Blawg of Attorney Christine M Bechtold

Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743. "Thomas Jefferson, a spokesman for democracy, was an American Founding Father, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and the third President of the United States (1801–1809)." https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/thomasjefferson "As a member of the Continental Congress, he was chosen in 1776 to draft the Declaration of Independence, which has been regarded ever since as a charter of American and universal liberties. The document proclaims that all men are equal in rights, regardless of birth, wealth, or status, and that the government is the servant, not the master, of the people." https://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/thomas-jefferson-brief-biography "The Declaration of Independence, which explained why the 13 colonies wanted to be free of British rule and also detailed the importance of individual rights and freedoms, was adopted on July 4, 1776." http://www.history.com/t

"The Newton County Judicial Center and the Walton County Government Building will be closed on Friday, March 25, 2016, in observance of Good Friday." http://www.alcovycircuit.com/news/203-holiday-schedule.html . The Gwinnett County Courts are, "closed on legal holidays." http://www.gwinnettcourts.com/ . Good Friday is not an observed legal holiday in the State of Georgia. https://georgia.gov/popular-topic/observing-state-holidays . The Law Office of Christine M Bechtold, LLC will have limited appointments on Good Friday 2016 and will be available via email at Christine@Bechtold-Law.com and by phone message at 770.466.2700. Have a Happy Easter with your family!

What is my tax filing status while my divorce is pending? "Married persons. You are married for the whole year if you are separated but you have not obtained a final decree of divorce or separate maintenance by the last day of your tax year . An interlocutory decree is not a final decree." Determine your tax filing status by consulting the IRS website at: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p504/ar02.html#en_US_2014_publink1000175820 . The Law Office of Christine M Bechtold, LLC is a general law firm focusing on family law and does not provide tax services or advice. Call 770-466-2700 or email Christine@Bechtold-Law.com to schedule your free family law initial consultation. Visit www.Bechtold-Law.com for free information.

"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 .  "The U.S. Constitution established America's national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens." http://www.history.com/topics/constitution . "The United States Constitution is the world's longest surviving written charter of government." http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/ConstitutionDay.htm . "Empowered with the sovereign authority of the people by the framers and the consent of the legislatures of the states, it is the source of all government powers, and also provides important limitations on the government that protect the fundamental rights of United States citizens."   https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/constitution .

Divorce cases are filed as Domestic Civil Cases in Superior Court. Filing fees to the Superior Court vary by county, see list and links below for the most recent filing fees as of August, 2015. Alcovy (Walton and Newton Counties) $205.00 www.alcovycircuit.com Athens-Clark County $215.00 athensclarkecounty.com Dekalb County $210.00 www.dksuperiorclerk.com Fulton County $221.00 www.fcclk.org Gwinnett County $206.00 www.gwinnettcourts.com Rockdale County $205.00 www.rockdaleclerk.com The filing fee is paid to the Clerk’s office for the filing and processing of your case. If your case requires service of process by the Sheriff, there is a separate fee to the Sheriff’s office of $50.00 per person, per address.  If your county is not listed above, call the Clerk of the Superior Court in your county for the most recent fees. This is an update to the prior post: How Much AreYour Legal Fees For A Divorce? . Contact the Law Office of Christi

Yes, everyone should have a living will. This legal document allows you to set-up guidelines for your healthcare in the event you can't make the decisions yourself. A living will, durable power of attorney for health care, and advance directive for health care (ADHC) are all the same document. Since 2007, Georgia has combined all of these documents into the ADHC. bechtold-law.blogspot.com. "You have the right to control all aspects of your personal care and medical treatment, including the right to insist upon medical treatment or direct that medical treatment be withheld or withdrawn. If you cannot (or do not want to) communicate your health care decisions for yourself, you have the right to choose someone to make health care decisions for you. You also have the right to state your treatment preferences if you have a terminal condition or are in a state of permanent unconsciousness. The Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care Act gives you an opportunity to choose

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,