Best Adoption Lawyers in Atlanta, GA

Yes. Georgia law gives courts wide discretion in awarding alimony, either during the proceeding or as part of the final divorce decree. Either party may ask the court to award alimony. In making a decision on alimony, the judge takes a wide range of factors into account. The potential for alimony is one of the important reasons that legal representation in a divorce is crucial.

In Georgia, judges decide child custody and visitation issues based on what is in the best interests of the child. In some divorce cases, custody is one of the most difficult issues to resolve. If your divorce involves issues relating to custody and visitation, legal representation is essential.

If one of the parties fails or refuses to abide by a divorce decree, custody order, or support order, the other party can petition the court to enforce the order. Attempting to resolve violations privately, such as by withholding visitation for support payments or similar tactics, is not permitted under Georgia law. Agreements between the parties to modify the terms of an order are also not enforceable, unless the court modifies the order to include them.

Georgia law requires that at least one of the spouses be a resident of the state for at least six months before filing for a divorce. If you reside in another state, you can file in Georgia if your spouse has lived here for at least six months. In most cases, you file in the county where your spouse lives.

If circumstances change substantially after the court enters a child custody or support order, you have to petition the court to modify the original order. An agreement between the parties to change the terms of custody or support is insufficient and not legally enforceable.