Georgia courts decide divorce outcomes based on equitable principles, prioritizing the best interests of children in custody while dividing marital property fairly but not always equally. Alimony considers factors like marriage length and earning capacity, with 2025-2026 updates refining child support calculations.​
Child Custody
Courts favor shared parenting plans that ensure stability, evaluating each parent’s relationship with the child, home environment, and ability to co-parent effectively. Detailed plans outline schedules, holidays, and decision-making, with mandatory adjustments for actual parenting time starting in 2026.​
Alimony Decisions
Judges assess marriage duration, spouses’ incomes, health, contributions, and future needs to award temporary or permanent support, often favoring shorter-term awards in equitable distribution states like Georgia. No automatic formulas exist; mediation is encouraged to resolve disputes before trial.​
Property Division
Marital assets undergo equitable split, weighing financial inputs, homemaking, prenups, and separate property like inheritances, which remain individual. Stricter 2025 financial disclosures ensure transparency in valuations and debts.​
SOURCES
[1](https://seeyouincourtpodcast.org/2025/10/14/georgias-2025-divorce-law-changes-key-updates/)
[2](https://www.seanwhitworth.com/georgia-divorce-law-in-2025/)
[3](https://cordellcordell.com/resources/georgia/georgia-divorce-questions/)
[4](https://www.dianawhipkeyyoung.com/blog/georgia-family-laws/)
[5](https://www.womenslaw.org/laws/ga/divorce)
