Alimony (Spousal Support) in Georgia
Georgia alimony is support paid from one spouse to the other, and it's authorized but not automatic. A spouse whose adultery or desertion caused the separation can be barred from receiving it (O.C.G.A. § 19-6-1). When alimony is awarded, the court sets the amount using eight statutory factors (O.C.G.A. § 19-6-5), including the standard of living, length of the marriage, and each spouse's finances.
By Find Local Law Editorial Team · Last reviewed: May 26, 2026
Researched and drafted with AI assistance and verified against primary sources (statutes, Judicial Council forms, and official court websites). This is general information, not legal advice.
This is general information, not legal advice. Whether alimony applies in your case is fact-specific — talk to a Georgia attorney.
Alimony (spousal support) in Georgia is money paid from one spouse to the other — and it’s authorized but never automatic.
When alimony is — and isn’t — available
Under O.C.G.A. § 19-6-1, the court may award temporary alimony (during the case) and permanent alimony (in the final decree) based on the recipient’s need and the payer’s ability to pay. But there’s an important bar: a spouse is barred from receiving alimony if it’s shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the separation was caused by that spouse’s adultery or desertion. In other words, fault can defeat an alimony claim in Georgia.
The eight factors
When alimony is on the table, the court sets the amount using eight factors (O.C.G.A. § 19-6-5):
- The standard of living during the marriage;
- The duration of the marriage;
- Each spouse’s age and physical and emotional condition;
- Each spouse’s financial resources;
- The time needed to get education or training for employment;
- Each spouse’s contribution to the marriage (including homemaking and child care);
- The parties’ condition — separate estate, earning capacity, and fixed liabilities; and
- Other relevant equitable factors.
Forms of alimony
Alimony can be periodic (monthly payments for a set time or indefinitely) or paid in a lump sum or property. How property is split is a separate question — see property division.
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Start your free intakeFrequently asked questions
- Is alimony automatic in a Georgia divorce?
- No. Alimony is authorized but not guaranteed (O.C.G.A. § 19-6-1). The court looks at the recipient's need and the other spouse's ability to pay, along with the statutory factors.
- Can cheating cost someone alimony in Georgia?
- Yes. A spouse is barred from receiving alimony if it's shown that the separation was caused by that spouse's adultery or desertion (O.C.G.A. § 19-6-1). This is a notable difference from states where fault doesn't affect support.
- What factors set the amount of alimony?
- Eight factors (O.C.G.A. § 19-6-5): the standard of living during the marriage, the length of the marriage, each spouse's age and condition, financial resources, time needed for education or training, each spouse's contributions (including homemaking), and other relevant equitable factors.
Sources
Related guides
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- Child Support in Georgia Georgia uses the income shares model (O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15): both parents' incomes are combined, a basic support obligation is read from the statutory schedule, and it's divided between the parents in proportion to income. The Georgia Child Support Commission publishes an official online calculator. Specific schedule amounts and adjustments change with amendments — confirm the current statute.
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- Legitimation & Paternity in Georgia In Georgia, paternity and legitimation are different. A paternity action (O.C.G.A. § 19-7-43) establishes that a man is the biological father and can require him to pay support — but it does not give him custody or visitation. Legitimation (O.C.G.A. § 19-7-22) is the separate step that makes an unwed biological father a legal parent, with the right to seek custody and parenting time.
- Property Division in a Georgia Divorce Georgia divides marital property by equitable distribution — a fair, not necessarily equal, split. This is a judge-made rule (from Stokes v. Stokes, 1980), not a single statute, and Georgia is not a community-property state. Marital property (acquired during the marriage) is divided; separate property (owned before marriage, or received by gift or inheritance) stays with its owner.