Posts by Scott Shaw
Do I Have to Respond to Discovery Requests in My Divorce?
Discovery is the process used in a divorce for each spouse to get information from one another about various divorce-related issues, many of which are financial in nature. This exchange of information permits each side to propose a settlement or proceed to trial if a settlement cannot be reached. Discovery can include the right to…
Read MorePost-Divorce Financial Checklist
Finances are always a difficult issue to tackle, whether you are married or single. However, if you are recently divorced, you have some major changes and tasks ahead of you in order to safeguard your financial situation and safeguard your future. First, be sure to build an emergency fund as quickly as possible. Many recently…
Read MoreSame-Sex Marriages and Divorce in the State of Georgia
With the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision finding that same-sex couples have the constitutional right to marry, the state of Georgia now must recognize and perform same-sex marriages. The high court’s decision effectively overturned Georgia’s constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages, which was enacted back in 2004. Along with same-sex marriages in the state of Georgia,…
Read MoreTax Traps to Avoid During a Georgia Divorce
People who are getting divorced are often surprised to learn of the many different tax problems that result from divorce proceedings. All too often, divorcing couples fail to consider the tax consequences of their actions, which can have disastrous results if they don’t get the proper advice and make the right decisions about tax-related issues.…
Read MoreMoney Spent on Children During Visitation Does Not Count as Child Support
It is not unusual for a non-custodial parent to spend time engaging in fun activities with his or her child when he or she is having parenting time with the child. A parent and child often will go out to restaurants to eat, see a movie, spend a day at an amusement park, or shop…
Read MoreDenial of Visitation: How Do I Get to See My Children?
When a Georgia court issues an order about parenting time or visitation, both parent are required to follow it. Since it is a court order, there can be serious repercussions if a parent doesn’t follow the plan or order. One such consequence is that the court may find you in contempt of court for failing…
Read MoreContinuances in Family Law Cases
From time to time, an individual will want to have a hearing in his or her divorce case rescheduled. This may be due to a previously scheduled vacation, a death or illness in the family, or a conflict with a work schedule. In order to do so, the individual or his or her lawyer must…
Read MoreFathers’ Rights in Adoption Proceedings
A Georgia adoption can be confusing and complex, especially for fathers who are trying to determine their rights in a pending adoption proceeding. O.C.G.A. § 19-8-12 gives a biological father the right to notice of the filing of any adoption proceedings in the following circumstances, even if the father has never established paternity in order…
Read MoreTypes of Spousal Support or Alimony
In a Georgia divorce, one spouse may be ordered to pay support to the other in certain limited situations. Alimony or spousal support is a very important issue in a divorce, for both the party who is ordered to pay the support and the party who is receives it. Because Georgia law so strictly defines…
Read MoreFamily Violence Restraining Orders
In the state of Georgia, if your divorce or family law case involves domestic violence, you may wish to ask the court for a Temporary Protective Order (TPO). This type of court order can prohibit one party from engaging in certain types of behavior toward or contact with the other party. In order to be…
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