Celebrity Divorce and Theatrics: From Sheen to Cage

                                                [Photo from history.com]

Folks, what is going on with Hollywood actors these days?  This is a humble divorce blog written by an Augusta, Georgia divorce lawyer.  Here, in past posts, we have often dealt with some of the domestic relations challenges faced by various celebrities.  The common theme has been that celebrities often face the same family law problems confronted by ordinary people.  But somehow, it seems to me that, lately, things have really gotten unusually bizarre in Hollywood!
1. The Nicolas Cage Incident:

For example, a few days ago, one of my favorite Hoolywood actors, Nicolas Cage, was reportedly arrested in new Orleans on charges of disorderly conduct and domestic abuse. 
2. The Latest Charlie Sheen Case:
And just yesterday, according to TMZ and other news sources, actor Charlie Sheen and one of his exes, Brooke Mueller, reportedly returned to court to address Sheen's request for a change of custody of their children.  According to various reports, the judge reportedly maintained the status quo, (and left the kids with Mueller), in spite of the alleged reports, or accusations, about drugs involving each of the parties.

Of course, no one really knows what happened in either of these celebrity cases.  News reports sometimes get the facts wrong, don't they?  Also, we should generally accept such "news" reports with a jaundiced eye, anyway.  Don't you agree?

But I'll bet you will also agree that, no matter what really happened in either of these cases, there appear to be some strange "goins on" in Hollywood these days!  

Celebrity Divorces: Charlie Sheen

If you are the publicist for actor Charlie Sheen, then you certainly don't want to see your client's mug shot plastered all over the internet, do you? And if you are Mr. Sheen, then you also certainly don't want to spend part of Christmas day arrested and behind bars on a reported domestic violence charge, do you? But both things apparently occurred a couple of days ago, according to numerous published news reports.

You will recall that Sheen, the star of the popular t.v. comedy series, "Two-And-A-Half Men," went through a really nasty divorce with actress Denise Richards, just a few years ago. Here's hoping that, as Sheen's attorney indicates, this new episode has been blown out of proportion and that Sheen and his current spouse will be able to successfully address this problem, if there is any.

Finally, laying aside whatever happened in Sheen's case, here's also hoping that, in general, more emphasis will be placed on the problem of domestic violence in our society and the ways to properly address it.

Divorce and Child Abuse

Clearly, not all divorces involve child abuse. But just as clearly, child abuse and incest do occur and are problems which should not be ignored. Fortunately, here in Augusta, Georgia, resources exist to help address these serious problems. We have talked before in this divorce blog about the fine work done by Safe Homes of Augusta. Today, I just want to tell you a little bit about the fantastic work done for abused children by Child Enrichment and the Child Advocacy Center. (http://www.childenrichment.org/)

I am proud to be a part of the history of the Child Advocacy Center. When I was a young state prosecutor, here in Augusta, a group of us professionals who dealt with child abuse cases, (from DFACS, the local social services agency, juvenile court, the sheriff's department, and D.A.'s Office), realized that abused kids were not being well taken care of by the system. Kids were actually being interviewed, and probably scared to death, at the old jail. And a few child molestation cases were actually slipping through the cracks and not being prosecuted, due to lack of inter-agency communication! There were some inter-agency feuds and turf battles.

So, some of us got together and formed the Augusta Child Advocacy Center, whose goals were to provide a friendly, homelike setting where abused kids could be interviewed. (We worked hard, raised funds and got a house for this purpose). All the agencies also began meeting together and coordinating their efforts to help the kids. Also, we established a protocol for interviewing children which is now being used statewide. (Indeed, there are now child advocacy centers modeled after us located throughout the State of Georgia!) The center also provides free counseling for the kids and their family members. Since then, the Augusta Child Advocacy Center has merged with, and continues its fine work at, Child Enrichment.

I am proud to have been a co-founder and the first president of the Augusta Child Advocacy Center! And I tip my hat to our other incredible organizers: Janet, Anchell, Judy, Sheryl, Gary, Wayne, Thelma, David, Kathy, and so many others, who were all there in the beginning!

What resources exist in your community to help abused children? Have you ever considered volunteering to help in one of your community's charitable organizations? You will be glad you did!

Divorce Rate Statistics

Is the divorce rate in this country getting better or worse? And is a high divorce rate necessarily always a bad thing?

According to many professionals, including Dr. Robert Hughes, an Ohio State professor, the divorce rate in the United States reached its peak in the late 1970’s and it has leveled off, or dropped slightly, in the years since then. In other words, in recent years, the divorce rate has been about 20 women per 1000 women, compared to 23 women per 1000 women in the late 1970’s. Of course, everything is relative, and our divorce rate is still high, because the divorce rate in the 1950’s was only about 5 women per 1000, according to Dr. Hughes.

But are high divorce rates necessarily good or bad? Please don't cynically believe that, just because I am an Augusta, Georgia divorce lawyer, I automatically love a high divorce rate! To me, while high divorce rates are never good, on a positive note, at least today’s woman is not always as trapped in an abusive relationship as her 1950’s counterpart must have been. No doubt, in the 1950’s, Leave-It-To-Beaver’s mother would have stayed married to Ward Cleaver no matter what domestic abuse she may have suffered. Do you agree? What do you think about our high divorce rate and is it necessarily good or bad?

And why do you think our divorce rate has leveled off, or dropped slightly, since the late 1970’s? Is it simply because there more hopeless romantic types around today?!

Safe Homes for Battered Women

According to a recent F.B.I. report, approximately 26% of all female murder victims each year were killed by their husbands or boy friends. In addition, it is conservatively estimated that each year at least one million women suffer non-fatal injuries inflicted by their spouses or domestic partners. The problem of domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battered women, and child abuse and neglect cannot be ignored or denied.

Fortunately, in many communities, there are solutions to many of these problems. Of course, one important solution is to call your law enforcement agency to report and get help for domestic abuse. But we are also fortunate in the Augusta, Georgia area to have a wonderful charitable organization, Safe Homes of Augusta, (www.augusta-safehomes.org), to help such families in dire need. Safe Homes of Augusta offers a shelter and assistance to women and children of domestic violence. The charity serves families in ten counties surrounding Augusta, Georgia.

Again, the problem of domestic violence may be with us, but at least there are charities, such as Safe Homes of Augusta, [(706) 736-2499], which help combat it! (Please also know that there are also many other related, worthy organizations throughout the Augusta, Georgia area, such as Child Enrichment and Rape Crisis. Each of these fine organizations offers an opportunity for each of us to contribute and help victims of abuse in our communities. Please reach out, support, and consider volunteering to such charities in your own communities!)

Residency Requirements for a Georgia Divorce

Let's assume that you and your spouse have just moved to Georgia and you have just decided to get a divorce. Do you know the Georgia divorce law requirements concerning how long you must have been a Georgia resident before you can file for a divorce here?

Simply put, with some exceptions, Georgia has a six months residency requirement. In other words, Georgia law generally provides, (in O.C.G.A. 19-5-2), that you must be a bona fide resident of this state for six months before the filing of the divorce petition. However, as to soldiers, the residency rule is a little bit different, if you have lived on post. Georgia law generally provides that any person who has been a resident of any United States army post or military reservation within this state for one year next proceeding the filing of the divorce petition may bring the divorce action in any county adjacent to the post or military reservation. Finally, Georgia law generally provides that a nonresident of Georgia may file a divorce petition against a person who has been a resident of Georgia, (and of the county in which the action is brought), for a period of six months prior to the filing of the petition, provided that the divorce case must be filed in the county of residence of the Georgia defendant.