Divorce and Separate Maintenance Proceedings
A legal separation is when a couple no longer is having marital relations. To file for divorce, you must be in a state of separation. “Separate maintenance” refers to a Georgia lawsuit that addresses issues in a divorce case aside from the actual granting of a divorce. Separate maintenance is sometimes granted for reasons like moral or religious opposition [to divorce], or even for the client’s legal benefit like social security or insurance.
Will a judge or jury decide my case?
In a situation where both parties cannot resolve their issues, a judge will resolve financial issues like alimony, child support, property division, and debt division. The final decision is written into a court order that is binding.