CHILD CUSTODY IN GEORGIA DIVORCES

[Photo from wikipedia]

Child custody is often one of the toughest issues in a Georgia divorce. We, at the Goolsby Law Firm, in Augusta, Georgia, often handle child custody as part of our divorce cases.  We also sometimes assist clients in seeking a modification, or change, of custody.

Generally, the standard which a Georgia judge will utilize is the "best interests" test. In other words, the judge will determine what is in the best interests of the children based upon all the facts. Sometimes, judges will appoint a guardian ad litem to investigate and report back to the court.

In addition, if your child has reached the age of 14 years old, that child may select which parent to primarily live with, subject to the judge's review.

We recommend that you sit down with your Augusta divorce attorney to discuss these and other issues in your divorce case.

NEW ILLINOIS LAW REGARDING PET "CUSTODY"

                         [Photo courtesy of Wikipedia]

Would you believe that, starting January 1st, the State of Illinois joined other states which allow

divorcing parties to be granted "custody" of their pets?!  Presumably, just like with child custody,

each party to a divorce will, in those states, try to convince the judge that he or she would make 

the better custodial "parent!"

We at the Goolsby Law Firm have not yet experienced such an issue in our Augusta, Georgia divorces!

Would you try to win sole possession of your pet?!

DIVORCING PARENTS SEMINARS IN AUGUSTA, GA

In Augusta, Georgia, our Superior Court judges require all parents seeking a divorce involving children to take a one day seminar dealing primarily with issues affecting their kids.

Here is a list of such places which offer this seminar, as shown on the Augusta, GA Bar Association
website:

• Anne Watts, MS, LPC, 706-855-1365at www.divorcingfamilies.net;
• Army Community Service: Transparenting Class for military only: 706-791-3579
• Georgia Family Crisis Solutions, Inc., 706-869-7373;
• kidsrestart.org, 706-828-0180; and
• Life Management Group, 706-733-0333.

Your divorce attorney will give you more information about this requirement when you meet with him or her.  It is important for you to know that our judges, in Augusta, do not allow other online seminars to satisfy this requirement. You and your spouse will need to schedule and take the class, either together or separately, and please be sure to promptly turn over your certificate of completion to your divorce lawyer!

Divorce Costs

Most people who are contemplating a divorce would like to have an idea about both the legal fees and court costs of going through the divorce process. We have discussed before, in this blog about getting a divorce in Augusta, Georgia, the differences between legal fees in a contested versus an uncontested divorce.

Today, we will focus in this post on some of the court costs associated with the Georgia divorce. When you file for a divorce, uncontested or contested, you should expect to be responsible for a clerk of court filing fee of approximately $210.00, plus a sheriff's service fee of about $50.00. But that's only the beginning!

In addition, (on top of your divorce lawyer's legal fees), you should expect to pay for court reporter

fees and, in some cases involving child custody, fees for a guardian ad litem.  Also, you can expect that, in many divorces, you may have the additional costs of mediation.

These are just some of the court-related costs which you could be expected to pay when you file a divorce case in the State of Georgia!

Celebrity Divorces: Anna Faris and Chris Pratt

Did you hear the sad news from Hollywood? According to various news reports, actors Anna Faris and Chris Pratt have legally separated. As we have reported before in this blog dealing with divorces in Augusta, Georgia, celebrities have additional stresses on their marriages. The couple has been
married for about eight years and they have one child.  Here's hoping that Ms. Faris, the popular star of such hit movies as Scary Movie and The House Bunny, along with Mr. Pratt, star of the Guardians of the Galaxies hits, will both find happiness.

FINDING A GOOD DIVORCE LAWYER

In the past, men and women seeking a good divorce lawyer often went to the telephone
book in order to find one. But those days are almost gone.


Today, a person seeking a divorce attorney will generally do an online search.  He or she
may simply google search terms, such as: Augusta Ga divorce lawyers, or they may
choose to check out online lawyer directories which often list lawyers handling divorces
and provide information about such attorneys, or links to the divorce lawyers' websites.


Of course, some things never change! As in the past, sometimes people seeking a good
divorce lawyer will simply ask relatives or friends about who they recommend as the
best divorce attorney!


We hope you will free to call us at the Goolsby Law Firm, in Augusta, Georgia, if you
would like a free consultation with us and answers to your questions about a divorce
in the Augusta, GA area!

Uncontested Divorce in Georgia: What does it really mean?

Obviously, most people going through a divorce would prefer that the divorce be uncontested and cheap.

But what does an uncontested divorce really mean?

As an Augusta, Georgia divorce attorney, I can tell you that it means more than the simple fact that both parties are wanting to divorce! In other words, for it to truly be an uncontested divorce, it generally requires, among other things, that both parties have agreed to ALL the terms of the divorce and that both parties will cooperate and sign all the documents. In addition, it also means that the terms agreed upon are such that the divorce judge will readily approve the divorce. If even one divorce term is not agreed upon, or if the documents are in a format that the judge will not approve them, then you can still get a divorce, but it may have to be a contested one in which the parties may have to go before a judge.