Northeast Georgia Divorce Attorneys

During a divorce, you will be making important decisions that will affect you and your family for years to come. At the Coleman, Chambers & Rogers, LLP, law firm in Gainesville, Georgia, our focus is on helping you navigate legal issues as well as the emotional and financial effects of divorce so that you can move forward into a bright and successful future.

When you partner with our firm, our family law team – led by attorney Susan D. Brown with the help of attorney Bob Coleman – will start by partnering with you to identify the goals and outcomes most important to you. You can expect a judgment-free ear, and straightforward honest advice about what it will take to successfully resolve your case.

Support in Amicable and Contested Divorce

Every client of Coleman, Chambers & Rogers, LLP, can count on personalized service and attention regardless of the level of conflict present in their divorce. Whenever possible, our team pursues an amicable, negotiated divorce resolution so that our clients can save money and move on with their lives as quickly as possible. When negotiation is unsuccessful or impractical, we will step up and fight for you in court. Susan is well known for her knowledge of the law, as well as her bulldog attitude in both negotiation and litigation.

With almost four decades of experience under our belt, there’s nothing we haven’t seen. Let us put this legacy of success to work for you. Contact us by email or call 678-601-2495 today.

Georgia’s Grounds for Divorce

In Georgia, there are 13 statutory grounds for a divorce, including:

• The marriage is irretrievably broken
• Cruel treatment that shall consist of willful infliction of pain bodily or mental, upon the complaining party, such as reasonably justifies appreciation of danger to life, limb or health
• Adultery by either of the parties after marriage
• Intermarriage by persons within prohibitive degrees
• Mental incapacity at the time of the marriage
• Impotency at the time of the marriage
• Force, duress and fraud in obtaining the marriage
• Pregnancy of wife by a man other than husband at the time of marriage unknown to husband
• Willful and continued desertion by a party for a period of one year
• Conviction of either party for an offense involving moral turpitude under which he or she is sentenced to imprisonment for a period of two years or longer
• Habitual intoxication
• Incurable mental illness

Although one of the “fault” grounds exists in some marriages, almost all divorces are granted on “no fault” grounds.

The Superior Courts of the state have exclusive jurisdiction over the granting of divorce, alimony and child support. Before the Superior Court can grant a divorce, it must determine that jurisdiction and venue are proper. Generally, jurisdiction is acquired over the defendant by determining the location of his or her residence, whether they can be found within the state or whether there is existence of property within the state. Generally, the venue is determined by the residence (or domicile) of the defendant.

Why Hire A Divorce Lawyer?

Having the assistance of a skilled lawyer during your divorce gives you the security of having someone on your side who knows what to do. Furthermore, you will have someone you can talk to in confidence about your situation and how best to deal with it. Lawyers provide a variety of specific services for clients going through a divorce. These services include:

• Consulting with you
• Educating you about the law and facts
• Devising and carrying out case strategy
• Investigating the law and the facts
• Preparing and reviewing documents
• Negotiating a settlement
• Preparing and filing all necessary court papers
• Preparing you to testify
• Preparing other witnesses to testify
• Hiring experts and appraisers
• Conducting discovery
• Responding to discovery initiated by your spouse
• Preparing for court appearances, including trial
• Conducting trials and hearings
• Advising you about what to expect
• Advising you on conduct and alternatives
• Taking the heat for tough decisions

At Coleman, Chambers & Rogers, LLP, our divorce lawyers can guide you through the following matters:

• Property division: Division of marital property There can be disagreements as to what is marital and nonmarital property. Our attorneys have extensive experience in asset division and can assist you in analyzing finances and presenting a logical plan for division of property.
• Child custody: When children are involved in a divorce, special care needs to be taken to assure their best interests are met.
• Child support: Georgia’s child support calculator serves as the basis for determining monthly payments. The court considers various factors such as parents’ income, number of children, cost of health care and child care, as well as parenting time.
• Spousal maintenance (alimony): In a long-term marriage with disparate incomes, the court may award alimony (temporary or permanent) to one spouse.
• Business assets: When one or both spouses own a business, special care needs to be taken to fairly divide the proceeds of the business without destroying the enterprise. With our business law experience, we can help you obtain a business valuation if necessary to determine a plan that fits your circumstances.
• Retirement benefits: Especially in a long-term marriage, retirement funds, pensions and IRAs may need to be divided. A QDRO (qualified domestic relations order) is a court order that can be used to divide certain retirement assets.
• Post-judgment modifications: Years after a divorce, changes in circumstances may require a change in the court’s orders related to custody, child support or alimony. We can help.

Answering Frequently Asked Questions

When our clients are going through a divorce, they often have many questions about the process and what to expect. As we guide you through this challenging time, we are here to answer your questions and provide the support you need. Some of the common questions we receive from our clients include:

How long does it take to finalize a divorce in Georgia?

The timeline for finalizing a divorce in Georgia depends on whether it is contested or uncontested. An uncontested divorce, where both parties agree on all terms, can be resolved in as little as 31 days after filing the necessary paperwork. However, a contested divorce, which involves disputes over issues like property division or child custody, can take several months to finalize, depending on the complexity of the case and the court’s schedule.

What happens if my spouse refuses to sign divorce papers?

Neither spouse is required to agree to divorce, but it only takes one party to initiate a divorce. In many cases our experienced attorneys are able to craft reasonable resolutions and parties are able to agree upon terms of a divorce. If pressing issues exist when the case is filed, we can navigate a temporary hearing to obtain decisions about temporary custody, possession of property and support, often within a couple of weeks of our first meeting All courts in Northeast Georgia require mediation if the parties are unable to agree, and mediation very frequently results in agreement. If it does not, then a final hearing can be scheduled whether or not your spouse is cooperative.

Can I modify child support or alimony after the divorce is finalized?

Yes, child support or alimony can be modified after the divorce is finalized if there is a significant change in income or financial circumstances. For example, changes in income, job loss, or a substantial change in the needs of a child may warrant a modification. To request a modification, you will need to file a petition with the court and provide evidence supporting the change in circumstances.

What should I do if my spouse is hiding assets during the divorce?

If you suspect that your spouse is hiding assets during the divorce, it’s important to notify your attorney immediately. Your legal team can send requests for information to banks, retirement companies and others to locate assets and work with forensic accountants and other professionals to investigate and uncover any hidden assets. This ensures that all marital property is accounted for and divided fairly, as transparency is a critical part of the divorce process, and courts take asset concealment very seriously.

Divorcing Parents Seminars

If you are getting a divorce and have children, you may be required to attend a divorcing parents seminar. This class teaches parents how to communicate appropriately, can help in the negotiation process by discussing effects of separation on children, and gives guidelines for co-parenting after their divorce is final.

Personal Service, Big Capabilities

At the Coleman, Chambers & Rogers, LLP, we offer every divorce client personal attention, responsive service and experienced legal counsel. Our attorneys and our support staff are ready to help.

Call 678-601-2495 or contact us online for an initial consultation.