Tip to Settle Your Divorce: STOP TALKING
So, you want to settle your divorce case? Picture this: You and your spouse had a major blowup. You’ve been kicked out of your house and served with divorce papers. Hiring a lawyer will cost a fortune. You really want to settle your divorce without breaking the bank. Your phone is blowing up every hour […]
General Warranty versus Limited Warranty Deeds
General Warranty versus Limited Warranty: What’s the difference between these two types of deeds? Both a general warranty deed and limited warranty deed make a specific promise about giving clear title to the property. Both deeds contain a promise that the grantor is conveying clear title to the property. But, the difference between the general […]
“Equitable Division” What Does That Mean Anyway?
Half Our Stuff Most people walk into a divorce negotiation assuming that “Equitable Division of Property” means they will “get” or “give up” half of everything, but many are surprised to learn just how many different ways there are of dividing by two. To begin with, what is “everything?” Does it include personal debts like […]
Warranty Deed vs. Quitclaim Deed: How are they different?
Many people think that a warranty deed and a quitclaim deed are interchangeable legal documents, but they are not. You can read all about the basics of a real estate deed HERE. To begin to understand the difference between a warranty deed and a quitclaim deed, remember first the difference between the grantor and the […]
Mediation Impasse: The Value of Not Settling Your Case
Mediation is a great method for resolving family law litigation cases. While most cases are able to settle at mediation, many do not. Not settling at mediation is called an impasse. Even when the case reaches an impasse, mediation still offers parties a chance to have their “day in court” without the risks inherent in […]
Pet Custody in Divorce: Who gets the dog?
Does Georgia allow pet custody in divorce? Not really. Dogs, cats, and other pets are legally treated as marital property and are generally subject to an equitable division of property. (Read more about equitable division.) That means the dogs and the dishes all get divided up together. Pet Custody in Divorce To the dog lovers […]
The Discarded Wife: A Profile of Fear and Disillusionment
I am a discarded wife. I thought we had a great marriage. We have great kids and a nice home. Our lives were full of date nights, family cookouts, and soccer games. We loved to have friends over. Until my husband decided to throw us away. One day, he just woke up and quit our […]
Penny Wise and Pound Foolish: 4 Expenses You Should Not Spare in Divorce
Getting a divorce is expensive. It has a profound financial impact on your life; instead of one house payment, your family now has two. If you and your spouse don’t agree on how to divide the marital property, then you’re looking at a contested divorce. In a contested divorce, it’s critical to prepare your case for […]
What is Contempt of Court, and Should You Be Worried?
One of the scariest family law documents to receive is one asking that the recipient be found in “contempt of court.” These documents are titled a variety of different ways (petition for contempt, motion for contempt, citation for contempt, motion for attachment of contempt, etc.), but they all carry the distinctive tone of being in […]
What’s Mine is Mine: Marital and Non-Marital Property in Divorce
Many divorce cases require a factual determination of what assets (or debts) are marital or non-marital separate property, and these issues range from the very simple to highly complex. The general basic rule (with several exceptions) is that property acquired during the marriage is marital property, and it has to be equitably divided in the […]