When going through a divorce, it feels like there are countless things to keep track of. Some jump to mind immediately – child custody and child support, property division, impacts on the business. But there’s one thing that is easy to overlook: the retirement plan.
Yes, Georgia considers retirement accounts part of marital property, which can surprise people. That means their contents are potentially subject to the division process during a divorce. Here’s a quick overview of what to expect.
No one anticipates a divorce, especially when they start to expand their family. You expect a long future where you and your spouse raise your children and see them off to college and through their wedding day.
Unfortunately, divorce happens in many families, especially in Georgia. It not only affects the spouses, but it puts children through a challenging transition. Luckily, there are some ways to approach the discussion of divorce with your children without further damage.
Before being married in Georgia, there are several legal requirements a couple must be sure to meet. Just as there are legal requirements for marriage, there are legal requirements that must be met for a couple to get a divorce.
If you are considering seeking divorce, it may be helpful to understand the requirements you will need to meet to legally do so. An understanding of these requirements can help you make choices that could impact the outcome of your divorce.
Investments are an excellent way for a person to build their career, supplement their income or build a nest egg for their future. Divorce is a major obstacle for anyone's future plans and can have a major impact on the future of a person's investments. It leaves many people questioning what will become of their investments, specifically stocks.
Georgia has unique laws regarding how property is divided during divorce. To put it simply, all your marital assets will need to be divided between you and your soon-to-be former spouse. How those assets are divided is a matter for debate.
Even an amicable divorce can be emotional and difficult for children. In Georgia, the courts want your children to emerge from your divorce whole and healthy, with a positive relationship with both of their parents. In an effort to encourage this outcome, the state requires you to have a parenting plan with your soon-to-be ex-spouse.
It is understandable that many women who used a husband's surname in marriage would want to use their maiden name after a divorce, but a divorce does not automatically result in a name change. Many women also choose to keep their last name because they want to have the same name as their children or they want to maintain a consistent identity in their professional lives.
If you decide you would like to change your name, it is relatively easy in Georgia to do so as part of your divorce, but your name will not be legally changed until the divorce is finalized. You can make a name change request in your complaint for divorce or your answer to a complaint for divorce, and once your divorce is finalized, the divorce decree will include your name change. Your divorce decree will also be the documentation you use to change your name on your driver's license.
When you divorce, a shared life is split in two. Not only is your relationship over, but you must also divide all your shared property. You must decide who gets the china, the cars and the couch.
Georgia is an equitable distribution state. All your marital property, which are most assets acquired during the marriage, is divided during property distribution. However, equitable distribution does not mean all your property will be divided exactly down the middle, but how the court deems fair. Your largest marital asset is likely your shared home. Here is what you need to know about dividing a home during a divorce.
For seasoned, mature couples who are having challenges in their marriages, the question is often asked whether divorce is the right decision. Late-life divorce, (sometimes called "gray divorce"), is a more difficult decision to come to than most people think.
Although it seems like having your kids grown up and your finances in order, it would be the simplest time of your life to get a divorce, but this appearance can be deceiving. It is important to know what to look for, so you can make a smart decision.
In Georgia, every child has the right to child support. It is normal for a parent to receive assistance from their ex-spouse. Financial support is a critical aspect of your child's life. Any parent or caretaker can collect child support if they house and care for the child more than half of the time.
The application process for child support is fairly simple. Child support services will help you collect child support payments or any other back payments once the process is complete.
In many remarriage situations, the new spouses bond with each other’s children. It is not uncommon for the new spouse to take on the role of father or mother for the other spouse’s kids. For personal and legal reasons, many families want to proceed with a stepparent adoption.
Although stepparent adoption is a great choice for many families, there are complex legal procedures involved. Anyone considering a stepparent adoption needs to understand the process and get legal help to protect their rights and help them through the process.
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The Siemon Law Firm
347 Dahlonega Street, Building 100
Cumming,
GA
30040
Phone:
770-888-5120
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The Siemon Law Firm
4555 Mansell Road, Suite 300
Alpharetta,
GA
30022
Phone:
770-888-5093
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The Siemon Law Firm
3400 Peachtree Rd NE, Suite 555
Atlanta,
GA
30326
Phone:
770-888-5078
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The Siemon Law Firm
One Parkway Center
1850 Parkway Place
Suite 715
Marietta,
GA
30067
Phone:
770-888-5312
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