party in accordance with the needs of the party and the ability of the other party to pay,” taking in account “the conduct of each party toward the other.” OCGA §19-6-1(c). There are eight factors that must be considered in determining the amount of alimony, if any, to be awarded. OCGA §19-6-5(a). The sixth factor to be considered is “[t]he 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.” OCGA §19-6-5(a)(6). This factor considers non-monetary contributions to the marriage, and may apply in situations where one parent stayed at home with the children while the other parent worked. A non-monetary contribution may be being available to take the children to doctor's appointments, or staying home with them so that day care is not necessary. In addition, it may apply where one spouse sacrificed earning potential to devote time and energy to the home and family, and to support the other spouse’s career. Moon v. Moon, 237 Ga. 635 (1976).
Under Georgia law, alimony may be awarded in a divorce action “to either party in accordance with the needs of the party and the ability of the other party to pay,” taking in account “the conduct of each party toward the other.” OCGA §19-6-1(c). There are eight factors that must be considered in determining the amount of alimony, if any, to be awarded. OCGA §19-6-5(a). The fifth factor to be considered is “[t]he time necessary for either party to acquire sufficient education or training to enable him to find appropriate employment.” OCGA §19-6-5(a)(5). This factor often applies where you have a spouse who stayed at home with the children during the marriage and, thus, did not have a traditional job. In this situation, for example, that spouse may not have the computer skills necessary to obtain employment, especially if he/she has been out of the workforce for an extended time. The judge may, therefore, award alimony for a period of time that would allow that spouse to acquire the skills necessary to obtain “appropriate employment.” The idea here is that, once that spouse has the training or education required, he/she should then be able to obtain appropriate employment and support himself/herself without alimony.
The fourth factor to be considered is “[t]he financial resources of each party.” OCGA §19-6-5(a)(4). “Financial resources” is a very broad term that includes all assets of the parties, specifically, but not limited to, property and associated expenses, income, debts, retirement benefits, and military benefits. See generally Weiner v. Weiner, 219 Ga. 44 (1963); Kosikowski v. Kosikowski, 240 Ga. 381 (1977); Stumpf v. Stumpf, 249 Ga. 759 (1982). Again, this factor helps the fact finder determine need vs. ability to pay alimony – the greater the financial resources, the less the need for alimony. Conversely, the greater the financial resources, the greater the ability to pay alimony.
Under Georgia law, alimony may be awarded in a divorce action “to either party in accordance with the needs of the party and the ability of the other party to pay,” taking in account “the conduct of each party toward the other.” OCGA §19-6-1(c). There are eight factors that must be considered in determining the amount of alimony, if any, to be awarded. OCGA §19-6-5(a). The third factor to be considered is “[t]he age and the physical and emotional condition of both parties.” OCGA §19-6-5(a)(3). The age and condition of each of the parties plays into the “need vs. ability to pay” alimony analysis. A party who is elderly and/or has a medical condition requiring extensive treatment, for example, certainly has an argument for the need for alimony. However, that same party, when placed on the other side of the alimony equation, may use this age and condition to allege that he/she has a very limited ability to pay alimony.
Under Georgia law, alimony may be awarded in a divorce action “to either party in accordance with the needs of the party and the ability of the other party to pay,” taking in account “the conduct of each party toward the other.” OCGA §19-6-1(c). There are eight factors that must be considered in determining the amount of alimony, if any, to be awarded. OCGA §19-6-5(a). The second factor to be considered is “[t]he duration of the marriage.” OCGA §19-6-5(a)(2). In general, if alimony is awarded, the longer the marriage, the longer a spouse will pay alimony. Though the judge will take all of the factors into consideration, a twenty-year marriage is more likely to result in an alimony award than a 5-year marriage. However, it is important to keep in mind that if there is neither a need for the alimony on the part of one party nor the ability to pay by the other party, even the demise of a 30-year marriage may result in no alimony.
Under Georgia law, alimony may be awarded in a divorce action “to either party in accordance with the needs of the party and the ability of the other party to pay,” taking in account “the conduct of each party toward the other.” OCGA §19-6-1(c). There are eight factors that must be considered in determining the amount of alimony, if any, to be awarded. OCGA §19-6-5(a). The first factor to be considered is “[t]he standard of living established during the marriage.” OCGA §19-6-5(a)(1). The Supreme Court of Georgia has held and reaffirmed that the judge and/or jury may consider “the social standing and luxuries of life which the spouse had been enjoying and would have continued to enjoy had there been no separation.” Bodrey v. Bodrey, 246 Ga. 122, 123 (1980); McNally v. McNally, 223 Ga. 246, 248 (1976). Thus, for example, if the parties lived an extravagant, luxurious lifestyle when married due to the high income of the husband, this lifestyle would be considered in awarding alimony to the wife, especially if she could not otherwise retain that same social standing.
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March 18, 2011 1:18 PM
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