Considerations for Those Contemplating Divorce
Posted on Oct 8, 2012 12:00am PDT
In Georgia, Georgia, and elsewhere, couples in the process of obtaining
a divorce face many issues including child custody, child support, property
division and spousal support. These decisions must not be taken lightly
as they likely have implications that continue into the future.
Before filing for divorce, couples may want to consider getting assistance
with dividing marital property. Marital property generally includes any
assets that the couple has obtained throughout the marriage. Nonmarital
property is the assets that spouses brought into the marriage and includes
gifts and inheritances; these assets are typically distributed to the
spouse who brought the asset into the marriage. In Georgia, if a couple
is unable to agree on a property settlement, a court may distribute property
based on an equitable, or fair, standard.
Divorcing couples should each consider obtaining an attorney's assistance
and preparing for the initial meeting with the attorney. To prepare, couples
should be aware of their assets and debts and think of questions they
might want to ask in the meeting. Divorcing couples should bring important
documents, such as tax returns and retirement asset information, to the
initial meeting with the attorney.
If spousal support is awarded, the divorcing couple should consider any
implications that might affect the support. Couples may also consider
increases in the cost of living and higher education for the children
in calculating child support and spousal support.
In a divorce, couples must decide how to divide one home into two. Sometimes,
these decisions can be challenging. Through the considerations above and
preparation, the divorce process may be resolved amicably.