Legal Question in Family Law in Georgia
I am divorcing my wife and have agreed to give her half of my personal injury settlement that should be received some time this year. I am doing my own documents for the divorce, but need advise on how to word it. She will be getting half of the settlement minus attorney�s fees.
3 Answers from Attorneys
There is NOTHING you could do that would be more foolish and dangerous than doing your own divorce. Don't. Let me stress that. Don't.
I should note that in most cases, personal injury settlements are not divisible, so you're giving away money you probably shouldn't. But even if you want to, you want to do it in a way that doesn't create adverse legal or tax consequences, takes into account possible present and future medical liens, etc.
You really need counsel here. I see from your zip what county you are in, and the judges there often present a problem even in the simplest of pro se divorces. Yours, with the settlement, isn't simple. And no standard form addresses your situation.
Get counsel. My office is fairly near where you are. Feel free to call me if you change your mind at 404-768-3509.
You made the choice to proceed on your own, so you won't likely find qualified lawyers to take the risk of ghost-writing your pleadings and documents without being retained.
Not infrequently, lawyers are employed after a divorce is final because the documents that parties drafted themselves left doors open to future financial liabilities. You may be making a costly decision by representing yourself.