Legal Question in Family Law in Georgia
My second husband is seeking to end alimony based on my cohabitation with my first husband. I have been given interrogatories, they are quite long asking for all financials, lease agreements and so forth, but I object to being asked personal questions such as when did I resume my relationship with first husband and naming all relationships I've had sexually or otherwise since separation, I find them personal and demeaning. They are also asking me to list everyone that knows anything about our relationship, I don't want my friends bothered with this is it really necessary to name everyone that knows us? Do I HAVE to answer the personal questions that I object to? and If I refuse to answer the personal questions, what can happen? My first husband is broke, just because we are together doesn't mean I do not need the alimony.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Divorce and alimony are inherently personal issues so you can expect personal questions. If the divorce agreements provide that alimony ends with cohabitation, of course you may be asked those questions (at least, some of them). I am not sure why you believe otherwise. Otherwise, we do not have the documents so if you think you have a case, get a lawyer. If you go before a Judge and he/she believes you have tried to conceal relevant facts it might end up with you owing back alimony, fees and possible sanctions on top of that. Most judges have a very short fuse for things like that.
Obviously, if you have been served with papers you have a lawyer and need to ask that lawyer. If you don't, you have an emergency and should retain counsel Monday. It sound slike most of those questions could be relevant to termination of alimony and need to be answered, but the only person that can determine which questions could be objected to (if any) and whether your papers and the facts give you any basis to argue is someone who has read the original order and has details of the present facts. I can just about promise you that without a lawyer things will go very badly. While a lawyer can't work miracles, a lawyer can defend a defensible case. Drop your Monday plans and seek counsel.