Blawg of Attorney Christine M Bechtold

The purpose of the Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit is to summarize your individual current income, assets, and expenses. It is used to ensure full financial disclosure and is also used to determine any child support obligation. This is a standard form used by the Court. You can either type the information or hand-write it in. The person completing the form is the “affiant” and the form should reflect your individual current financial situation. This Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit will be made under oath; you are swearing to tell the truth based on the information contained in the Affidavit. After you complete the form, do not sign it until you are with a notary. Try not to leave blank spaces on the form, if something is not applicable enter “n/a” or “$0.00.” The figures should be good-faith numbers on your current finances. Use averages whenever possible, but if you are unsure, put in estimates and note that it is an estimate. You will not be re

Today, September 17, 2012 is Constitution Day! What does that mean? “ Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by thirty-nine brave men on September 17, 1787, recognizing all who, are born in the U.S. or by naturalization, have become citizens.” http://www.constitutionday.com/ . After much debate, the Constitutional Convention signed the actual document on this day in 1787. “Among the chief points at issue were how much power to allow the central government, how many representatives in Congress to allow each state, and how these representatives should be elected--directly by the people or by the state legislators.” http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html . The framers of The Constitution drafted the document to allow for its amendment. U. S Constitution, Article V, Section 1. Many are familiar with the first ten Amendments, which are commonly referred to as the Bill of Rights, but now there are twenty seven Ame

I recently received the following email from a concerned grandfather who, like many, paid for a complicated divorce when it may not have been necessary: “The case began when my daughter and grand kids arrived at my home leaving her husband in another state. They had no assets and the reason left no option but divorce. He was a stay at home dad and pleaded ‘no money’ to help with legal or other expenses but agreed the divorce was necessary. He soon moved to Atlanta with the help of his parents. My daughter quickly started a new job. I contacted Christine but was referred to a high profile attorney and paid the firm $5,000 to begin the process then stepped aside and let all bills be mailed to my daughter who had moved to her new residence.  I gave them no specifications or budget. Soon I was hearing about interviews and negotiations. I learned he had to sign an agreement or go to court. So in my mind, they were preparing a divorce to his specifications. My daughter delivered t