There are several misconceptions about the award of alimony in a divorce case. Some people believe that if his or her spouse commits adultery during the marriage, then the judge assigned to their divorce case will automatically award alimony to the non-cheating spouse. Others think that the judge may also automatically award alimony if they have not worked during their marriage to raise a family and take care of the home.
According to O.C.G.A. § 19-6-1, the judge looks at two factors when determining child support – the needs of the party and the ability of the other party to pay alimony. While no one can foresee the future to know exactly what a judge will do in a particular case, Georgia divorce law does provide a list of more specific factors for a judge to consider when awarding alimony: