Divorce

There are six issues that must be addressed in a divorce case:

1. Division of property.  Who keeps what?  Everything needs to be divided: the home, cars, retirement accounts, bank accounts, and everything else. 

2. Division of debts.  Who pays what?  Credit cards, mortgages, and other loans need to be divided and assigned to one spouse or the other, or divided between them.

3. Alimony.  If any is paid, how much, and for how long?

4. Child custody, when there are children under the age of 18 involved. In Georgia, a child who is 14 years old or older can decide which parent he or she wants to live with.  Between the ages of 11 and 13, a child can voice his or her preference to the judge if the case comes to trial, but that preference is not as powerful in determining the custody decision as that of a child aged 14-17.

5. Visitation, when there are children under the age of 18 involved.  Holidays can be especially difficult to handle, but with patience a schedule can generally be worked out that is best for the children involved.

6. Child support, when there are children under the age of 18 involved.  In Georgia, child support depends on the incomes of the parents.  The methods of calculating child support can be explored with the forms and excel worksheets located at https://cscalc.gaaoc.us/

Most importantly, divorce proceedings can be difficult emotionally, financially, and mentally -- not only for the two people divorcing, but also for their children and other family members.  While the lawyer (or lawyers) handle the legal issues and paperwork, it can be very helpful for those going through the separation and their children to find a support group at a nearby church.  Whether this involves one-on-one counseling or the support of peers, emotional and spiritual support is essential to anyone going through a divorce.