prenuptial AGREEMENT
Prenuptial agreements are generally believed to be for people with exceptional amounts of money or when someone believes their marriage is likely to end in divorce - this is simply not true. A prenuptial agreement is a contract between two willing parties who are interested in protecting their personal and financial items in the event of divorce. Having these decisions about personal property decided ahead of time may potentially avoid a delayed and expensive divorce later. For those who did not enter into a prenuptial agreement, a postnuptial agreement between married couples can serve the same purpose. It is important to ensure that all issues are addressed and conveyed into a legal document that will be valid in the event it is ever needed. This agreement may save your relationship a lot of time, money, and headaches later.
Attorney Christine Bechtold can assist you a pre or postnuptial agreement that suits your needs. Contact the office today for more information.
Divorce
When a couple decides to end their marriage it is a stressful time for everyone. It is important to have an attorney on your side to fight for the things that are important to you! It is also helpful to have an unrelated third party there to help guide you through the process with less stress.
There are a variety of papers that must be filed with the court, proceedings that must be conducted, and sometimes even court appearances required in order to finalize a divorce. Divorce proceedings are often cumbersome requiring a lot of paperwork. In Georgia, either spouse may file for divorce for a variety of reasons. The most common divorce is a no-fault divorce. This occurs when one spouse refuses to live with the other and says there is no hope of reconciliation.
You can have either an uncontested or contested divorce. The difference is who determines the conditions of the divorce: the parties, or the Judge.
Contacting an attorney at this time can help you to determine how to proceed. Having an attorney during a divorce is important to ensure that all the proper paperwork is completed. If the proper court papers are not in order the divorce will be drawn out and more stressful.
Attorney Christine Bechtold can assist you with either an uncontested or contested divorce. Contact the office today for more information.
UNCONTESTED DIVORCE
In an uncontested divorce, the parties decide the conditions of the divorce. It is quicker and cheaper to file for an uncontested divorce. An uncontested divorce is when both spouses agree to the division of assets, finances, child custody, and child visitation. This type of divorce decreases the court requirements and legal fees dramatically! You may be able to have your uncontested divorce as quickly as 31 days after you file your papers with the court. An uncontested divorce does not mean that everyone involved is happy with the situation, just that they both agree about what should happen next.
Attorney Christine Bechtold provides flat rates for document production for an uncontested divorce packet. The packet includes all required court documents as well as full instructions about the divorce process. Contact the office today for more information.
CONTESTED DIVORCE
A contested divorce means that the parties cannot agree to the conditions of the divorce and they need the court to get involved. There are many moving parts to a contested divorce. If your spouse has already filed for divorce you should contact an attorney immediately to protect your rights! Some divorces start with a temporary hearing before the final divorce. At this hearing, issues regarding finances and child custody are decided on a temporary basis. A judge could decide temporarily that you cannot sell any assets, or even that you can only see your children on a limited basis. It is important to contact the attorney Christine Bechtold if you have a temporary hearing scheduled to help protect your rights.
Not all contested cases end with a final hearing in-front of a Judge. Attorney Christine Bechtold encourages her clients to examine alternative dispute resolutions with attorney guidance. It is important to have an attorney who is experienced in family law to guide you through this stressful court process. If you need assistance with a contested case, contact the office today.
CHILD CUSTODY AND VISITATION
During a divorce, it is necessary that the children’s best interests are addressed at the same time as the adults. Even when the parents of a child are not married, there are still legal rights that each parent has and legal obligations they have to their child's best interests.
Georgia family law revolves around the best interests of your child. The court determines both legal and physical custody of your child. Legal custody provides a parent with the right to make major decisions regarding the child’s welfare. Physical custody is just what it sounds like; it is where the child lives. Parents can have joint legal and/or joint physical custody where they share these responsibilities evenly.
Upon divorce where children are involved, Georgia law requires a detailed parenting plan. This plan sets out in great detail what will happen with child custody, visitation, and decision-making authority. This plan ensures not only that the best interests of your child are met, but also allows both parents to have access to a close relationship with their child. Georgia law allows children over the age of 14 to choose which parent to live with, but all of this is subject to approval by the court.
Child custody and visitation can be part of a divorce, or it can be a separate action if the parties are not married (often called legitimation). Attorney Christine Bechtold offers child custody and visitation services to her clients. She provides flat rates for document production for a Legitimation packet. The packet includes all required court documents as well as full instructions about the divorce process. She also provides legal services to modify existing child custody and visitation plans. Having an attorney work with you at the start of this process will less likely lead to disputes over custody and visitation in the future. Contact the office today for more information.
CHILD SUPPORT
Child support is money paid for the daily needs of your child. This support is typically paid by the non-custodial parent to the parent with physical custody. In Georgia, both parents have a duty to financially support their child. Child support is based on both parent’s gross month income and the Georgia Child Support Worksheet.
Child support is often part of a divorce or legitimation action, however, attorney Christine Bechtold also provides legal services to modify existing child support orders. Contact the office today for more information.