Support
Child Support
In 2007, Georgia adopted a new formula by which child support is calculated, essentially making both parents responsible for the support of their children. The new shared income model considers each parent’s income as well as any extraordinary expenses incurred on behalf of their children including private school, health insurance, medical needs and child care expenses. All of the Hedgepeth Heredia attorneys have had extensive training with the new child support worksheet and possess extensive courtroom experience in handling child support issues, so we are fully capable of advocating for the appropriate amount of support for our client’s children.
Alimony
Alimony is an award of support to a spouse for his or her maintenance and support. It can be temporary or permanent, periodic payments, lump sum, or “in kind," meaning a non-cash award. Each form of alimony has specific legal issues surrounding it and different tax implications, and not every case is appropriate for an award of alimony. Factors in an award of alimony include the duration of a marriage, the conduct of a spouse, the financial resources of either party, the standard of living enjoyed during the marriage, and other factors. While child support is calculated by a specific formula, alimony is not formula based. Negotiating alimony requires an extensive knowledge of the law as it applies to each case, and it requires skill in litigating alimony issues before a court, all of which our attorneys possess.