Posts by Scott Shaw
Is an Emotional Affair Considered Adultery in the State of Georgia?
Are you worried that your spouse has made an emotional connection to another person and is slowly pulling away from you? An emotional affair can be devastating, but is it considered adultery in the eyes of the law? Having questions about emotional affairs and divorce is normal, so here are a few of the things…
Read MoreThe Biggest Mistakes Mothers Make in Child Custody Cases
I have over twenty years trying child custody or parenting rights cases for mothers in Georgia courts. We are successful at what we do. I also try just as many cases for fathers. We win cases other law firms turned down or where clients were advised they could not win. As such, I have a lot of…
Read MorePaying for Extracurricular Activities in Addition to Child Support
Here’s a frequently asked question: “Do I need to pay the cost of my children’s extracurricular activities in addition to child support in the State of Georgia?” Legally speaking, the answer, as always, is complicated. A client will come into my office with their divorce or child custody decree in hand, wanting modification. I will…
Read MoreWho Can Claim the Children on Their Taxes After a Divorce?
After a divorce, parents often wonder which one can claim children as dependents for federal and Georgia state taxes. As always, the answer largely depends on several factors. If the parties can reach an agreement between themselves, that’s great. Or they may require a court to hear the matter and issue an order. Let’s take a…
Read MoreYour Domestic Violence Questions Answered
Domestic violence temporary protective orders are an important area of law that legitimately protects victims of domestic violence in the State of Georgia. However, we have seen situations where one party will use domestic violence temporary protective orders as a strategy rather than protection, often combined with a complaint for divorce in an unfair attempt…
Read MoreFiling for Divorce or Child Custody: Should You Be First to File?
This is a common question. Should I be first to file? And if I do file first will the court hold it against me? The surprising answer is (1) there is a tactical advantage (due to legal procedures in Georgia) to file first, and (2) no, a Georgia court will not hold it against you. It is not critical…
Read MoreSplitting Up: Can I Keep the House in a Divorce?
In the state of Georgia, estates are divided equitably in divorces. The house is often the largest marital asset in a divorce. It’s possible that a house can be all marital property, partially marital and partially nonmarital property, or all nonmarital property, depending on the circumstances. How it is categorized is extremely important to the outcome of the…
Read MoreDivorce After Decades of Marriage: How to Make Sense of It All
The headlines from not that long ago about Bill and Melinda Gates calling it quits after 27 years together have set us all back on our heels. Divorce after decades of marriage can often feel like it comes from left field to blindside everyone completely. These divorces are not uncommon and happen for many reasons,…
Read MoreDivorce over 65: What You Need to Know
Recently, we took a closer look at Gray Divorce, which is typically defined as any divorce over the age of 50. But what happens if you’re over 65 and separating from your spouse? What are the realities of late-life divorces for baby boomers who can already collect social security? According to the Pew Research Center,…
Read MoreGray Divorce: 5 Things to Know About Divorce Over 50
The recent announcement that Bill and Melinda Gates were splitting up after 27 years of marriage sent shockwaves through the news and social media. If they are divorcing at over 60, what does that mean for other marriages? “Gray Divorce,” or divorces over 50, are not uncommon and are happening more often, even to non-celebrities.…
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