Central Georgia Family Law Blog

Same-sex couples have the right to grow their family via adoption

On behalf of G. Morris Carr, LLC on Wednesday, March 6, 2019.

LGBTI couples are experiencing a long-awaited expansion of their civil rights. After years of struggle, the federal courts have finally acknowledged same-sex marriage. This has given rise to increasing numbers of LGBTI couples marrying, as well as couples eventually divorcing. It has also paved the way for a higher number of LGBTI couples adopting children.

Even in very conservative states, like Georgia, same-sex couples now have more rights to grow their family through adoption. Of course, just because the job option is possible doesn't mean that it's easy. You and your spouse will have a significant amount of work and likely substantial expenses ahead of you before you finalize adoption paperwork.

The potential benefits of stepparent adoption in Georgia

On behalf of G. Morris Carr, LLC on Tuesday, February 5, 2019.

Blended families, which include children from prior marriages, are quite common. Each family has its own unique circumstances, and parents should always remain as attentive to the individual needs of the children and their family as possible. One of those needs is the desire for a sense of belonging and family unity.

As a stepparent who has deep love and a sense of obligation toward your stepchildren, you may be wondering if the time has come to adopt the children of your spouse. By doing so, you can cement their position in your life, while also reinforcing the strength of your entire family unit. There are many potential benefits to legally adopting your stepchildren.

You have options when a contractor does shoddy work on your house

On behalf of G. Morris Carr, LLC on Monday, January 7, 2019.

Remodeling your home is stressful, even if everything goes perfectly. Typically, you won't have access to the space undergoing changes for several days, if not weeks. The remodel can also impact the critical systems of your home, from plumbing to electrical. That can mean that you can't use the water in any part of your home or have to go without electricity for several hours at a time.

Most homeowners can push through these stresses by focusing on how excellent their living space will be after the remodel is over. Unfortunately, for some homeowners, the headache doesn't end when construction does. They may discover that the contractors they hired did a truly poor job. This bad work could impact the livability of the space or even impact the overall value of the home.

3 important aspects of divorce

On behalf of G. Morris Carr, LLC on Friday, December 7, 2018.

Imagine you've been married for 30 years and now your relationship is coming to a close. Now imagine you've been married for six months and you're contemplating divorce. Regardless of how long your relationship has lasted, every divorce needs to cover three main areas.

You may want to consider these areas carefully and decide your goals surrounding these topics before you begin your divorce process. Here are the three most important aspects of divorce in this respect:

Important things to understand about divorce mediation

On behalf of G. Morris Carr, LLC on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

If you're interested in divorce, it won't be long before you turn your attention to mediation. This is the best way to resolve disputes during the divorce process, thus allowing you to move forward as quickly and efficiently as possible.

In mediation, a third party mediator helps both individuals resolve disputes associated with things such as child custody, child support and property division.

What are some components of adoption in Georgia?

On behalf of G. Morris Carr, LLC on Tuesday, October 9, 2018.

Adoption is a huge decision that impacts everyone in the family. There are many steps to adopting a child in Georgia. Learning about what is going to happen can sometimes diminish stress as you work through everything.

The adoption process isn't going to be speedy. Each step you must take will require time. For example, Georgia law requires that potential adoptive parents attend an information session prior to beginning the pre-service training. From there, other things must also be done before an adoption is finalized.

Address common issues as a new single parent after divorce

On behalf of G. Morris Carr, LLC on Monday, September 10, 2018.

There is nothing easy about moving from a two-parent home to a single-parent home. You have a lot of things to figure out now, but this doesn't mean that you can't work through all the challenges.

You need to come up with a plan for addressing some of the most common struggles that newly single parents face. Some challenges take quite a bit of work while others will resolve more easily.

What happens to a pension in a Georgia divorce?

On behalf of G. Morris Carr, LLC on Thursday, August 9, 2018.

Other than custody of a minor child, asset division is probably the most contentious issue in any divorce. You and your ex likely don't agree on what is the best or most fair way to split up your possessions. This can lead to protracted battles in court.

Spouses often fight most furiously over the assets that are worth the most. Many couples focus on the home, which often represents the most significant purchase from the marriage. Another asset that can cause a lot of conflict in a divorce is a pension.

Living far from your child doesn't mean not having a relationship

On behalf of G. Morris Carr, LLC on Friday, July 13, 2018.

Child custody cases can include extreme circumstances. This can include parents who aren't living close to their children. These long distance relationships can be challenging for everyone involved, but this doesn't mean that they can't be successful or that they won't be filled with love.

You, your child and your ex all have to try to find ways to make the situation the best it can be. Thinking about the needs of your children has to remain a priority. Here are some tips to help you find out what works for you:

Will I get to keep my condo on the beach?

On behalf of G. Morris Carr, LLC on Thursday, June 14, 2018.

In your late 20s you had a stroke of good fortune, started making more money and you bought a condo on the beach. That condo has been a source of great joy for you over the years, and the thought of giving it up would leave you heartbroken. This is why you're so concerned about it in your upcoming divorce. Will you get to keep it? Or will you have to let it go?

Asset division questions like this come up frequently in divorce proceedings. When it comes to a piece of real estate like a beach condo, several different scenarios could apply: