Atlanta divorce attorneys are often asked how pension plans are divided upon a divorce in Georgia. In general, pension plans are treated like any other property – if they accrued during the marriage, they are marital property subject to equitable division. Any portion that accrued prior to the marriage, however, is considered the separate property of that spouse.
Consider an example where a husband had a pension that began accruing in 1990, and the couple married in 1995 and divorced in 2005. In that situation, the wife would be entitled to an equitable portion of the pension that accrued from 1995 until 2005, but would not be entitled to anything from 1990 to 1995 as that portion would be the husband’s separate property.
Dividing pensions and other retirement accounts in a divorce can be complicated. Many companies have very specific regulations that must be followed and precise language that must be used in the divorce decree in order for the account to be divided. If you are dealing with one of these accounts in your divorce action, we recommend that you contact one of our Atlanta divorce attorneys for assistance to ensure a smooth division of these assets.