Blawg of Attorney Christine M Bechtold

  “Mediation is a structured, interactive process where an impartial third party assists disputing parties in resolving conflict through the use of specialized communication and negotiation techniques.“ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediation . Mediation is a type of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) conducted to resolve pending Court actions. Georgia has an Office of Dispute Resolution specifically appointed to oversee ADR programs. “The mission of the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution is to help the Georgia Supreme Court fulfill its Constitutional mandate to ‘provide for the speedy, efficient, and inexpensive resolution of disputes and prosecutions’ in the judiciary.” https://godr.org/about-us/ . All types of people seek mediation for a wide variety of issues, in fact, some courts order mediation before a case is allowed to move forward with a final hearing. During mediation, both parties agree to attempt to work out their pending issues with a trained neutral medi

Sharing custody of your child with your ex is challenging, holidays can make that challenge even more difficult. Here are some tricks to have a happy co-parenting Halloween:  1. Confirm your visitation schedule as soon as possible. Even if you think you know the visitation plan for Halloween, it is always a good idea to confirm at least one week in advance.    2. If you have a Parenting Plan through the Court, follow that schedule, however, you can adjust Halloween visitation if both parties agree.   3. Halloween falls on a Sunday this year, which can impact regular visitation schedules. Confirm visitation drop-off and pick-up times to ensure both parties have a chance to enjoy the holiday with your child.     4. Think outside the box. There will be Halloween activities around town all weekend. Be open to visitation on days other than just October 31 st . For example, on Saturday, October 30, 2021 “Trick or Treat on Main Street in Loganville will take place this year from 4-6 p.m. on

  If you share a minor child with your ex it is important that you have a schedule for your child this upcoming Thanksgiving break. The State of Georgia requires that separated parents have, “a parenting time schedule, with an outline making clear who the child will spend time with for each day of the year.” https://georgia.gov . The State does not require that parents follow a specific holiday schedule; this allows parents to be creative and follow a schedule that works for them. Most schools in Georgia have off for Thanksgiving the entire week from Monday, November 25, 2019 through Friday, November 29, 2019, including: Barrow, Fulton, Gwinnett, Newton, and Walton Counties. www.barrow.k12.ga.us , www.fultonschools.org , publish.gwinnett.k12.ga.us , www.newtoncountyschools.org , portal.walton.k12.ga.us . Some parents follow their regular schedule during the Thanksgiving break, while others divide up the week. “You can divide Thanksgiving Day and Thanksgiving weekend so one parent h

It is quicker and cheaper to have an uncontested divorce. “An uncontested divorce is one in which there is no dispute between the parties regarding issues such as child support, alimony, child custody, property division, and the like.” www.georgialegalaid.org . This type of divorce decreases the Court requirements and legal fees dramatically. In many cases, it is helpful to start with the uncontested process to see if an agreement can be reached. The benefits of an uncontested divorce are that it is quicker, cheaper, and more efficient. The down side of an uncontested divorce, for some, is that no blame is assigned to either party. Every family is different and every situation is unique. Be sure to not fall into the trap of "easy" or "free" online forms which may not legally protect you later. It is important to talk to a family law attorney to see if an uncontested divorce is right for your situation. The uncontested divorce process can be a helpful, efficient,

Divorce fees vary by state, county, and law firm. In all divorce cases in Georgia, you will have a filing fee paid directly to the Clerk of Court. Filing fees in Georgia vary by county, below is a list of local Superior Court filing fees: Walton County: $210.00 alcovycircuit.com. Newton County: $210.00 alcovycircuit.com. Gwinnett County: $213.00 gwinnettcourts.com. Rockdale County: $209.00 rockdaleclerk.com. If you have a shared minor child with your spouse, you may also be required to attend a parenting class/ seminar for an additional Court fee. Programs and fees vary by county. See my post on parenting classes here: bechtold-law.blogspot.com . Finally, you will have attorney fees for your divorce. Divorce situations vary greatly from family to family which in turn impacts your attorney fees. “Be sure to get your fee arrangement in writing from your attorney before you enter into any attorney-client relationship.” bechtold-law.blogspot.com.

Yes. “There are a variety of different methods through which a lawyer might charge for legal services, and usually the type of case dictates the type of fee agreement.” research.lawyers.com . Lawyer fees are generally either flat, retainer, or contingency. Flat Fees : Seen when litigation is not involved, provides a set price, often used with document production or review cases. “Some lawyers feel that a flat fee arrangement lets everyone relax and makes for a better attorney-client relationship. You won’t feel reluctant to call or email with a question, and the lawyer can take the time necessary to listen to your concerns and explain things to you without feeling like the meter is running.” nolo.com . Retainer Fees : Used in litigation cases, acts as a deposit, billed against by attorney at an hourly rate, total fees can vary. “The money is placed in an account separate from his operating account, and he bills his time against it as the case progresses.” thebalance.com. C