Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit

In any divorce action where child support or alimony is sought, and in any action for modification of child support or periodic alimony, or if there is any request for attorney's fees, per Uniform Superior Court Rule 24.2, the parties have to complete and file a Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit (“DRFA”). This affidavit must be filed with the clerk of court and served upon the opposing party at least fifteen (15) days before any temporary or final hearing. If child support is in issue, proposed child support worksheets must be filed and served as well.

The DRFA is a critical document. It is a sworn financial statement and must be completely truthful and accurate. Mr. Hippe or you Atlanta divorce attorney will counsel you on how to complete it properly. It will show monthly income from all sources as well as all assets, both separate and marital, all debts, and all monthly expenses.

Atlanta Divorce Attorney Russell Hippe has his clients prepare the DRFA in an Excel spreadsheet template to make it as easy to complete as it possibly can be. He goes over all of this carefully with his client before the DRFA is filed or produced in discovery. However, the client has to do the tedious detail. The DFRA has to be perfectly accurate. This document will be used throughout the case to establish spousal or child support, either temporary or permanent, and it will bear upon property and debt division as well. It can and should be updated anytime your financial situation changes (you get a raise or lose a job).

Court relied on husbands DRFA in setting husband's gross monthly income for purposes of establishing child support. Walton v. Walton, 285 Ga. 706 (2009).

Fifteen (15) day rules set forth in U.S.C.R. 24.2 is "directory only" and a failure to comply with this rule does not mean a late filed financial affidavit or worksheet should be excluded from evidence at a hearing. Hendry v. Hendry, 292 Ga. 1 (2012).

Husband estopped from complaining on appeal about the trial court's use of his wages from a W–2 form in calculating child support because the wage amount was “the same as that provided by Husband in his domestic relations financial affidavit”. Simmons v. Simmons, 288 Ga. 670, 672, 706 S.E.2d 456 (2011)