Yes. We provide substantial and valuable information during an initial consultation and charge on an hourly basis for that service.

During our initial meeting, you will share the details of your particular circumstance so that we can determine the general scope and challenges of your situation. We will provide you with detailed information on Georgia law and how it applies to your case. Your initial consultation will help us get to know one another and build rapport. It is essential that you have a sense of comfort with the attorney you choose to represent you.

Initial consultations generally last between 1-2 hours.

The length of time it takes to complete a case depends on several circumstances including the issues involved in your case, the mindset of the opposing party and his or her counsel and even the county in which your case is filed. As we become familiar with the details of your situation, we will be better able to predict a timeline for the duration of the case.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Each case is different. Based on your circumstances, the fee will be determined according to the time and resources necessary to ensure the goals for your case are met. Factors such as the number and complexity of the issues will influence the amount of time needed. There are also mandatory charges such as court filing fees. We will discuss costs in detail during your initial consultation.

You will be asked to pay an initial retainer, which will be deposited into a trust account and applied to fees and costs as they are earned or used. Every month we will send you an itemized billing statement so you know where you stand financially with the firm.

Unless otherwise asked, you do not need to bring anything with you to the initial consultation. However, if you have previous court orders or have signed a pre-nuptial or postnuptial agreement, it will be helpful for us to review those documents during or even before the consultation.

There is a small window of time to respond to any Petition/Complaint. You should contact an experienced famiy law attorney as soon as possible after being served to schedule a consultation to discuss your options.

Divorce is a highly emotional process. Frequently an individual may be psychologically or otherwise unprepared for divorce when his or her spouse files the case. Sometimes the person who files for divorce has had years to work through his or her emotional issues by the time of filing. The other spouse, in contrast, may be totally unprepared for the proceeding and may want to stop or prevent the divorce from moving forward. While we can reach out to the other party/opposing counsel to see if he or she is willing to consider counseling or avenues other than divorce, generally speaking, once a spouse has filed for divorce and served the other spouse, there is little the other party can do to stop the process from moving forward.

Select an attorney with experience in family law, and who focuses their legal practice on representing family law clients. Select an attorney with a history of getting results their clients want. Select an attorney that listens to you when you speak, and understands what you want. Interview your potential attorney, and make certain you are comfortable with him or her. Your personal comfort level with the attorney leads to a better working relationship and a better result in your case. Family law issues generally necessitate a close working relationship for many months. You need an attorney who you can trust and rely upon.

No. There is an inherent conflict of interest in family law cases which makes it unethical for one attorney to represent both parties.

It depends. If you and your spouse both file a divorce case, generally, the case that was filed first will be the case that moves forward. Additionally, the party who files first is called the "Plaintiff" and has the opportunity to speak first and last should the case go to trial. However, many cases settle prior to going to trial, so depending on the nature of your case, this may not be a sufficient reason for you to be concerned with filing first.

Child support is calculated using a Child Support Worksheet. The major factors that are considered when determining child support include each party’s income, the cost of health insurance for the child and any child care expenses. Depending on the circumstances, extracurricluar activities, extraordinary medical and educational expenses and even the amount of time spent with each parent, may have an impact on the amount of child support. The court or parties may deviate from the presumptive amount of child support as stated on the Child Support Worksheet so long as there are specific reasons for doing so and the Court finds such deviation to be in the child's best interest.

Once an order of child support is issued, it can only be changed through a modification action and subsequent court order modifying the support. This involves filing a petition to modify child support with the Court.

There is no set formula for establishing the amount of spousal support/alimony. While each judge has discretion to determine the amount of the award, the Court generally takes into consideration the need of the spouse requesting support and the ability of the other party to pay. Other factors for the judge to consider when determining alimony are: the standard of living established during the marriage; the duration of the marriage; the age and the physical and emotional condition of both parties; where applicable, the time necessary for either party to acquire sufficient education or training to enable him to find appropriate employment and the contribution of each party to the marriage.

Legal custody involves the decision-making responsibilities associated with a child’s education, extracurricular activities, non-emergency healthcare and religious upbringing. Here is our guide to breaking down final decision-making. Physical custody refers to where the child lives day-to-day. A parent that has more than 50% of the time with their child is the primary physical custodian and has "primary custody" of the child. The other parent would be considered the non-custodial parent. In a joint custody situation, parents typically share legal custody and split physical custody with one parent having 50% of the time with the child and the other parent having 50% of the time with the child.

Prenuptial agreements are contracts entered into by couples prior to and in anticipation of marriage. They are commonly referred to as premarital agreements or antenuptial agreements. A well-drafted prenuptial agreement sets the rules by which a married couple will operate should they ever separate and/or divorce. The purpose of a prenuptial agreement is to set out how the couple’s assets and debts would be divided, including property and future earnings, should the marriage be dissolved. A prenuptial agreement cannot establish terms related to custody or care of a child or determine child support.

A prenuptial agreement may seem like something best suited to celebrities or those with inheritances or fortunes at stake. In fact, most couples can benefit from creating a prenuptial agreement since the process involves honestly disclosing your assets and debts, in addition to agreeing on what would happen to your property and finances should you ever separate or divorce.

Here are some of the top reasons to consider a prenputial agreement:

This is your second or third marriage;

You own an interest in a business;

You have a high net worth;

Your spouse has significant debts or less assets than you; or

You want to protect a past or future inheritance.

Postnuptial agreements are entered into after a couples' marriage, but are created for the same purpose as prenuptial agreements. These agreements are sometimes called "reconciliation agreements" as they are oftentimes entered into after a couple has a dispute that tests the stability of their marriage.

Georgia law establishes two different levels of the relationship between a father and a child born out of wedlock: paternity and legitimation. Paternity establishes who the biological father of the child is, and obligates the father to pay child support. Legitimation goes one step further and establishes the legal relationship (parental rights) to the child, giving the father standing in court to request custody or visitation.

No. While you would be considered the biological parent of the child, you do not yet have any legal or parental rights. You must file a legitimation action to establish those rights, including custody and visitation.

Lennon, Giovinazzo & Steele Family Law represents clients throughout the metro-Atlanta area, including, Fulton County, Cobb County, DeKalb County, Gwinnett County, Forsyth County, Hall County, Fayette County, Henry County, Clayton County and Cherokee County.