Thirteen Grounds for Divorce in the State of Georgia Georgia is a state that allows for no-fault divorces, but there are still 12 other reasons set forth by O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3 that, if proven, the state will grant a divorce. An uncontested, or “no-fault” divorce means that either spouse can file for divorce without having…
HB 229 Expands Visitation and Intervention Rights to Great-Grandparents and Siblings Recent changes to O.C.G.A. § 19-7-3 have expanded visitation and intervention rights in domestic relations cases concerning minor children to include siblings of parents as well as great-grandparents. Under the previous version of O.C.G.A. § 19-7-3, only grandparents were allowed to file for visitation…
Securing a Temporary Protective Order (TPO) in the State of Georgia A Temporary Protective Order, or TPO, is an order issued by the court designed to protect victims of “family violence” from harassment and/or abuse. The order will require that the alleged aggressor keep a distance from the petitioner’s place of residency and employment, and…
When parents decide to get a divorce or unwed parents have a child, custody agreements get put in place. In Georgia, child custody and visitation orders are always based on the best interests of the child. When evaluating the child’s best interests, parents submit parenting plans to the court, which may include topics such as…
The Basics of Georgia Child Support Laws For many parents who have either never been married or are divorced, child support plays a major role in their financial realities. While the laws can become rather complicated, having a cursory understanding of the basics of Georgia’s child support laws can help parents comprehend and plan for…
What’s Yours and What’s Mine: Understanding Commingled Marital Assets In many divorces, one of the most common areas of contention is the division of assets. Whether discussing property, savings, or even debt, this step can be stressful and emotionally-charged, especially if either of the parties are entering into the discussion with unrealistic expectations. Therefore, understanding…
A Father’s Responsibilities: Understanding the Issue of Legitimacy in Georgia Family Law In the State of Georgia, paternity and legitimization of a child born out of wedlock were long held as two different processes. Paternity established that the man was the biological father, but the law required a child to be legitimate before the father…
Assault and Battery: Understanding Georgia’s Assault Laws In the State of Georgia, the assault laws include offenses for assault and battery, and both are taken very seriously. Depending on the details of the charges, both assault and battery can be either a misdemeanor or a felony. The difference between assault and battery is rather simple:…
Understanding the Impact of Contested Versus Uncontested Divorces in Georgia When speaking with a lawyer about an intended divorce, the first question that he or she may ask is whether it is uncontested or contested. This can mean the difference between a relatively simple parting of ways or a complex process of court-mandated terms. Uncontested…
Client Testimonial Following Highly Contested Divorce Matter Divorce is one of the most stressful and emotionally draining events that can happen in a person’s life. At Andersen, Tate & Carr, P.C., we are not only passionate about being legal advocates for our clients; we are dedicated to being compassionate and understanding during our client’s time…