Avondale Estates Divorce Lawyers
If you are facing divorce, you are likely feeling a range of emotions: anger, hurt, frustration, fear, trepidation, perhaps even an ounce of relief. As you begin the divorce process, you may encounter another feeling: confusion. Divorce involves a legal process that can be very complicated, with complex issues and consequential decisions.
That’s why you need to hire an experienced, competent divorce attorney who can guide you through the process from start to finish. The Avondale Estates divorce lawyers of Kessler & Solomiany, LLC have been advising clients on a variety of family law matters for many years, including people just like you who are facing divorce. We have seen it all: the good moments, the bad moments, and the ugly moments that families experience. That means we are prepared for the thorniest of issues that can arise in divorce.
What’s more, we understand that divorce is an emotional experience that can challenge your resolve, sanity, and patience. Let us fight for you and your interests, while you focus on your well-being. Contact Kessler & Solomiany, LLC at (404) 688-8810 for a confidential consultation today.
Why Hire Kessler & Solomiany, LLC?
Kessler & Solomiany, LLC has advised Avondale Estates families in a variety of legal issues for decades, developing a reputation for considerate, ethical, and knowledgeable representation. Our attorneys are experienced at all stages and levels of family law, including pretrial hearings, trial litigation, mediation, and appeals. Whether it is a contested trial in front of a jury or an uncontested divorce negotiated around a conference table, our attorneys are prepared to advocate for you.
Beyond our work with clients, Kessler & Solomiany, LLC also serves the community and the broader legal profession. Our attorneys frequently present at conferences and teach continuing legal education (CLE) seminars to fellow lawyers. Our entire team, including lawyers, paralegals, and administrative staff, is encouraged to get involved in the Avondale Estates community and with local organizations.
That is why our firm was voted the #1 Family Law Firm by Daily Report readers in 2021. We are also proud that 12 of our 15 attorneys were selected to the Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.
Cases We Handle
We’re not just a divorce law firm. We also practice family law, and our practice areas include the following:
- Legitimation and Paternity
- Pre and Postnuptial Agreements
- Mediation
- Alimony and Spousal Support Representation
- Child Custody and Visitation Legal Services
- Child Support Law
- Restraining and Protective Orders
- Grandparent & Third-Party Custody/Visitation
- Contempt Actions
What to Know About the Divorce Process
Whether you want to get a divorce, are just thinking about it, or were just served a divorce complaint, here is what you need to know about the typical divorce process:
- Hire a Lawyer: This should always be your first step, regardless of your situation. Hiring an experienced, knowledgeable attorney is the most important thing you can do when you are facing divorce.
- Make Sure You Qualify: Before you can file for divorce in Georgia, you or your spouse must have been a Georgia resident for at least six months.
- Decide Divorce Grounds: There are 13 grounds for divorce in Georgia, including the no-fault ground of an “irretrievably broken” marriage.
- Prepare and File a Divorce Complaint: A complaint is a significant legal document that your lawyer will prepare and file with the appropriate court.
- Serve the Complaint: The complaint will be served, or properly delivered, to your spouse.
- Spouse Responds: After being served, your spouse typically has 30 days to respond, either to agree or disagree with your complaint.
- Discovery: The discovery process will require both you and your spouse to submit documents on your income, assets, property, debts, living expenses, and other relevant records.
- Resolution: At this point, the divorce process can go in different directions. If you and your spouse agree on most matters, you may have an uncontested divorce that can be resolved through mediation. Alternatively, if you and your spouse disagree on multiple issues, your divorce may proceed through pretrial hearings, negotiations, and ultimately a trial.
There are several other issues that could arise in the divorce process. For example, if you and your spouse have children, you may need to request a temporary order to address child custody and support. Depending on whether the divorce is uncontested or contested, your divorce can be finalized in as few as 31 days or it could take several years.
Grounds for Divorce
Georgia law grants divorce on the following grounds:
- Intermarriage between people within prohibited degrees of kinship
- Mental incapacity at the time of marriage
- Impotency at the time of marriage
- Force, menace, duress, or fraud in obtaining marriage
- Pregnancy by another man prior to marriage that is unknown to the husband
- Adultery
- Desertion by either spouse that is willful and continued for at least one year
- Conviction of either spouse of a crime of moral turpitude resulting in imprisonment for at least two years
- Habitual intoxication
- Cruel treatment that reasonably justifies fear of death or injury
- Incurable mental illness
- Habitual drug addiction
- Irretrievably broken marriage (this is the only no-fault divorce ground and the one most commonly used in Georgia)
Major Issues in Divorce
The following major issues, when applicable, must be resolved through the divorce proceedings:
- Children – If you and your spouse have children, this will likely be the most significant and difficult matter to resolve. You will need to decide if one parent will have primary custody, or if you and your spouse will have joint custody. In either case, you will also need to determine how visitation will work and how you will handle special circumstances, such as holidays or emergencies. Furthermore, you and your spouse will both need to provide for your children’s care. Depending on your respective financial circumstances, one of you will need to provide child support, and you will need to agree on the payment amount and schedule, or the court will make these determinations for you.
- Spousal Support – Also referred to as alimony, the court will determine spousal support based on a variety of factors, including the length of the marriage, age, and health of the spouses, each spouse’s employment situation, etc. The court could grant alimony on a short-term, long-term, or one-time basis.
- Division of Assets and Liabilities – You and your spouse will need to divide your bank accounts, savings, investments, homes, businesses, and any other property or assets you two own. This can be a very complicated process, so having an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer is important.
Contact Kessler & Solomiany, LLC Today
If you are considering or experiencing a divorce in Avondale Estates, the attorneys of Kessler & Solomiany, LLC are the legal counsel you need to get you through this process. Call (404) 688-8810 today to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced divorce lawyers.