Is the Cheapest Divorce Lawyer Always the Best?

So, your worthless spouse, "Sluggo," has been up to no good again and, this time, you have caught him runnin' around on you with Doris, the new waitress down at the local diner! So, you have decided to get a divorce, once and for all. Where do you begin? How do you find a good, cheap divorce lawyer? What should you do?

As an Augusta, Georgia divorce attorney, I recommend that you begin by talking with family and friends about recommendations of good, experienced divorce lawyers near you. You can also check the telephone book, or check online, to find divorce lawyers in your town. Next, we recommend that you should make appointments with prospective attorneys, meet with them, and ask good questions about their experience and about your divorce before deciding which family law attorney should represent you in your divorce case.

But take it from me, a divorce lawyer in Augusta, Georgia, you should never, never make your decision about which attorney to choose based solely upon who is the cheapest lawyer! This lesson is particularly true if important issues, such as child custody, alimony, or property division, may arise in your divorce! 

So, go ahead, if you choose, and "make Sluggo's day" by filing for a divorce, but we recommend that the cost or price should be only one of many factors in selecting a good divorce lawyer. After all, as with every other decision we make in life, sometimes we get what we pay for!  Don't you agree?

Celebrity Marriages and Divorces: Mark and Dianne Burnett

[Photo of Producer Mark Burnett from wikipedia]

How many of you are fans of the reality t.v. show Survivor, which premieres again tomorrow night? Just as I have "survived" many tough divorce cases in the courtroom as an Augusta, Georgia divorce lawyer, I also am a fan of Survivor! 

Like so many other busy Hollywood celebrities, Mark Burnett, the British television producer who is responsible for producing Survivor, (along with a number of other television shows, such as The Apprentice), had previously experienced, or survived, a divorce. According to wikipedia, Mr. Burnett and his previous spouse, Dianne, divorced in 2003. Both he and Dianne have since each re-married.

Burnett's ex-wife, Dianne, who appeared as a guest on Fox and Friends this morning, is a prolific author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, in her own right. 

Just as these talented people have experienced a divorce, if you are going through one, you can be a survivor, too!

Celebrity Separations and Breakups: Chipper Jones

[Photo of Chipper Jones from wikipedia]

As we have discussed before in this blog about divorce, being a celebrity can present unique challenges for a marriage. It is also interesting to see how various celebrities facing marital problems react to the media spotlight.  Some celebrities shun the media attention; others seem to enjoy the media focus.

In my opinion, Atlanta Braves baseball star Chipper Jones and his spouse have handled matters in the proper way. In short, while various media outlets reported earlier this year that he and his spouse had separated, since then, little or nothing has been reported by either party. And that is the way that such matters should be handled --i.e. privately, between them and their divorce lawyers -- in my opinion!

What do you think?

"Equitable" Property or Debt Division Doesn't Always Mean "Equal"

In this blog about Georgia divorce, as Augusta, Georgia divorce lawyers, we often attempt to give you good, practical tips and information about divorce for you to discuss with your own divorce attorney.

For instance, today, I want to talk a little bit about equitable property or debt division in a divorce. In other words, you may have wondered whether or not a divorce judge will simply divide everything down the middle. The simple answer is...as you might expect from a divorce lawyer...it depends!

In other words, in some cases, if one party's income is substantially higher than the other party's, then it might not be fair to split the marital debt evenly. Also, you would need to discuss with your own divorce attorney the potential impact of adultery, or another fault ground, on such issues as alimony and equitable property division. For instance, if your worthless spouse, "Sluggo," has been running around with Gladys, the new waitress down at the diner, then you and your divorce lawyer may essentially argue that Sluggo should end up with none of the assets and all of the debt!

So, you see, in a divorce, "equitable" does not always mean "equal." In some divorce cases, each party may ultimately receive about one-half of the assets, or one-half of the debts to pay. But because each divorce case is different, it is important for you to discuss with your divorce attorney all the facts, along with your all rights and options, in obtaining an equitable, or fair, resolution.