Crystal Wright | April 14, 2022 | Legal Separation

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… read more

Crystal Wright | April 8, 2022 | Spousal Support

When parties divorce in Gwinnett County, Georgia, the court may have included an order that one party pays the other alimony or spousal support. If that is the case, then the party ordered to pay alimony must make the payments as detailed in the court order. Failure to make the payments required by the order… read more

Crystal Wright | March 29, 2022 | Divorce

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… read more

Crystal Wright | March 15, 2022 | Family Law

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… read more

Crystal Wright | March 1, 2022 | Child Custody

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… read more

Crystal Wright | February 10, 2022 | Family Law

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… read more

Crystal Wright | January 28, 2022 | Child Custody

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… read more

Crystal Wright | January 20, 2022 | Divorce

When spouses want to end a marriage, they have a few different legal options. Divorce is the most common route to permanently dissolve the marriage. However, some circumstances make divorce an undesirable or impractical option.  Legal separation is an alternative that offers many of the benefits of divorce, but it also keeps certain legal arrangements… read more

Crystal Wright | January 6, 2022 | Family Law

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… read more

Crystal Wright | December 17, 2021 | Child Custody

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… read more