Alimony is court-ordered support paid by one spouse to another after they are separated. The purpose for alimony is to provide financial support to a spouse who may have become dependent upon his/her spouse. Either spouse may be ordered by the court to pay alimony to the other party. Alimony comes in several forms, such as periodic payments or a lump sum payment. Periodic payments may sometimes be modified, while a lump sum award may not be modified.
In Georgia, alimony is governed by the Official Code of Georgia, section 19-5-6, which states:
(a) The finder of fact may grant permanent alimony to either
party, either from the corpus of the estate or otherwise. The following shall
be considered in determining the amount of alimony, if any, to be awarded:
- The standard of living established during the marriage;
- The duration of the marriage;
- The age and the physical and emotional condition of both parties;
- The financial resources of each party;
- Where applicable, the time necessary for either party to acquire sufficient education or training to enable him to find appropriate employment;
- The 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;
- The condition of the parties, including the separate estate, earning capacity, and fixed liabilities of the parties; and
- Such other relevant factors as the court deems equitable and proper.
(b) All obligations for permanent alimony, however created, the time for performance of which has not arrived, shall terminate upon remarriage of the party to whom the obligations are owed unless otherwise provided.
If you are currently receiving or paying alimony, and wish to discuss modifying the amount being paid, I can assist you in the procedure of seeking the court's approval of such a modification.