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GOING WITH REGINA WAS THE BEST DECISION I EVER MADE

Deciding to divorce your spouse is one of your life’s most stressful and excruciating decisions. Suddenly, your life is turned upside down.

Beyond the emotional distress of separation, you face other potentially life-changing dilemmas, such as:

  • Who will have custody of the kids?
  • Can you have parenting time with your kids?
  • Who gets the house?
  • How will the equity be split?
  • What about my 401(k) and pension?
  • How much will my child support payment be?

If you’re considering a Georgia divorce, you need an Atlanta divorce attorney at Edwards Family Law to help answer these questions about child custody, divorce proceedings, and other family law matters.

Our family law firm will work to safeguard your rights and try to resolve the matter as favorably as possible.

Grounds for Divorce in Atlanta, GA

To get a divorce in Georgia, you and your attorney need to select one of 13 grounds, including:

  • Adultery
  • The union is irretrievably broken (most common)
  • Desertion
  • Severe mental illness
  • Cruel treatment
  • Regular intoxication or drug addiction
  • Mental incapacity when you were married

Your Atlanta divorce lawyer will advise you about determining grounds for divorce under Georgia law.

Why You Need an Atlanta Divorce Attorney

A divorce lawyer has the skill and experience to handle four critical aspects of your divorce.

Division of Marital Assets

If you and your spouse decide to divorce, the money and property accumulated during the union must be divided. Some divorcing spouses agree quickly on how to split the marital property and assets. But not always.

Under Georgia law, the divorce court must follow the Equitable Distribution Principle for property division, meaning the assets must be divided in the fairest way possible

However, this principle doesn’t necessarily mean a 50/50 split. One spouse can receive more property or assets than the other. It depends on the circumstances.

The divorce court will make this decision after reviewing critical factors, including:

  • Current income and future earning ability of both spouses
  • Health and age of both partners
  • The amount the spouses contributed to their joint assets
  • Which partner will get primary custody, if children are involved

Child Custody

One of divorce’s most stressful and painful parts is deciding who gets the children. Our law firm understands how difficult it is to agree on child custody and will strive for the best solution.

There are two types of child custody under Georgia law:

  • Physical custody
  • Legal custody

In most cases, both custody types are shared by the spouses.

It is common for parents to get joint legal custody, meaning both parties must cooperate in making significant decisions about the children, such as medical and educational choices.

Physical custody of the children is also usually shared. But one parent is typically chosen to hold primary physical custody. The other has secondary physical custody.

The divorce court will decide on physical custody by considering several factors. The most important one is who has been the significant caregiver during the marriage.

Child Support

Parents in Georgia must provide for their children. Child support in divorce is one way to be sure the children are still cared for even after the couple splits. Georgia law states that children are entitled to sustenance and support according to their needs. However, these needs are only limited by the finances of the parents.

A parent must offer child support for basics: food, shelter, and clothing. But they must also provide financial support for education, transportation, medical and dental services, and other essential components of a child’s overall development.

The judge can decide child support in your divorce case or if both parties agree on their own.

Spousal Support/Alimony

Georgia judges may order temporary or permanent alimony. Temporary alimony may be awarded if one spouse requires financial support while the case is pending. Permanent alimony sounds intimidating, but it’s usually for a limited period.

The court may order spousal support based on these and other factors:

  • The length of the marriage
  • The couple’s standard of living
  • Age and health of each spouse
  • Financial resources of each spouse
  • Each person’s contributions to the marriage

Contact Us to Speak With an Atlanta Divorce Attorney

Divorce can be upsetting and devastating, but there’s hope for a favorable outcome. Our team has been practicing family law for decades and can assist if you need help with your divorce in Georgia. Edwards Family Law’s legal team has the experience and compassion it takes to handle family law cases and complex family law litigation.

We’ll listen to your concerns, gather the necessary information, and decide on the best course of action in your divorce process. Schedule your consultation online. Regain your peace of mind by having our divorce attorneys handle your case.

CLARITY TODAY

cutting through confusion and providing clarity

Do I need a Family Lawyer?

Each case is different, but we can share what clients typically struggle with when they make their initial calls to us:

  • My Spouse Wants a Divorce
  • My Marriage Has Fallen Apart And Cannot Be Fixed
  • I Am Expecting a Child Out Of Wedlock
  • I Have Fallen Behind on Child Support Due to Unemployment or salary reduction
  • My Circumstances Have Changed Drastically And Think A Change Of Custody Is Warranted
  • My Ex Announced They Want to Move Away and Take Our Child

How much will my Divorce or Child Custody matter cost me?

The financial aspect of family law matters can be terrifying because it has been known as a black hole of billing with retainers and hourly charges for things like emails and texts. Peel back further uncertainty by Estimating Your Legal Fees.

Flat Fees - No Funny Stuff

While other firms might tell you “there is no way to predict the total cost of a divorce,” we can tell you with certainty that those smoke and mirrors will not be a part of your care at Edwards Family Law. We provide value with a high degree of peace of mind through conscientious costs for our care. Learn more about our Flat Fee Family Law Services.

Fearful of being bogged down in legal fees?

Heard the horror stories about being sucked in with low retainers only to be hit with hidden incremental hourly changes?

We Have The Right Solutions For The Next Chapter of Your Life

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF EDWARDS FAMILY LAW

At Edwards Family Law, we understand that your life, family, livelihood, and legacy are important to you. They are important to us as well. We are committed to doing everything possible to ensure your identity is respected and that your dignity is preserved throughout the process.

The law prohibits us from guaranteeing the outcome of your case. But, it does not prohibit us from guaranteeing the service you receive. We promise to provide you with the best in customer service and client relations. We have codified our commitment in our Ten Commandments. If we fail to deliver on any of our Ten Commandments at any time during your case, please let us know. We will apologize for our mistake and do what is necessary to fix the problem.

What You Can Expect From Your Experience With Edwards Family Law

  • 1
    Clients are not an interruption of our work. They are the purpose of it.
  • 2
    Clients will not be charged for calls to their attorney.
  • 3
    Each client shall receive aggressive representation combined with incomparable guidance and counsel.
  • 4
    Our clients will receive the most courteous and attentive treatment we can give them.
  • 5
    Each client will have their telephone call returned within one business day.
  • 6
    All of our attorneys shall practice exclusively family law and domestic relations.
  • 7
    Our clients are not just a name on a file. We will present each client with an honest assessment of all options to provide them with the best chance of success.
  • 8
    Our firm will attend all conferences and Continuing Learning Education Seminars related to the practice of Family Law to ensure that we have access to the most current case law that can affect your and your family's lives.
  • 9
    Our firm will employ the latest technology for use in your case, including a secure server where the client's entire paper file is scanned and posted to the server for immediate retrieval by the client.
  • 10
    Clients are people who bring us their wants. It is our job to meet those wants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to live in Georgia to be divorced there?

According to Georgia law, at least one spouse needs to have lived in the state for at least six months before filing.

What does separate maintenance mean?

Georgia law does not recognize legal separation. However, a divorce alternative called separate maintenance is offered, similar to divorce. It allows the couple to resolve alimony, child support, and custody.

To qualify, you must be legally married to your spouse. Also, you must be living separately. Finally, there can be no pending divorce action.

The separate maintenance process allows you to stay married but live separately unless one or both request a divorce.

How quickly can I get a Georgia divorce?

If the divorce is uncontested, the family court can grant your divorce in as few as 31 days. However, the timeline often hinges on how many cases are on the court calendar.

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