Atlanta Family Blog

Strictly speaking, Georgia law does not recognize a formal legal separation. It does, however, provide actions for “separate maintenance.” A couple who files for separate maintenance can remain separated indefinitely, or a spouse can file for divorce at some point. Continue reading to learn more. Why Not Just Divorce? There are several common reasons ‌couples […]

Georgia’s four types of alimony are temporary, permanent, periodic, and lump sum alimony. Each type of spousal support is based on different criteria. Alimony payments may be direct cash payments to the ex-spouse, or the alimony may be paid in non-cash payments, such as making mortgage payments.  What Are the Types of Spousal Support Granted […]

Family law disputes may include matters related to divorce, custody, property division, paternity, and spousal support. Unfortunately, the parties often disagree about how the matter should be resolved. The result is litigation through the court.  Subpoenas are valuable tools used to gather information about a case. They may also be used to obtain evidence and […]

Georgia law gives judges the authority to order a psychological evaluation in child custody cases. Judges make custody decisions based on a child’s best interest. However, a psychological evaluation provides vital information that helps the judge decide custody matters in some cases. Interested parties may request a psychological evaluation in a custody case, including either […]

People talk a lot about common law marriage, but only a few states recognize them. The state of Georgia only recognizes common law marriages from before January 1, 1997. It also recognizes common law marriages entered into before this date are valid. The same is true of common law marriages from other states. What is […]

Yes, under certain circumstances, you can kidnap your own child in Georgia. Parental kidnapping is a common form of child abduction, especially in disputed custody battles. A parent can be prosecuted for parental kidnapping if they take their child from the other parent without legal custody or a court order. A parent may kidnap their […]

In the United States, there are more than 1.3 million attorneys. But when you need legal representation, not just any lawyer will do.  Unfortunately, not all attorneys have the skills and abilities to successfully fight for their clients. It is important to understand what makes a good attorney and avoid hiring a bad one. In […]

Child custody laws are changing. When parents disagreed over a custody arrangement in the past, the law favored the mother. It was assumed that a mother was the primary caretaker and better fit to care for the child’s well-being.  This is no longer the case. Child custody laws have increasingly moved toward viewing both parents […]

When someone files a lawsuit, the other parties don’t receive notice of the lawsuit automatically. A process server must serve them with the complaint papers so the lawsuit process can truly begin. Many would-be defendants take various steps to avoid process servers. However, process servers can go to significant lengths to track them down and […]

Except in cases of emancipation, parents have a legal obligation to support their minor children. After a divorce, the noncustodial parent is often assigned a monthly child support payment by the court.  The specific amount of child support designated is based on several factors, including the gross income of each parent. It is designed to […]