Family Law

Collaboration allows for a kind divorce

Posted on September 28, 2009
The following article, written by Paul Pinkham for Jacksonville.com, details the progress made in Florida incorporating collaborative divorce into and as a viable alternative to the litigation process. =========================================================== Collaborative divorces can save couples money and emotional distress...

Divorce Attorneys Using Social Media to Find Evidence

Posted on July 01, 2009
It's been known for a while that current and potential future employers look at people's profiles on social networking sites such as Facebook. And it's also been known that people are using social networking sites to announce the status of...

Top 10 Reasons a Premarital Agreement May be Invalid

Posted on June 30, 2009
FindLaw has a list of 10 reasons which may cause a prenuptial agreement to fail. For more details, check out the original post, but this is a list of those reasons: NO WRITTEN AGREEMENT. NOT PROPERLY EXECUTED. YOU WERE PRESSURED....

Telling your kids about your divorce? Avoid these mistakes.

Posted on June 18, 2009
Rosalind Sedacca has some great information I wanted to share with you as my readers: Getting psyched up to tell your children about your pending divorce -- or separation? Not sure what to say? When to say it? How to...

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Ga. Chief Justice Wants To Curb Divorce Rate

Posted on April 10, 2009
In an article published on WSBTV.com, Georgia Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears is suggesting that, since the anti-smoking movement helped snuff out rising tobacco use rates, a similar campaign is needed to reverse an uptick in divorces.Sears, who is stepping...

Don't Forget to Update Your Will and Estate Plan After Divorce

Posted on April 08, 2009
The following article, offering excellent advice, is written by Bellevue, Washington collaborative and cooperative divorce attorney Karin Quirk: I send my clients a letter with their final divorce papers. I always advise them to update their wills and estate plans...

Ex-NFL player seeks reduction of child support

Posted on February 19, 2009
Former Denver Broncos running back Travis Henry appeared in DeKalb County Superior Court Thursday to try and reduce child support payments to one of nine children he fathered by as many women. At the hearing, Randall M. Kessler, Henry???s attorney,...

Georgia bill could ban GPS tracking

Posted on January 31, 2009
Private investigators in Georgia are a little irked at a proposed bill that could disallow placing GPS trackers on vehicles. While the bill excludes parents tracking kids, cops, and enterprise usage, it includes private investigators.Inside a completely ordinary SUV parked...

The Domino Effect of The Current Economic Crisis

Posted on January 13, 2009
The following article is written by guest bloggers Sue K. Varon, Esq. and Martin S. Varon, CPA, CVA, JD, of Alternative Resolution Methods, Inc. The deepening recession, increased unemployment, and a stalled housing market have negatively impacted most of our...

How Support via Direct Deposit Damages Your Mortgage Application After Divorce

Posted on January 13, 2009
Kelly Lise Murray, Co-Founder & President of DivorceThisHouse.com warns against a hidden danger of divorce real estate -post-divorce mortgages. Not all forms of alimony and child support count as YOUR income for mortgage purposes. In an article posted on ActiveRain...

New Options for Child Support Payments

Posted on November 19, 2008
By Sue Varon, Esq. and Jennifer Varon Non-custodial parents pay child support in a variety of ways. Divorced parents should be provided with all possible options for making these payments. Some new options have emerged both in the public and...

Getting Divorced? Vital Info Regarding Your Estate Plan

Posted on October 31, 2008
By Alexis Martin Neely If you've already got an estate plan in place and you are going through a divorce, you've got some steps to take because no matter how you cut it, divorce has a major impact on your...

Meeting Halfway for Child Visitation Exchanges

Posted on October 23, 2008
Frequently parents of divorce have an agreement, or a court order, to meet at a halfway point for purposes of exchanging their children for visitations. For families following such an arrangement, MeetWays is a neat website. Meetways.com was created to...

A Dozen Ways Children Of Divorce Get Caught In Their Parents' Conflict

Posted on October 12, 2008
Every divorcing parent should make it their top priority to keep their children from getting caught in the middle of the conflict of their divorce. The following tips and thoughts are from James Roberts, RSW, a licensed social worker in...

Why you must update retirement beneficiary forms after divorce

Posted on October 11, 2008
Through blogging and social media, I have had the pleasure of "meeting" and getting to know a vast array of excellent attorneys and other professionals. One of them is Mina Sirkin. Mina N. Sirkin is a Family Wealth Lawyer in...

Will Collaborative Divorce Work for You?

Posted on October 10, 2008
When it's time to divorce, spouses have important choices to make about how to proceed and what type of help they'll ask for from others -- including lawyers, mediators, and other professionals. Some people will go on to a lengthy...

Children's Bill of Rights

Posted on October 10, 2008
Divorce can be a frustrating, time consuming, life changing experience. For those that have children, it can be extraordinarily difficult to keep your divorce from adversely affecting your children. This Bill of Rights for Children of Divorce was put together...

Enforceability of prenuptial agreements

Posted on October 08, 2008
The following article, written by Michigan divorce and family law attorney, Jeanne Hannah, appeared in a Michigan newspaper recently. I have removed the references to Michigan law for this post: People ask: ?Would we ever have to go to court...

10 Tips if Divorce is Imminent

Posted on October 07, 2008
1. Consult an Attorney Make sure you know what your rights and obligations are. Be aware of how your behavior could affect the outcome of any potential divorce proceedings, i.e., should you move out of the marital home? 2. Copy...

Why Sign a premarital agreement?

Posted on October 07, 2008
Nobody wants to think at the beginning of a marriage that it will ever end in divorce. However the statistics on divorce in the United States cannot be ignored. Here are some examples: o In 2003 2.3 millions couples married...

More Moms Paying Child Support, Say Top Divorce Attorneys

Posted on October 01, 2008
More women are paying child support these days, according to the latest survey of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). In all, 55% of the respondents have cited an increase in the number of mothers who have been assigned...

Georgia judge orders rapper T.I. to pay more child support

Posted on September 24, 2008
A judge on Tuesday [September 23, 2008] ordered rapper T.I. to pay more child support to the mother of two of his children after she claimed he wasn't providing enough money. Superior Court Judge Bensonetta Tipton Lane told the two-time...

Sign Up for Free Report on "12 Steps to Preparing for a Georgia Divorce"

Posted on September 24, 2008
I am still working to complete my book on Georgia divorce, which I will make available to my readers when it is completed, but in the meantime, I have completed a free report on "12 Steps to Preparing for a...

Sign Up for Free Report on "12 Steps to Preparing for a Georgia Divorce"

Posted on September 19, 2008
I am still working to complete my book on Georgia divorce, which I will make available to my readers when it is completed, but in the meantime, I have completed a free report on "12 Steps to Preparing for a...

50 Divorce Blogs to Find Advice and Comfort in Hard Times

Posted on September 18, 2008
The following list appeared on the blog Soul Mating and is written by Laura Milligan Whether you?ve recently separated from your spouse or you?re a single parent ready to move on to another relationship, you can find a lot of...

Georgia tops at seizing economic stimulus checks

Posted on September 15, 2008
Almost 30,000 lose rebate because they owe back taxes More federal economic stimulus checks have been intercepted to pay back taxes in Georgia than in any other state. Nationally, by the time most of the checks had been mailed out...

Estate Planning after a Second Marriage

Posted on September 12, 2008
It may be time to review your Will Chances are that you have a Will somewhere that you had drawn up when your children were born. Depending on how long ago that was, you should probably dig it out, review...

The Collaborative Divorce Process

Posted on September 08, 2008
The Collaborative Divorce model was developed by a group of attorneys, mental health professionals and financial planning experts whose experience with traditional divorce led them to the conclusion that litigation is injurious to families and especially to children...

LIFE AFTER DIVORCE ? CAN BOTH PARENTS GO TO WEDDINGS, GRADUATIONS, AND BIRTHDAY PARTIES?

Posted on September 06, 2008
The following article is by Washington attorney Karin Quirk. She refers to "cooperative divorce," although we practice "collaborative divorce" in Georgia. The approaches and philosophies appear to be similar and she practices with both methods. Recently while working with a...

LIFE AFTER DIVORCE ??? CAN BOTH PARENTS GO TO WEDDINGS, GRADUATIONS, AND BIRTHDAY PARTIES?

Posted on September 06, 2008
The following article is by Washington attorney Karin Quirk. She refers to "cooperative divorce," although we practice "collaborative divorce" in Georgia. The approaches and philosophies appear to be similar and she practices with both methods. Recently while working with a...

Post-Nuptial Agreements: A Mid-Marriage Change in the Rules May Make Sense

Posted on September 04, 2008
A friend telephones me with the news: She and her husband are back together. Both are academics, and they've had a rocky few years. She came to Washington to pursue a dream of working on health-care policy. He was left...

Presidential Election 2008: About Child Support

Posted on September 03, 2008
Find Out Where the Presidential Candidates Stand on Child Support Collection Issues This year?s presidential candidates have oddly symbiotic positions on child support: Democrat Barack Obama believes more parents should pay it, and Republican John McCain paid it...

So what is this collaborative law thing anyway?

Posted on September 02, 2008
I wish the answer was simple, but it?s not. You would almost have to go through it to fully understand it, but that?s not very helpful either. Perhaps the best way to answer the question is by comparing it to...

Richmond County deputies arrest deadbeat parents

Posted on August 30, 2008
Pay up or get locked up. That's the message Richmond County is sending to deadbeat parents. During a week-long sting, the county's crime suppression team arrested moms and dads who owe thousands of dollars in back child support payments. Deputies...

Why You Need a Prenup

Posted on August 30, 2008
A prenuptial agreement is a contract between two people about to get married that shows exactly how assets will be distributed in the event of divorce or death. Such agreements have existed for thousands of years in some form or...

Alec Baldwin writes divorce guide

Posted on August 23, 2008
Hollywood actor wants to help men survive their failed marriages Alec Baldwin has written a practical guide to divorce for men. The actor has put his bitter court battle with actress Kim Basinger behind him by writing A Promise To...

Just a Reminder: Prenuptial Agreements Have A Purpose

Posted on August 22, 2008
From Best Syndication comes Purpose of Prenuptial Agreements. Some good reminders of points I have brought up before. "To be specific, prenuptial agreements are signed and notarized contracts that draft how financial aspects of a marriage will be handled...

How to Guarantee You'll Have a Divorce from Hell

Posted on August 17, 2008
Christi Trusler, an Austin, Texas, Divorce attorney, whose site is called Austin Divorce Help (she also has a terrific online seminar about divorce), says that periodically, she comes across someone who is determined to have a divorce from hell. In...

9 Questions to Ask the Divorce Lawyer (Before You Write the Check)

Posted on August 01, 2008
Selecting the lawyer that will represent you is one of the most important decisions that you will make in your divorce case. You should try to find a lawyer who is skilled, competent, and who regularly handles family law and...

Significant Change in Computing Gross Income for Members of the Armed Forces

Posted on July 29, 2008
Today's post is from guest blogger William John Camp of Warner Robins and the law firm of Westmoreland, Patterson, Moseley & Hinson. In my opinion (and in the opinion of many other attorneys in Georgia) John is the premier attorney...

Lexmonitor names Stephen Worrall as featured author of the day

Posted on July 26, 2008
While reading my Twitter posts this week, I was very pleased and surprised to see a post from @lexmonitor indicating that I was named featured author of the day for July 23, 2008! LexMonitor is a daily review of law...

Judge Unseals Richardson Divorce Papers

Posted on July 23, 2008
The Fulton County Daily Report has today reported that a judge has unsealed most of the files in the divorce case of House Speaker Glenn Richardson and his ex-wife, Susan. The day the divorce case was filed in February, Paulding...

5 things you need to put in your divorce settlement

Posted on July 22, 2008
Don't miss some of the less obvious things you need to include in your divorce settlement. Here are five things you need to consider: 1.Credit card debt. The division of credit card debt is usually outlined in the final divorce...

IS YOUR SPOUSE CHEATING ON YOU? Top 9 Clues

Posted on July 13, 2008
Integrity Security & Investigation Services, Inc. (@isis2020 on twitter), has posted some key indicators that a spouse MAY be cheating on their blog in a great article. If any of the following occurs or if your spouse utters these phrases,...

Divorce Lawyers Styles: Pit Bulls, Lambs and Foxes

Posted on June 30, 2008
Michael Sherman of the Alabama Family Law Blog has posted a truly insightful article about the different styles of divorce attorneys. Like Michael, I am frequently asked by prospective divorce clients if I will be aggressive... or a pit bull......

To Work or Not to Work? That is Sometimes the Question.

Posted on June 19, 2008
The following article is by Janet Langjahr of the Florida Divorce Law Blog: In lengthier marriages where one partner has been a stay-at-home spouse and parent for most of the marriage, the homebound spouse often asks: should I look to...

Speaker's sealed divorce could set precedent

Posted on June 13, 2008
In early February, Glenn and Susan Richardson walked into the Paulding County Courthouse, filed for an uncontested divorce and got their case sealed from public view. The handling of the divorce raised questions as to whether the speaker of the...

Divorced on Father's Day?

Posted on June 12, 2008
Parenting: Eitiquette Tips for Fathers, Stepdads to Help Make Father's Day Special This June 15th, Americans will be firing up the grills and chowing down on ribs, steaks, burgers, and dogs (also known as guy food) to honor the men...

Software to Assist With Parenting Issues

Posted on June 10, 2008
From the ?Tech Corner? of last month?s ABA Family Law Section?s eNewsletter: When you hear the term ?timeshare,? you might first think of real estate or condos in Las Vegas. But in the realm of family law, timeshare often refers...

If You Owe Back Support, Don?t Expect Your Stimulus Check

Posted on June 10, 2008
The IRS is treating the stimulus checks as if they were tax refunds. On their website, the IRS indicates that the amount of the stimulus check will be reduced or seized if : You are single and your net income...

If You Owe Back Support, Don???t Expect Your Stimulus Check

Posted on June 10, 2008
The IRS is treating the stimulus checks as if they were tax refunds. On their website, the IRS indicates that the amount of the stimulus check will be reduced or seized if : You are single and your net income...

Bill Murray's Pre-nup

Posted on June 03, 2008
Days before their 1997 wedding ceremony, comedian Bill Murray and his wife, Jennifer Butler Murray, entered into a 26-page antenuptial agreement (excerpted at Slate.com). "Jennifer ? is aware that Bill is a person of very substantial means and income," the...

Halted foreign adoptions leave would-be parents in limbo

Posted on May 28, 2008
From the Georgia Adoption Law Blog, posted today: The crib in Ellen Darcy's Boston home has sat empty for more than a year. And in suburban Washington, Laura Teresinski has prepared a nursery for a baby that may never arrive....

Blogging at the Beach 2008: Day 1

Posted on May 23, 2008
I woke up in Destin to a beautiful sunrise and walked on the beach. Registration for the 26th Annual Family Law Institute began at 7:30 at the Sandestin Beach Hilton and I greeted many of my colleagues from Atlanta and...

Blogging at the Beach 2008: Day 2

Posted on May 23, 2008
Day 2 of the Georgia Family Law Institute began today with the popular and fast-moving Hot Tips From the Experts. Moderated by Shiel Edlin of Stern and Edlin of Atlanta, 10 lawyers presented 5 minute segments on various current hot...

Blogging at the Beach 2008: A Preview

Posted on May 18, 2008
I will be attending the Georgia Family Law Institute again this year. The seminar and event, the 26th annual program, will be held at the Sandestin Beach Hilton from Thursday, May 22 through Saturday, May 24, 2008. The topics of...

The House You Owned Before The Marriage

Posted on May 13, 2008
If a married couple gets divorced, and one of the spouses owned their home before the marriage, the house is part marital property and part nonmarital property. The value of the house at the time of the divorce can be...

Wife Sues Husband for Share of Secret $600K Lottery Win

Posted on May 12, 2008
It was a secret that surely could not be kept for long. But Arnim Ramdass allegedly tried. The airline mechanic, 52, disconnected the phone line at home and forbade his stay-at-home wife, Donna Campbell, 48, to watch television, Campbell claims...

7 Roadblocks to Successful Mediation

Posted on May 09, 2008
Mediation is a very popular and widespread process used to resolve disputes, especially in divorce cases. In many places . . ., mediation is virtually a requirement before a case can go to trial. The reason is obvious ? it...

Web Histories Playing Larger Role in Divorce Proceedings

Posted on April 30, 2008
Lipstick on the collar? One too many late nights at the office? Internet browsing histories? Divorce lawyers are seeing an increase in the number of cases that cite Web logs as evidence, according to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers....

Domestic violence | It's not just physical abuse

Posted on April 27, 2008
Yesterday, John P. Tassinari shot his wife, Barbara, multiple times with two 45-caliber handguns in the driveway of their Quincy, Massachusetts home. She died at the scene. She left two children, one son who is 10 and a 1-year-old from...

'Bad Dads' Reality Show Would Get Child Support Delinquents to Cough Up Cash

Posted on April 26, 2008
A new reality show that could get the go-ahead on FOX plans to hunt down deadbeat dads and hit them up for the child support they owe. FOX confirmed it has requested the pilot of the program tentatively titled "Bad...

Bynum discusses marriage on "Divorce Court"

Posted on April 23, 2008
Televangelist Juanita Bynum acknowledges thoughts of suicide and says she no longer wants to remain married to her estranged husband in an upcoming two-part episode of the reality television show "Divorce Court." In episodes scheduled to air Thursday and Friday,...

Quit fighting -- get a postnuptial agreement

Posted on April 16, 2008
Can a piece of paper save a marriage? One suburban Boston couple figured it was worth trying so they entered into a legal agreement to manage a major source of tension in their relationship - money. The couple, in their...

Angry wife tries divorce-by-YouTube tactic

Posted on April 16, 2008
A New York woman involved in a divorce battle has taken to the popular video sharing site YouTube to spill secrets about her husband, his family, and even their intimate life. Tricia Walsh-Smith lashes out at her husband, Broadway executive...

The Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program

Posted on April 12, 2008
The following information is from the website of the U.S. State Department: The Children?s Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP) is a service for the parents and legal guardians of minor children. It enables the Department of State?s Office of Children?s...

Modification of Custody or Visitation in a Georgia Divorce

Posted on April 06, 2008
These frequently asked questions explain your options for changing an established custody or visitation agreement. Under what circumstances can custody and visitation orders be changed within the state where they were obtained? After a final decree of divorce or other...

Clients Can Help - 14 Tips for the Client Going Through a Divorce

Posted on April 04, 2008
Like most litigants, the end result and the cost of legal representation are among the most important concerns of anyone involved in a family law dispute. With these concerns in mind, clients frequently ask me if there is anything they...

Estate Planning and Divorce

Posted on April 04, 2008
Leanna Hamill of the Massachusetts Estate Planning and Elder Law Blog has recently posted two useful and informative articles (Part 1 and Part 2) about Estate Planning and Divorce, which I have combined in this post: If you are separated...

Download free Collaborative Divorce Knowledge Kit

Posted on April 04, 2008
The International Academy of Collaborative Professionals wants you to discover the collaborative process and whether collaborative divorce is right for you. To that end and for a limited time, the IACP has created a kit that answers many of the...

A Woman's View of Prenuptial Agreements

Posted on April 04, 2008
Sam Hasler, of the Indiana Divorce & Family Law Blog posted this week about an article on Prenuptials on Mom.Dad.Chat blog and commented on it. Both were interesting, so I am reposting them here. First the Prenuptials article: We all...

Serb ex-wife gets half of everything ? literally

Posted on April 03, 2008
Man uses grinding machine to cut farm tools, machines in half for divorce BELGRADE, Serbia - A Serb farmer used a grinding machine to cut in half his farm tools and machines to comply with a court ruling that he...

Serb ex-wife gets half of everything ??? literally

Posted on April 03, 2008
Man uses grinding machine to cut farm tools, machines in half for divorce BELGRADE, Serbia - A Serb farmer used a grinding machine to cut in half his farm tools and machines to comply with a court ruling that he...

Georgia, South Carolina Make Top 10 Most Violent States Against Women

Posted on April 02, 2008
One day after a domestic violence murder in South Augusta, the Violence Policy Center has unflattering statistics for our area. The center says South Carolina is number six, and Georgia is number eight in the country for the number of...

Is Work Or A Divorce Keeping You From Your Child?

Posted on April 02, 2008
I have posted previously on software and other tools to help parents and children of dvorce keep up with schedules and improve communication. This is a similar product which deserves a look: For parents burdened by a divorce or a...

Women M.B.A.s More Likely To Divorce Than Men

Posted on April 02, 2008
According to a soon-to-be-published study by Washington & Lee University School of Law and reported in the Wall St. Journal, women with M.B.A.s are twice as likely to get divorced or separated as their male counterparts. In short, a professional...

Frequently Asked Questions about Marital Separation Agreements in Georgia

Posted on April 01, 2008
What is a Marital Separation and Property Settlement Agreement? A marital separation agreement, also known as a property settlement agreement, is a written contract dividing your property, spelling out your rights, and settling problems such as alimony and custody...

Men Receiving Alimony Want A Little Respect

Posted on April 01, 2008
Modern Males Say Living Off the Ex-Wife Is No Cause for Shame As a Hollywood actor, John David Castellanos is protective of his image. He stays in phenomenal shape and looks much younger than his 50 years. But he admits...

Georgia, South Carolina Make Top 10 Most Violent States Against Women

Posted on April 01, 2008
One day after a domestic violence murder in South Augusta, the Violence Policy Center has unflattering statistics for our area. The center says South Carolina is number six, and Georgia is number eight in the country for the number of...

Joint or Sole Custody?

Posted on March 29, 2008
For the sake of the children, the goals of divorcing parents should be the same: involvement of both parents in the lives of the children and mitigation of conflict between the parents. These two factors should dominate all others when...

IRS Declares Spouses More Innocent Than Before

Posted on March 29, 2008
The innocent spouse rules have been liberalized in new tax legislation, making it easier for spouses to qualify for tax relief. In addition, the legislation allows a spouse to limit her liability on a joint return to her separate liability....

Joint Custody and the Best Interest Standard

Posted on March 29, 2008
?In the best interest of the child? or ?child?s best interest? is the famous mantra of the family court prevalent in child custody proceedings today, yet its interpretation by the family court or judges is often arbitrary and its meaning...

Georgia Divorce Laws

Posted on March 28, 2008
Georgia Domestic Relations Code RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: To file for a divorce in Georgia, at least one spouse needs to be a resident of the state for six months before filing a petition for divorce. [Based on Georgia Code - Section:...

Teacher Conferences Are Important For Divorced Or Divorcing Parents

Posted on March 28, 2008
When parents are going through a divorce or are divorced, usually one parent has little knowledge about what is happening in his or her child?s classroom. What do you know about how well your child or children did in school...

Joint or Sole Custody?

Posted on March 28, 2008
For the sake of the children, the goals of divorcing parents should be the same: involvement of both parents in the lives of the children and mitigation of conflict between the parents. These two factors should dominate all others when...

IRS Declares Spouses More Innocent Than Before

Posted on March 28, 2008
The innocent spouse rules have been liberalized in new tax legislation, making it easier for spouses to qualify for tax relief. In addition, the legislation allows a spouse to limit her liability on a joint return to her separate liability....

Joint Custody and the Best Interest Standard

Posted on March 28, 2008
???In the best interest of the child??? or ???child???s best interest??? is the famous mantra of the family court prevalent in child custody proceedings today, yet its interpretation by the family court or judges is often arbitrary and its meaning...

Five Ways to Save Tax Money During a Divorce

Posted on March 27, 2008
The first thing certified divorce practitioner Clay Caldwell tells his clients is to ?reach agreements with each other.? It?s very important, he said, to talk with your spouse and straighten out money issues. It?s very easy to lose money if...

Lesbian, lawyer win appeal of contempt over adoption case

Posted on March 27, 2008
The state Court of Appeals has thrown out contempt findings that arose from a lesbian's attempt to adopt a young girl. Last year Wilkinson County Superior Court Judge John L. Parrott held both Elizabeth Hadaway and her lawyer, Dana P....

The Globalization of Family Law

Posted on March 26, 2008
The world continues to grow smaller and economies continue to expand globally. Your client?s legal issues have continued to grow more complex, and, like everything else, family law has gone global. In today?s world, it is very possible for a...

Forget silver anniversaries: Many couples grapple with 'gray divorce'

Posted on March 26, 2008
It's been nearly a year since Sherman Smith's 33-year marriage ended in a divorce that, he said, his ex-wife wanted after she realized she didn't love him in the same way anymore. "A divorce is kind of like a death,...

Forget silver anniversaries: Many couples grapple with 'gray divorce'

Posted on March 25, 2008
It's been nearly a year since Sherman Smith's 33-year marriage ended in a divorce that, he said, his ex-wife wanted after she realized she didn't love him in the same way anymore. "A divorce is kind of like a death,...

Client Bill of Rights

Posted on March 22, 2008
Every client deserves these five guarantees from their lawyer: 1. The Right to Have All Phone Calls Returned Promptly. It still amazes me when people tell me their lawyer will not call them back at all. One sweet lady recently...

Two judges recuse from Richardson divorce-sealing case

Posted on March 20, 2008
According to today's Fulton County Daily Report, in a story by Andy Peters, two of the three Superior Court judges in the Paulding Judicial Circuit have recused from a citizen's effort to unseal court filings in House Speaker Glenn Richardson's...

Nice article about a colleague

Posted on March 15, 2008
A colleague of mine, Kurt Kegel, of Davis Matthews and Quigley, a fellow divorce and family law attorney in Atlanta, was the subject of a recent article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution focusing on people who help other people through...

More couples hiding wealth from each other

Posted on March 13, 2008
Honesty may be the best policy for a successful marriage. But when it comes to divorce, couples are becoming increasingly devious in concealing their wealth from each other. One fifth of couples who divorced last year tried to conceal their...

Safe Internet use | For those divorcing

Posted on March 13, 2008
Jeanne Hannah of the Updates in Michigan Family Law Blog has posted a wonderful list of tips for something many people fail to consider when they are researching online for information about a divorce and their spouse has access to...

Bishop Weeks pleads guilty to aggravated assault

Posted on March 11, 2008
Bishop Thomas W. Weeks and his wife, evangelist Juanita Bynum, embrace after he pleaded guilty to assaulting her in August. The couple is going through a divorce. 'My emotions got the best of me,' he says Bishop Thomas W. Weeks...

Ga. high court: Fla. lawyer doesn't have to pay $462K in back child support

Posted on March 11, 2008
Successful Florida lawyer Willie Gary cannot be held in contempt over a child-support dispute involving twins he fathered with an Atlanta woman, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled Monday. Gary, who is married with four children, had a relationship with Diana...

Estranged evangelists meet, no resolution yet

Posted on March 11, 2008
National evangelist Juanita Bynum on Monday finally met with her estranged husband, Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III, and his attorney for a deposition in preparation for divorce proceedings. The meeting, which began at 9 a.m. in the law office of...

Facebook and flirting: the dangers of divorce

Posted on March 10, 2008
Social networking sites, such as Facebook, Bebo and MySpace, are the latest phenomenon with millions of people enjoying catching up with old friends or making new ones. But lawyers are already predicting that the sites will be the next tool...

Divorce Advice for Women -- 11 Things to Do Now

Posted on March 05, 2008
Maryland attorney James Gross, editor of the Maryland Divorce Legal Crier, has posted two useful (and gender-specific) lists of things to consider in preparing for divorce. These ideas are general and you should speak with an attorney as to the...

Divorce Advice for Men -- 11 Things to Do Now

Posted on March 05, 2008
Maryland attorney James Gross, editor of the Maryland Divorce Legal Crier, has posted two useful (and gender-specific) lists of things to consider in preparing for divorce. These ideas are general and you should speak with an attorney as to the...

Man to get child support back

Posted on March 02, 2008
Parents owe $14,460 in case of mistaken paternity, judge says Judge David Roper said he felt badly for Kenneth Samuels when he learned the child he had fathered for 11 years wasn't his. Justice was also shortchanged, the judge said,...

Many couples embracing collaborative divorce

Posted on March 01, 2008
Collaborative divorce. The term sounds like an oxymoron in a culture steeped in high-cost, high-conflict breakups. Yet many couples are embracing the approach, recently endorsed by the American Bar Association, as part of a broader quest to find more civilized,...

What You Can Learn from a Divorce Coach

Posted on February 22, 2008
In a collaborative divorce, each spouse usually hires their own divorce coach to help them learn to communicate and negotiate more effectively. These coaches are an integral part of the collaborative divorce team. They teach life skills that will form the basis for your post-divorce relationship with your spouse...

BYNUM'S LAWYERS STALLING DIVORCE: Attorneys for Thomas Weeks say she is holding up procedures.

Posted on February 22, 2008
The Associates Press reports that the lawyers for Juanita Bynum are stalling divorce proceedings against her estranged husband, Bishop Thomas Weeks III.      The lawyers of Bishop Weeks said that they have been trying to get her side of the story for four months...

Law evolving as divorces drag in digital evidence

Posted on February 21, 2008
I was interviewed by Atlanta Journal and Constitution reporter Bill Torpy last week and the article appeared in the paper and online today. It is reprinted below: Marietta divorce attorney Stephen Worrall increasingly sees clients come to his office and excitedly tell him: "You won't believe what I found on my wife's e-mail...

Online game causes divorce!

Posted on February 21, 2008
Mobile, Alabama, family law and divorce attorney Michael Sherman of the Alabama Family Law Blog has posted an interesting article today, republished below. World of Warcraft is a best-selling online role-playing game.  It boasts over ten million subscribers; however it has apparently also left an increasing number of real life casualties in its wake, including a woman named Jocelyn...

Documents sought in Richardson divorce

Posted on February 20, 2008
Attorney Gerry Weber has filed a motion in Paulding County Superior Court, on behalf of Rome government gadfly George Anderson, to unseal court filings in the divorce case of House Speaker Glenn Richardson. Susan Richardson filed for divorce from Glenn Richardson on Feb...

Evangelist Bynum skips divorce meeting

Posted on February 18, 2008
Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III got stood up at the negotiation table Monday when his estranged wife evangelist Juanita Bynum failed to show for a mediation of their divorce. The appointment was scheduled for 2 p.m. in the Atlanta law office of Kessler, Schwarz and Solomiany...

Divorce: Counting Money Gets Tougher

Posted on February 17, 2008
Dividing up assets in a divorce is hard enough already. Now, it's getting tougher to count the money. The popularity of hedge funds, stock-option grants and other investments that can be tricky to value is giving warring spouses something new to fight over...

Bynum, Weeks willing to reconcile?

Posted on February 17, 2008
They have laid hands on the sanctified, the sinful, the sick ? and, allegedly, on each other, too. The stormy love affair of national evangelist Juanita Bynum and Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III, the power couple of Pentecostal prophesying, could be nearing an end soon...

Four Tips to Save Money in Your Divorce Case

Posted on February 15, 2008
1. Have a Clear Written Fee AgreementMost experienced and effective divorce attorneys charge by the hour and require an advance retainer (or deposit) that is paid at the beginning of the case. Fees and expenses will be charged against the retainer until it is exhausted, at which point the client will be responsible for any additional sums incurred...

Religious Disputes in Child Custody Cases Raise First Amendment Issues for Courts

Posted on February 15, 2008
An article in the New York Times notes that courts around the country are confronting a proliferation of child custody disputes with a religious dimension. Such cases may, for example, involve challenges to a parent's suitability for custody based on the allegations that his or her extreme or unusual religiosity could adversely affect a child's development or may involve requests for the court to direct one of the parents to refrain from behavior due to the potential effect on the child's religious upbringing or on the relationship with a parent with certain religious beliefs...

Speaker's divorce not final, judges say

Posted on February 14, 2008
The judge who last week sealed what he described as a final divorce decree for House Speaker Glenn Richardson now says the divorce isn't final after all. Last week, Paulding County Superior Court Judge James Osborne a former partner in Richardson's law firm  signed an order preventing public inspection of documents in the case, including a "final order granting divorce...

Top 10 Valentine Tips to Stay Happily Married

Posted on February 14, 2008
Thanks to Lee Rosen at the Rosen Law Firm in North Carolina for alerting me to this news: The Stay Happily Married site has just launched a free podcast where 10 of the nation?s top marriage counselors share their tips on how to have a happy Valentine?s Day and strengthen your marriage...

Lump Sum or Periodic Alimony? Shepherd v. Collins

Posted on February 13, 2008
In Shepherd v. Collins, S07A1658, the Supreme Court of Georgia, in a unanimous opinion written by Justce Harris Hines, reversed the judgment of the Superior Court of Laurens County, refusing to modify downward David Shepherd?s alimony payments to his former wife, Tammie Collins...

Five Tips to Protect Your Retirement Assets in a Divorce

Posted on February 13, 2008
When it comes to splitting assets during a divorce, the house and retirement funds are usually the biggest. As the housing market tumbles, retirement assets are taking center stage. But deciding who gets what and how much when the Golden Years roll around can be tricky...

5 things to consider before you talk to the judge

Posted on February 13, 2008
Mary Beth Long, a Richmond, Virginia, family law attorney, publishes VA Family Law Blog and she offers the following helpful tips to witnesses testifying in family law cases: you are headed to court, you should get prepared. Know where the court is located, where to park and what time to be there...

Happy Valentine's Day Honey, Let's Get Divorced

Posted on February 12, 2008
The day of romance and love is coming up Thursday. Valentine's Day is a multi-billion dollar industry, but so is divorce. While some people in love are thinking of how they're going to spend their day together -- others are thinking of something much less romantic...

Quick and quiet: Speaker Richardson gets divorced

Posted on February 11, 2008
House Speaker Glenn Richardson and his wife filed for divorce, completed the dissolution of their marriage and got court records of the proceedings sealed ? all in a single afternoon last week. The Richardsons appeared privately on Wednesday before a Paulding County Superior Court judge who was not even assigned to their case...

Valentine's Day gifts now include divorce papers

Posted on February 09, 2008
Most couples celebrate Valentine's Day by giving greeting cards, flowers, candy or the like. But others have found a more unconventional gift to give-divorce papers.Legal Match, a San Francisco-based Internet company that matches clients to attorneys, has coined the term the "Valentine's Effect" in order to describe the surge in requests for divorce attorneys that are made about two weeks prior to Valentine's Day each year...

Nation's Top Divorce Lawyers Note Dramatic Rise in Electronic Evidence

Posted on February 07, 2008
E-mails are Primary Source with Wives Most Likely to Use Them A resounding 88% of the nation's top divorce attorneys say they have seen an increase in the number of cases using electronic data as evidence during the past five years, according to a recent survey of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)...

10 Things Not To Do In Your Divorce Case

Posted on February 06, 2008
Divorce is not easy. There are many pitfalls and traps awaiting parties that have not educated themselves about the process. People often make bad decisions under stress, or without the guidance of an experienced lawyer. Don?t be one of them. Divorce law isn?t rocket science, but it isn?t always intuitive...

10 Tips for Witnesses: Don't Give These Answers!

Posted on February 06, 2008
After recently spending several days in court on various matters involving testimony, I feel like I should share some fairly common statements that should no longer be used in court. I understand that some of these are the way people may talk in a conversation, but they were not uttered in conversations...

Can't Play "Hide the Ball" in a Prenuptial Agreement - Blige v Blige

Posted on February 05, 2008
In a unanimous opinion written by Chief Justice Leah Sears, from an appeal of an order entered in the Superior Court of Bryan County by Judge David Cavender, in Blige v. Blige, S07F1817, the Supreme Court affirmed the judgment awarding the wife $160K as her equitable interest in the parties? marital home, holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in setting aside the parties? prenuptial agreement, since the evidence supported the trial court?s finding that the husband failed to make a full and fair disclosure of his assets, income and liabilities prior to execution of the agreement...

Parenting Tips for Divorced Parents

Posted on February 04, 2008
The following tips can help divorced parents work better together in matters pertaining to their children: Try to make your dealings with your child?s other parent as pleasant as you can ? even if he or she doesn?t. If your ex knows how to get under your skin and uses this knowledge unfairly, resolve to keep your cool anyway...

Georgia Divorce Definitions

Posted on January 30, 2008
This collection of definitions will help clarify some unique characteristics to the Georgia Divorce laws, process and paperwork which is filed with the court. Filing Party Title:PetitionerThe spouse who will initiate the Divorce by filing the required paperwork with the court...

Georgia Spousal Support/Maintenance/Alimony Factors

Posted on January 30, 2008
In Georgia the support payments (if any) can certainly influence how the marital property distribution is awarded, which is why it can become a very intricate part of the final outcome of any divorce. Keeping this in mind, if you and your spouse are unable to reach and agreement on this issue, the Superior Court will order support from one spouse to the other on a case-by-case basis as follows: Any spouse may be awarded alimony as long as he or she is not guilty of desertion or adultery...

Georgia Property Division Factors

Posted on January 30, 2008
In Georgia, the property and debt issues are typically settled between the parties by a signed Marital Settlement Agreement or the property award is actually order and decreed by the Superior Court within the Decree of Divorce. Georgia is referred to as an "equitable distribution" state...

Georgia Grounds for Divorce

Posted on January 30, 2008
The Petition for Divorce is the initial document filed with the Georgia court. It is in this document that the filing spouse will request the court to terminate the marriage under certain specified grounds. The granting of a divorce shall be according to one of the following grounds: No Fault Based Grounds:(1) The marriage is irretrievably broken...

Georgia Divorce Residency Requirements

Posted on January 30, 2008
In order to file your Petition for Divorce in Georgia, you must make sure the Superior Court has jurisdiction over your case. The most common way spouses are eligible to use a specific court system is by meeting the residency requirements. Meeting the Georgia residency requirements is typically only a concern for a spouse who has recently moved or is planning to move in the near future...

Child Support Payments and Getting a U.S. Passport

Posted on January 29, 2008
Section 51.70 (a) (8) of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations states, in part, that if you are certified to Passport Services by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to be in arrears of child support payments in excess of $2,500, you are ineligible to receive a U...

Children's Bill of Rights

Posted on January 28, 2008
I have posted previously the Children's Bill of Rights from the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys. This is another good list from DivorceHQ, stated from the child's perspective: We the children of the divorcing parents, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish these Bill Of Rights for all children...

Documentation in Child Custody Cases

Posted on January 23, 2008
How important is documentation in child custody cases? It is extremely important.  According to several child custody experts, one of the best means to prepare for and win a child custody trial is to provide solid documentation that can prove one?s parental capabilities and fitness...

Marriage, Divorce, Taxes and Your Social Security Number

Posted on January 23, 2008
Newlyweds and the recently divorced should make sure that names on their tax returns match those registered with the Social Security Administration (SSA). A mismatch between a name on the tax return and a Social Security number (SSN) could unexpectedly increase a tax bill or reduce the size of any refund...

Collaborative Divorce Case Study Summaries

Posted on January 17, 2008
The following Collaborative Divorce Case Study Summaries are found at the website of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP), the standard-bearer for the Collaborative movement with more than 3,000 members in 13 countries: 1...

Lawyer defends his monthly $14K child payments

Posted on January 15, 2008
Renowned trial lawyer Willie Gary had a very personal case before the Georgia Supreme Court Monday. And for a publicity savvy lawyer, it was clear that this was one case he wanted to avoid scrutiny because it dealt with back child support and a legal blunder: "his own...

How to Keep Divorce From Having Long Lasting Effects on Children

Posted on January 14, 2008
Yearly more than 1 million children experience the divorce of their parents. The process and trauma these children experience will normally begin long before there is an actual divorce. It will begin with parental disagreements, anger and continue to worsen throughout the divorce process and can often last for many years after the divorce is final...

Collaborative Law in Georgia: Child Specialists, Coaches and the Development of the Parenting Plan

Posted on January 10, 2008
I am very pleased to present the following article, written by my colleagues in the Collaborative Law Institute of Georgia,  Howard Drutman, Ph.D. & Marsha Schechtman, LCSW of Atlanta North Psychotherapy Center, who have graciously permitted me to reprint their article here: Around the country and indeed the world the Collaborative Divorce process embraces many different  approaches...

TIPS ON REPRESENTING YOURSELF IN COURT

Posted on January 09, 2008
The Court is a very traditional and polite place. When you are representing yourself in Court you are trying to persuade a judge or a jury that you are right. So you must act, dress, and speak in a way that helps you with your case. When you come to Court, dress as professionally as possible...

Divorce Wars Hazardous to Financial Health

Posted on January 09, 2008
In its February 2008 issue, Consumer Reports lists and discusses "12 Money Blunders That Could Cost You $1 Million." Coming in at number 3 is: "Launching a divorce war": 3. Launching a divorce war (CR estimated cost: $49,000 to $188,000) Divorce may be unavoidable sometimes, but spouses can take steps to reduce thefinancial impact...

New Year's Resolutions: 7 Tips for Being a Better...

Posted on January 08, 2008
Since it is the first of the new year, I will join the chorus with some New Year's Resolutions for divorced or separated parents and others. Following these tips should help you behave better, have better discussions and keep the peace. The holidays can be a tough time for families, whether together or divided...

2008 Brings New Child Custody Laws

Posted on December 28, 2007
The New Year will bring several new laws to Georgia including more changes to the state's rules for divorcing parents. The new law streamlines the process for determining child custody because the bill's sponsors said our old laws often trapped kids in traumatic legal battles...

Cell Phone Voice Messages and Custody Disputes

Posted on December 26, 2007
Should you keep a record of those angry cell phone voice messages from your ex?  The now infamous Alec Baldwin voicemail message to his daughter (in which he berates his daughter) illustrates how advances in technology can help introduce evidence into child custody battles...

The 12 Days of Christmas Divorce

Posted on December 26, 2007
On Christmas Eve, James J. Gross, of the Maryland Divorce Legal Crier, had a very appropriate post for the season and I am reproducing it with thanks to him and to Dick Price at the Divorce and Family Law in Tarrant County, Texas Blog, who brought Jim's post to my attention: "The Twelve Days of Christmas Divorce ?On the twelfth day of Christmas,My true love sent to meTwelve demands for relief,Eleven prayers for property,Ten thousand for alimony,Nine hundred for child support,Eight pages of interrogatories,Seven requests for documents,Six requests for admissions,Five thousand for attorneys,Four requests to enjoin,Three pre-trial motions,Two process servers,And a complaint for a final divorce!" I hope everyone has as merry a Christmas and as happy a holiday season as possible as you work through whatever legal issues you face...

Kinder, Gentler Collaborative Divorce Also Costs Less

Posted on December 26, 2007
A kinder, gentler method of getting divorced has won fans among both clients and counsel. But it has yet to win over some traditionalists, who wonder, for instance, why collaborative divorce must include a promise not to litigate. (Those who violate the ban on courtroom battle have to start over again with new counsel...

Your Custody Plan

Posted on December 23, 2007
Being creative doesn?t necessarily mean being complex. Simple plans, with both parents working together for the benefit of their children, work the best. There are two perspectives to keep in mind: yours, as parents, and your children?s. Don?t jam your children?s lives into your schedule if you want to have a successful plan...

Georgia Family Law Blog Ranked in Top 15 Blogs on BlawgSearch Today

Posted on December 21, 2007
Family Law Blawgs (69) Georgia Family Law Blog [feed] Covers family law Issues in Georgia, including divorce, alimony, and child support. By Stephen M. Worrall. Last Updated: December 21, 2007 - Rank Today: 15 http://sworrall.typepad.com/georgia_family_law/ Don't blink because these rankings change fast and often, but I was very honored today, December 21, 2007, to see the Georgia Family Law Blog named as the highest ranking Family Law Blawg today on Justia's BlawgSearch page and the 15th ranked blawg today of all 2247 Blawgs in all 57 categories...

Surviving the Holidays

Posted on December 18, 2007
Getting through the holidays can be a challenge for any family, but it can be especially difficult for a newly-divorced family. In her Divorce Ain?t So Bad After All series, Barbara Scala, Life Transition & Divorce Coach, offers these tips for surviving the holidays: Find Your Holiday Spirit Where is your holiday cheer? Hiding behind anger you?re holding toward your ex? Or is there sadness because you?re not part of a couple or loneliness when your kids are not around? Forget that...

Georgia Divorced Parents Face Major Law Change

Posted on December 18, 2007
WSB-TV has a video of their report on the change in Georgia law regarding the choice of 14 year olds, which was passed in the Georgia General Assembly in 2007 and becomes effective for cases filed after January 1, 2008. Here is the link. SOURCE: WSB TV...

What you should know about QDROs

Posted on December 16, 2007
A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is a legal document that directs the administrator of a pension plan to give a certain amount of an employee's pension to his/her non-employee ex-spouse after the divorce is final. Here are the top four mistakes people make when it comes to QDROs...

St. Mary?s church in Newnan will offer ?Divorce and Beyond? in January

Posted on December 16, 2007
A special 8-week program entitled ?Divorce and Beyond? will be offered at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Newnan beginning Jan. 28 and running through Feb. 26. Participants will meet Tuesday evenings from 7 to 8 p.m. in the parish?s new facility Education Wing, room 105...

Top 10 things to NOT do during your divorce.

Posted on December 16, 2007
Divorce is not easy. There are many pitfalls and traps awaiting parties that have not educated themselves about the process. People often make bad decisions under stress, or without the guidance of an experienced lawyer. Don?t be one of them. Divorce law isn?t rocket science, but it isn?t always intuitive...

Prenuptial Agreements: Basics

Posted on December 16, 2007
So you're getting married, and everything's fabulous -- but then someone asks if you'll have a prenuptial agreement. What? You're in love -- who wants to think about divorce at a time like this?Well, we hate to burst your bubble, but maybe you should explore prenups...

Creating Co-Parenting Plans that Work

Posted on December 15, 2007
Whatever disadvantages there may be to sitting down with your soon-to-be ex-spouse to work out a parenting plan there is one undeniable truth to keep you at the table: You two are the only people who truly know your children, their needs, the demands of all of your schedules and the relative strengths and weaknesses of each parent...

Custody & Visitation Dos and Don'ts

Posted on December 15, 2007
The one thing divorce doesn't change is your status as your child's parent. Whether you have a traditional visitation schedule or a flexible co-parenting plan, or whether your plan is temporary or permanent, you can make the time spent with your children as happy and productive as possible...

Child Custody - An Overview

Posted on December 15, 2007
The child custody and visitation landscape has changed. There is a decades' worth of research on the impact of divorce on families to guide divorcing parents. At the same time, these couples face increased pressures from society and the courts to work together to solve custody issues during a time when they are at their deepest emotional distance...

Postnuptial Agreements

Posted on December 14, 2007
According to the New York Times on December 9, 2007 postnups are becoming more popular (the article appears below). Dr. Phil has featured them on TV, and lawyers belonging to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers who were polled state that they are being asked far more frequently to draft postnups...

Heartbroken Holidays: Help for a Child Divided

Posted on December 14, 2007
Diana Skaggs at the Divorce Law Journal (Louisville KY) posted a very timely article today on holidays and children of divorced or divorcing families: The first holidays after a divorce or separation can be a heartbreaking nightmare as estranged parents negotiate access to their children...

Georgia?s new parenting plan law will have big effect

Posted on December 13, 2007
Judge Ellen McElyea is a graduate of the University of Georgia Law School, and practiced law in Canton for a number of years. In 2000, she became judge of Cherokee County Juvenile Court, where she served until she was appointed to the Superior Court of the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit (Cherokee County) by Governor Sonny Perdue in 2007...