As Atlanta Divorce attorneys, it is our experience that divorce and bankruptcy are often interrelated. As a result, we are commonly asked whether child support and other financial obligations incurred in divorce, such as alimony, are dischargeable in bankruptcy. The short answer to this question is no. According to the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA), domestic support obligations, such as child support and alimony, are not dischargeable in bankruptcy. Thus, if a former spouse obligated to pay child support or alimony files for bankruptcy protection, he or she will still owe the child support or alimony once the bankruptcy has concluded.
With this in mind, if you are seeking divorce, and you and/or your spouse are also considering bankruptcy, it is essential to discuss this issue with your divorce attorney. Additionally, it is also advisable to retain a divorce attorney who is well versed on how bankruptcy impacts the divorce process.