Family Law
FAMILY LAWYER
GET THE REPRESENTATION YOU DESERVE IN A DIVORCE OR CUSTODY DISPUTE
TRUSTED LOCAL FAMILY LAW ATTORNEYS
When you choose Rainford Law Firm for representation, you get skilled negotiations, decades of experience, and our compassionate staff on your team. We work hard to understand your unique situation and advocate for the best-case scenario for everyone involved in your divorce or separation dispute. Schedule a free consultation with us to see if we’re a good fit for your family law needs today!
Our Family Law Services
Representation tailored to your situation
- Decades of experience in the Atlanta area
- Uncontested & Contested divorce proceedings
- Fighting for your rights with regard to property, custody, alimony, and more
- Most cases settle out of court, but we are prepared to represent you in a trial as well
- Free consultations to ensure you feel comfortable entrusting your case to our team
FIRST, LET’S CREATE A GAMEPLAN
It is our goal to discover the best-case scenario for your case and set about negotiations and next steps with that goal in mind. Not sure what your rights are or what is possible for your case? That’s okay, we’re here to help create a plan that you can feel excited about.
Divorce can be a complicated legal process. It can be an emotional ordeal evoking stress, fear, sadness, and even anger. It can also be a feeling of relief if you have been unhappy for a spell.
The division of assets and debts, child custody and support, alimony, and the future of both parties is taxing on everyone, so it is important to implement self-care before and during the process.
First, it is important to remember that every case is different as there are always exceptions to the rule, particularly in family law cases. But trying to come to an amicable agreement regarding your affairs can save money, time and avoid the ugliness of a nasty fight.
There are two types of divorces, each involving the same process of asset division and the care of children. As it relates to a divorce case, a settlement is usually the best way to resolve it. Divorce settlements allow you to have control over the outcome of your case and are typically more affordable and expedient than litigation. However, if litigation becomes necessary, the family law attorneys at Rainford Law Firm have a reputation for being experienced and strong when advocating for our clients in the courtroom.
ALIMONY
Alimony is usually one of the first things a person thinks about when a divorce is pending. Courts may grant temporary alimony for the purpose of maintaining one spouse’s standard of living during the pendency of a divorce case. The factors in determining whether temporary alimony is granted are much different from the factors considered in determining permanent alimony. The merits of the case are not at issue when determining temporary alimony, as they are in considering longer-term maintenance.
Permanent alimony is very different from temporary alimony – it is an allowance out of one person’s estate for the maintenance of the other spouse. Alimony is based on several factors, including the needs of the person asking for alimony, the ability of the other spouse to pay alimony, the lifestyle the couple had during the marriage, and the relative education, age, health, and work experience of the parties. There are no guidelines or set amounts for alimony; rather the judge looks at several factors in deciding whether to award alimony and if so, in what amount. Alimony is generally not awarded for punitive purposes.
CHILD SUPPORT
There are guidelines in Georgia to help determine the amount of child support awarded. Georgia’s current child support laws went into effect on January 1, 2007, and is based on an income-shares model. This means that both parents’ incomes are taken into account and separate child support obligations are determined for each parent, taking into account such factors as the cost of health insurance for the children, work-related child care, extraordinary educational and health care expenses, and extracurricular activities.
CHILD CUSTODY
Custody can be a major issue in divorce cases. The standard for determining custody is the best interest of the child standard. In order to determine what is in the best interest of the child, the judge will often look at which parent is the most significant day-to-day care provider for the child. However, there are many other factors a judge will look at in determining custody. A judge, never a jury always makes the custody decision (a jury can decide issues of child support, alimony, property, and debt division).
There are two forms of custody in Georgia – physical custody and legal custody. Physical custody determines how the child’s time is allocated to each parent. The parent who is awarded physical custody will generally have the child the majority of the time unless the parents share true joint physical custody. Legal custody is the right and responsibility to make certain decisions regarding the child’s health, education, religious training, and general welfare. Parents can share joint legal custody while one parent has physical custody. Parents can also share joint physical custody, where the child spends approximately the same amount of time with both parents. One parent can also have sole physical and legal custody. Visitation rights for the noncustodial parent can vary significantly and there are as many potential solutions as there are divorcing parents.
PROPERTY DIVISION
Georgia is an equitable division state when it comes to dividing property and debts. This means that in the absence of an agreement between the parties, assets and debts are divided according to whatever the judge or jury thinks is fair given the particular circumstances of the case.
Call us today for a free consultation regarding your family law situation.
