Divorce/Child Custody/Domestic Partnerships

While any legal situation can be stressful, family law cases can be particularly traumatic. The decisions made in these matters directly impact the structure of your family and relationships between family members. Having an experienced family lawyer on your side is crucial.

As a family lawyer and a mother, I understand the sensitive nature your case. I handle it with the utmost compassion and discretion, and I strive to make the legal process go as smoothly for you as possible.

I can assist with the following— 

Divorce in Georgia

The process and outcome of your divorce action can vary greatly depending on the county of your divorce and whether or not your matter involves minor children. An uncontested divorce can potentially be completed in 31 days but a lengthy litigated matter involving complicated finances or custody can take nine months to two years. You may encounter such terms and concepts as—

I will help guide you through the processes as easily and cost effectively as possible. The actions we take are geared toward your priorities and your specific needs. Each case is different and each case has my personal attention.

I help maximize the results that are important to you and will enforce those awards as life goes forward. Clients continue to return for representation and protection during future modifications of child custody, child support, alimony, and contempt of court for nonpayment of financial awards or assets. When a relocation of a parent occurs, I am there to address any necessary changes in custody, visitation and support.

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Child custody

When children are involved in a divorce case, they immediately become the priority. The court considers several factors before awarding custody to either parent or making substantial changes to an existing agreement, including—

• The safety and well-being of the child
• The prior involvement of each parent in the child's life (i.e. primary caregiver)
• The child's wishes (depending on his or her age)
• The moral and academic environment of each home

If you are facing a custody battle, I can help. I get to know you and understand your circumstances before developing a strategy for your child custody or visitation case. It is usually in the child's best interest to resolve the issue through mediation or other alternative legal techniques, but if taking the case to court is necessary, I fight to protect your rights and the rights of your child.

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Guardian ad litem

A guardian ad litem is a person appointed by the court to represent a minor in court proceedings pertaining to the minor.  Divorce cases that involve child custody issues often result in a guardian ad litem appointment.  The guardian ad litem investigates the households, interviews witnesses, and reports to the court their detailed findings.

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Domestic partnerships

While Georgia law does not currently recognize domestic partnerships, many Atlanta-area companies and organizations do.  If you are a member of Metro Atlanta's large community of non-traditional couples and reside with your partner, it is important that you have legal agreements in place to protect your interests.  Partnership agreements can be helpful in any domestic living situation where the parties are not married, including—

The agreement is a contract that defines distribution of property and finances if there is a change in the living arrangements.  The contract may address—

A partnership agreement is very similar to a prenuptial agreement in that it clearly and concisely defines the practical aspects of the relationship. It outlines the financial expectations of each party as they contribute to the relationship and defines the division of assets and use of the residence if the relationship must dissolve.

Child custody in domestic partnership cases

Child custody cases involving domestic partners are often complex.  If the child is the offspring of an unmarried heterosexual couple, the paternity of the child may be in question, requiring legitimation. Other than marrying the child's mother, legitimation is the only way that the father of a child born in the state of Georgia may establish legal rights to his child.  Even if you are listed as the father on the child’s birth certificate, if you are not married to the child's mother, you must file for an Order of Legitimation before seeking custody or visitation.

However, if the domestic partners are a non-traditional couple, establishing parental rights may be more difficult.  A domestic partnership agreement that outlines the terms of custody and visitation can help.  Either way, child custody matters between domestic partners tend to be more complex than those between divorcing couples, simply because the law is not as clear.  As a family lawyer with nearly two decades of experience, I can help.

Name changes

Adult name changes are fairly straightforward and must go through the court system.

• An adult wishing to change his or her name must file a petition stating the desired new name and reason for the change.
• A legal notice is published once a week for four weeks in the legal newspaper of your county. This notice gives anyone else (such as creditors) the opportunity to file an objection.

Once this process is completed, the judge signs a decree ordering your change of name. This order is used as evidence to submit to Social Security, the DMV, and other entities.

A name change for a child is more complicated and requires the consent of both parents.

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Contact me for assistance today

When a legal matter arises, the lawyer you select may play a crucial role in the outcome of your case. Contact me, Paige Norwood Jennings, today—I look forward to discussing your case with you and guiding you through the legal process during this difficult time.