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…
Be Prepared: Understanding Georgia’s DUI Laws Finding yourself pulled to the side of the road after stopping for a drink with a friend can be a terrifying moment. Even if you’ve only had one alcoholic beverage, you could be driving illegally, and in the moment, it can be impossible to know for sure. Many drivers…
Georgia’s Governor Vetoes Religious Liberty Bill, but Opponents say the Fight Isn’t Over The controversy continues over Georgia’s so called “religious liberty” bill. House Bill 757 would allow faith-based organizations to deny services to those who violate their “sincerely held religious belief.” Under the bill, clergy could refuse to perform gay marriages, and opponents of…
Understanding Stalking Charges in the State of Georgia Stalking is considered a serious crime that can carry significant sentencing. Stalking is no longer limited to traditional forms of contact, as it now encompasses new forms of electronic communication. In some cases, alleged victims of stalking will provide false information to authorities or mistakenly identify their stalker,…
Removal From the Georgia Sex Offender Registry: an ATC Success Story Our client, a middle-aged male, was convicted on two counts of child molestation for inappropriate contact with his minor children in 1994. The charges were brought against our client during a time when he and his ex-wife were engaged in a dispute over custody…
White-Collar Crime: Charges and Consequences in the State of Georgia White-collar crime encompasses a full range of financially motivated, nonviolent crimes committed by individuals, businesses, and government officials. There are many different types of white-collar crimes, and depending on the circumstances, charges can be brought as either a misdemeanor or a felony. In addition, an…
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…
Understanding Criminal Property Damage Charges In Georgia, criminal property damage is the most common form of property damage. Broken down into 1st and 2nd degree charges, both forms of criminal property damage are felonies and can lead to life-altering consequences. However, the severity of sentencing relies heavily on whether the defendant is charged with 1st…