Posts by Scott Shaw
What is Notice by Publication for the Purposes of a Divorce?
Under Georgia law, there are specific ways in which you must give notice, or service of process, to your spouse that you have filed for divorce. Probably the most common way to complete service is to have a sheriff or private process server personally deliver a copy of the divorce papers to your spouse. If…
Read MoreThe Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act
The Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act (PKPA) is a federal law that was passed in order to ensure consistency in interstate custody disputes. It also was designed to prevent parents from kidnapping their own children and taking them to other states for the purposes of obtaining a more favorable custody determination. More specifically, the PKPA establishes…
Read MoreAppreciation of Marital Assets in a Georgia Divorce
When individuals own significant assets, such as businesses, stock options, investment accounts, and the like, the issue of appreciation of these assets may arise when the parties decide to divorce. From a purely financial perspective, appreciation is the amount of increase in value that an asset or piece of property accrues over time. Appreciation may…
Read MoreWho Pays for Our Child’s College Expenses After a Divorce?
In some states, a court may order parents may be responsible for all or a portion of their children’s college expenses, even after their obligation to pay child support has ended and their children are over the age of 18. In states in which it is possible to order college expenses, however, the court typically…
Read MoreImputing Income to a Parent in Georgia Child Support Calculations
Many couples who have minor children together and are in the process of separating, whether they are married or not, must address the issue of child support for their children. In most cases, one parent will have custody of the children and the other parent will pay child support. However, even in a joint or…
Read MoreHow to Tell Your Children that You’re Getting Divorced
There is no easy way to break it to your children that you and your spouse are planning to separate or divorce. Your children are likely to react negatively to the news, no matter how appropriate or justified the divorce may be. Regardless of the situation, you are introducing a life-changing event for your child…
Read MoreCan I Get Custody of My Stepchild in My Divorce?
It is not uncommon, particularly during a lengthy marriage, for a stepparent to become closely bonded to his or her stepchildren. With today’s high divorce rates, there are more and more “blended families,” including stepchildren and stepparents. When a couple with a blended family decide to divorce, the broken relationship between stepparent and stepchild can…
Read MoreFactors to Consider in a Military Divorce Case
Military divorces in the state of Georgia can be complex and involve issues that are simply not present or applicable in a regular civilian divorce. There are various federal laws that apply only to active duty military members in the context of a divorce, and you will need the assistance of a qualified Georgia military…
Read MoreWhat is a Custodial Evaluation?
If you are involved in Georgia child custody dispute, you should be familiar with the possibility that the judge will order you and your child’s other parent to participate in a custodial evaluation. If parents are unable to reach an agreement as to custody of their child, a court-appointed psychologist or mental health professional can…
Read MoreIs Child Support Conditioned on Visitation Rights?
Unfortunately, many parents make several simple mistakes when it comes to the relationship between child support and visitation in Georgia. Many parents mistakenly believe that they don’t have to allow visitation with the other parent if he or she is not paying support as ordered. They also tend to believe that the opposite is true,…
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