Blawg of Attorney Christine M Bechtold

Divorce in Georgia can be contested or uncontested. “In an uncontested divorce, the spouses reach mutual agreement on relevant issues like alimony, child custody, child support, and asset division.” www.avvo.com . Contested divorces conversely are resolved by the Court and require litigation. There are many benefits to an uncontested divorce in Georgia: the divorce can happen sooner because you resolve the issues on your own time-line and do not need to have a long waiting period with the Court; the process is “usually more efficient” www.divorcenet.com ; it is cheaper because you do not need to hire an attorney to fully represent you in Court; you know the legal fees before you start bechtold-law.com ; it is less stressful because there are less legal proceedings; your private life stays private, “you do not have to list a specific wrongdoing by your spouse to start a divorce, but must only swear that the marriage is “irretrievably broken” ww

Yes, you can request a certified copy of your final divorce Order with the Clerk of Courts where the final Order was entered. For divorce and family law issues, request a certified copy from the Superior Court Clerk. Be sure that you specifically request a certified copy if that is what you need. A legal certified copy is, “a copy of a document signed and certified as a true copy by the officer to whose custody the original is intrusted.” thelawdictionary.org . Some organizations will not accept standard copies and require that your copy be certified. The Superior Court Clerk can assist you with a certified copy request. You should contact the Clerk first to be sure they have the document you will be requesting. Be prepared with your Civil Action Number, the original names of the parties, the County where the case was finalized, and the approximate date of the Order you are requesting. Certified copies are generally only obtained in person at the Clerk's office. Typical

Yes, you will likely be ordered to take a parenting seminar if you are divorcing in Georgia with a shared minor child, but the requirements vary by county. “The superior court judges, under whose authority the program shall function, may require any or all parties to attend an educational seminar of no more than four hours in any domestic relations action before the court.” Georgia Superior Court Rule 24.8(B) Georgia Superior Court Rule 24.8(B) . “The goal of this program is to assist the parents in understanding the impact of divorce on children, reduce potential conflicts, and offer practical solutions to future problems.” www.alcovycircuit.com . “The seminar focuses on the developmental needs of children, with emphasis on fostering the child's emotional health during periods of stress.” www.gwinnettcourts.com . Information on various county parenting programs are listed below: Alcovy (Newton and Walton Counties) $25.00 Divorce action must be filled with the