Annulment in Georgia: As Rare As Snow In July?

[Scales of Justice from wikipedia]

As Augusta, Georgia divorce lawyers, we sometimes receive telephone calls from folks wanting to know if they can get their marriage annulled. They often believe that they may obtain an annulment simply because their marriage is of short duration. Unfortunately, in the State of Georgia, the length of the marriage is generally irrelevant to whether or not you can get an annulment and, in most cases, a divorce is, instead, the appropriate solution.

In short, here, in Georgia, the Georgia General Assembly has statutorily limited the types of situations in which annulment is an available remedy. For example, if you learn, after getting married, that your worthless spouse, "Sluggo," is actually your first cousin, or if you discover that he never obtained a divorce from the waitress down at the diner, before hitching up with you, then you may discuss with your own divorce attorney about whether an annulment might be appropriate. Annulment might work in those limited situations and a few others. But in most other cases, divorce is the only available remedy for dissolving the marriage.

But please, please consult with your own divorce lawyer. Generally, in Georgia, your divorce lawyer will likely point out that annulment is about as rare as snow in July, but, fortunately, divorcing ole' Sluggo is still an available remedy!

Does the Divorce Lawyer's Gender Matter?

In this blog about divorce, we often attempt to give folks who are going through a divorce some good, practical information and tips to discuss with their own divorce lawyers. So, here are some tips to consider in connection with the following "divorce question of the day!" 

Does it matter to you, if you are going through a divorce, whether you retain a male divorce attorney or a female divorce attorney? Naturally, since we are father and son divorce lawyers, we don't think so! We have many female and male clients! But I guess it depends upon the client's perspective, doesn't it?

While, as an Augusta, Georgia divorce lawyer, I don't believe the divorce lawyer's gender will have any impact on a judge or jury, I recognize that some men and some women, who are going through a divorce, may, for various reasons, feel more comfortable in choosing an attorney based primarily upon gender. Also, I will be the first to acknowledge that, in the Augusta, GA area, there are many competent divorce lawyers of both sexes.

However, we would strongly recommend that you should also consider other important factors besides gender, too, including the prospective divorce attorney's experience and whether or not you believe, after meeting him or her, that he or she will care about you and fight for your rights! In short, in my opinion, whether or not a divorce lawyer, male or female, seems focused on you and cares about your divorce case is more important than gender.

What do you think?

A (Fictional) Poem About Adultery

    The Window's Secret
              By Richard Goolsby
She was crying at the window
Of a shop across the street.
I was dying to go in, though
I knew we'd never meet.

I wondered, "Are her tears for one
At war across the sea?"
"Or is she sobbing for a son
Who departed prematurely?"

But then, I saw her turn toward me,
Through the window of that shop,
Her expression -- now, filled with glee,
I wondered what was up.

The window showed the reason why
Her life was filled with strife,
For there, I saw another man
Was holding close my wife!

Divorce, Loneliness, and the Holidays

As Augusta, GA divorce attorneys, we are fully aware that the holidays can be difficult for some parties who are going though a divorce, along with their families. Children must frequently divide their time between two households and parents must often spend time without them. People are lonely. As Augusta divorce lawyers, we must never forget that.

Here's hoping that, if you are going through a divorce, you will still find peace and happiness during the holidays. Our family of lawyers at the Goolsby Law Firm, LLC, also wish you and your family a happy new year!

Divorce and the Holidays: Why Do Some People Wait?

[Depiction of Lady Justice from ehow.com]

As divorce lawyers in Augusta, Georgia, we are accustomed to helping people with their divorce cases throughout the year. But while we don't have any statistics to support it, it appears to us that, generally, divorces slow down somewhat during the holidays.

Maybe that conclusion seems obvious, or logical, to you. But what do you think are some of the common reasons why some people wait until after the holidays to file for a divorce? Here are just a few of the possible explanations, from our perspective, as Augusta, Ga divorce lawyers.

In some divorce cases, some people simply do not have the financial resources to go to court during the holidays. In fact, some folks will wait until after they receive their income tax refunds, in January or February, before they seek help from a divorce attorney. In other divorce cases, involving children, other people want to wait to file after the holidays and give their kids one more peaceful Christmas.

Divorces can be difficult for everyone involved. Here's hoping that, no matter for what reason people are waiting to file for a divorce from their worthless spouse, "Sluggo," they will find peace throughout the holidays.

The Goolsby Law Firm Brag Board

[The Goolsby Law Firm, 233 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA]

Recently, I included a post in which I bragged about my second son Blake's passing the Georgia bar exam and joining our Augusta, Georgia family law firm. Today, I hope you don't mind that, as a proud father, I once again want to brag a little bit--this time about my third son, Zachary. Zach is home for Christmas break and has now passed the midway point of law school! 

In other words, Zach has three semesters down and only three more semesters to go until graduation! Then, I believe we will be the only law firm in the history of the State of Georgia composed of a parent and three children--practicing law together--who are attorneys!

As Augusta, GA lawyers, we primarily handle divorces, child custody cases, adoptions, personal injury cases, and criminal cases, in both state and federal court. I believe I am the only former twenty year federal prosecutor in the Augusta and Evans, Georgia area. I have handled some of the largest, most complex fraud and public corruption cases in Georgia and U.S. history.

My first two lawyer sons, Richard (Ric) Goolsby, Jr. and Blake Goolsby, with whom I presently practice law in Augusta, both graduated from Mercer Law School. My third son, Zach Goolsby, presently attends the University of Georgia School of Law, which is where I also graduated. He and I will be the two "Double Dawgs" in our family law firm!

So, thank you for understanding and allowing me--a proud father--to brag once again! 

Congrats, Zach! We are very proud of you and look forward to your joining us at The Goolsby Law Firm! 

Celebrity Separations and Divorces: Lisa Whelchel

[The Facts of Life Image from wikipedia]

How many of you are fans of the original reality television series Survivor? Did you see last night's episode which featured family visits for cast members? If so, you saw the emotional turmoil on the face of cast member Lisa Whelchel when she ran to her visiting brother's arms! Of course, many of you will remember her from the 1980's television series, The Facts of Life, in which she played Blair.

Not only has the Survivor experience been difficult for Ms. Whelchel, but also it apparently has otherwise been a tough year for her, too. According to various news reports, she is presently dealing with West Nile Virus. In addition, according to reports, Ms. Whelchel, a singer, song-writer, and speaker at Women of Faith Christian conferences, also got a divorce earlier this year.

We still do not know whether she won or how she did on Survivor, but here's hoping that Ms. Whelchel will overcome her illness and deal with any problems associated with her divorce. She seems like a genuinely kind, gentle person. As she has clearly learned, like on Survivor, real life can be tough, too. Sicknesses and divorces can happen to anybody. And those are the real facts of life which we all must face, aren't they?