Arbitration vs. Mediation: Which Option Better Suits You? Why consider arbitration or mediation to resolve your divorce case? At mediation, you settle your case by agreement. At trial, a judge decides your outcome. Arbitration is more like a trial; instead of a judge, an arbitrator finalizes your divorce case. First, let’s define arbitration and mediation….
The State Bar of Georgia hears more complaints dealing with attorneys not returning client phone calls than any other complaint. The reality is, unfortunately, some attorneys simply refuse to return client phone calls. There are a number of reasons for this, all bad. Below, I offer some suggestions on how to get your lawyer to…
What’s the deal with parking at Cobb Superior Court? When you’ve got an important court appearance, the last thing you want to worry about is parking. The Cobb County courthouse campus is pretty big and spans several blocks in Marietta. There are a couple of parking options near the courthouse. But, one parking deck is…
A biased judge can ruin your chances of success in your case. If you’re taking your divorce case to trial, chances are you’re going to a “bench trial.” A bench trial is a trial before a judge only and not a jury. And, if you’re going to trial, it means you haven’t been successful at…
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…
How can you get grandparent rights in Georgia? Can an extended family member take custody rights away from a parent? The short answer is yes, but it’s very difficult. Third party custody cases arise when a child’s family member brings a case against the child’s legal parent to obtain custody of the child. Family Members…
Going into a courtroom for the first time can be an unsettling experience. The rooms are large and often overwhelming, and their layout is both confusing and intimidating. Here, we hope to demystify the courtroom layout and walk you through the courtroom from back to front. The Public Seating Area You will enter most courtrooms…
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…