Blawg of Attorney Christine M Bechtold

Divorce in Georgia requires a filing fee to the Court and attorney fees. Filing fees for divorce in Georgia vary by county and are approximately $205.      - $204 Gwinnett County www.gwinnettcourts.com     - $205 Alcovy (Newton and Walton Counties) www.alcovycircuit.com Attorney fees vary greatly from firm to firm and even from case to case. Some attorneys offer flat rates, while others require a retainer and bill against it hourly. Divorce situations vary greatly from case to case which in turn can impact your attorney fees. It is important to inquire about legal fees before you enter into an attorney-client relationship so you know your financial responsibility. Your attorney should give you an estimate of their fees, preferably in writing before you start. The Law Office of Christine M Bechtold, LLC offers flat fees for a variety of legal services. This process allows you to know your fees before we even begin. Although the firm attempts to provide flat fees for most services,

Independence Day is one of the most important federal holidays in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence, which declared our independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. bechtold-law.blogspot.com.   “Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, the Declaration of Independence is at once the nation's most cherished symbol of liberty and Jefferson's most enduring monument.” www.archives.gov. “What Jefferson did was to summarize this philosophy in ‘self-evident truths’ and set forth a list of grievances against the King in order to justify before the world the breaking of ties between the colonies and the mother country.” www.archives.gov. In the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson describes why the Declaration is necessary: "The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.” www.arc

July 2, 1776 is the day the United States of America became independent, but we celebrate two days later; Why? The founders knew there needed to be a unifying document explaining the reasons for independence and not just a vote. "July 2 Congress voted for independence and proceeded to debate the wording of the Declaration, which was, with the notable deletion of Jefferson’s vehement condemnation of slavery, unanimously approved on the evening of July 4. Every Fourth of July, America celebrates not the actual act of independence (proclaimed on July 2) but rather the public proclamation of the principles behind the act." http://www.heritage.org/initiatives/first-principles/primary-sources/the-declaration-of-independence . On July 4 we celebrate both Independence and the unified Declaration of Independence .

Merry Christmas from The Law Office of Christine M Bechtold, LLC.

"An uncontested divorce is when both spouses agree to most, if not all, of the division of assets, finances, and child custody and visitation of minor children. This type of divorce decreases the Court requirements and legal fees dramatically!” bechtold-law.com .  In many divorce cases it is helpful to begin with the uncontested process to see if an agreement can be reached before starting the contested Court process. An uncontested divorce can be quicker, cheaper, and more efficient. The down side of an uncontested divorce, for some, is that, “no blame is assigned to you or your spouse.” lawyers.com . Once you decide you want to start with an uncontested divorce, you need to decide how to proceed legally. You may be able to find some forms online to start the process yourself, but most do not have the specific state or county requirements for your divorce to go smoothly. Local Superior Court Clerks may also have forms available, but they are just that, forms. Also, “the

Independence Day is one of the most important federal holidays in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence , which declared our independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. bechtold-law.blogspot.com .   “ Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, the Declaration of Independence is at once the nation's most cherished symbol of liberty and Jefferson's most enduring monument.” www.archives.gov . “What Jefferson did was to summarize this philosophy in ‘self-evident truths’ and set forth a list of grievances against the King in order to justify before the world the breaking of ties between the colonies and the mother country.” www.archives.gov . In the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson describes why the Declaration is necessary: "The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny

If a child’s parent was Court ordered to pay child support for the benefit of the minor child and they are not paying that full amount there are a few actions you can take.  The most important and first action is to communicate with the non-paying parent. You should make sure that the parent is aware of the non-payment. Be sure to inform the parent of the exact past due child support amount and where to send payment. It may also be helpful to include a copy of the Court Order with your written communication.   Sometimes communication is all that is needed to encourage an agreement to fulfill the Court Ordered child support. “If you live in Georgia, have legal custody of a child, and need help receiving child support payments, you may apply” for assistance through the Division of Child Support Services . Part of this program’s mission is, “To enhance the well-being of children by assuring that assistance in obtaining support, including financial and medical, is available