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Attorneys Vic Hill and Brad MacDonald

Who gets the frequent flyer miles in a Georgia divorce?

When a marriage ends in divorce, it can feel as if there is an endless list of decisions to be made and tasks to be accomplished. Some issues loom large, such as child custody or property division. Others are relatively minor, and can seem insignificant. However, the net effect of the seemingly minor details can have a significant impact on one’s life after divorce, and these matters deserve attention during the Georgia divorce process.

One example is travel points accumulated during the duration of the marriage. While a few hundred frequent flyer miles may not amount to much, for individuals who travel often for work or leisure, these benefits can add up to serious value. Points in the hundreds of thousands are not uncommon, and can be redeemed for free flights, services, gift cards and other benefits.

The first step is to determine the current point balance and evaluate whether the value of that asset is worth the legal costs associated with procuring a share of it. Once the decision to pursue the asset has been made, the manner in which the points can be divided comes into play. In some cases, the issuing airline will allow the couple to simply divide the points between two accounts. In other cases, transferring points is not permitted, and the asset will have to be negotiated between the parties. When negotiating the division of this particular asset, couples have a wide range of options.

How to divvy up the frequent flyer miles may not ran at the top of most couples’ divorce checklist, but it is an issue that can be of interest to many Georgia spouses. Taking an all-expenses-paid vacation at the end of one’s divorce process is a nice way to begin life as a single person. This is just one example of a type of marital asset that is often overlooked. When moving through a divorce process, every effort should be made to be as comprehensive as possible, so that the most favorable outcome can be reached.

Source: Huffington Post, “Divorce Air Wars,” Stann Givens, April 27, 2013