Blawg of Attorney Christine M Bechtold

Most County Governments in Georgia are closed on Monday, May 28, 2018 in honor of those who died while serving in the U.S. military .  Below is a list of local counties and links to their holiday schedule: Barrow County Closed Gwinnett County Closed   Newton County Closed Rockdale County Closed   Walton County Closed The Law Office of Christine M Bechtold, LLC will be open by appointment on Monday, May 28, 2018. You can send a confidential email directly to attorney Bechtold for legal information at anytime: Christine@Bechtold-Law.com .

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 March, 2018. Alcovy (Walton and Newton Counties) $210.00 www.alcovycircuit.com Athens-Clark County $215.00 athensclarkecounty.com Dekalb County $214.00 www.dksuperiorclerk.com Fulton County $221.00 www.fcclk.org Gwinnett County $213.00 www.gwinnettcourts.com Rockdale County $209.00 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 2015 post: http://bechtold-law.blogspot.com/2015/08/how-much-does-it-cost-to-

" On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign the document they had created."  http://www.constitutionday.com/#. " We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." www.archives.gov See prior blog posts for more information and fun facts:  Happy Constitution Day 2015 Happy Constitution Day 2012

" We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Declaration of Independence. “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.” archives.gov . In the Declarationof Independence Thomas Jefferson lists various reasons why Independence is necessary, just a few are listed below: "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.” archives.gov. "He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us." archives.gov. "For taking away our Chart

Most County Governments in Georgia are closed on Tuesday, July 4th in honor of our nation's Independence. Below is a list of local county hours.    "The Newton County Judicial Center will be closed on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.  The Walton County Government Building will be closed on Monday, July 3, 2017, and Tuesday, July 4, 2017, in observance of Independence Day." alcovycircuit.com. Barrow , Gwinnett , and Rockdale County Governments will be closed on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. barrowga.org ; gwinnettcounty.com ; rockdalecountyga.gov . Gwinnett County Courts are, "Closed on legal holidays." gwinnettcourts.com. The Law Office of Christine M Bechtold, LLC also will be closed Monday, July 3, 2017 and Tuesday, July 4, 2017 to celebrate this wonderful holiday of independence. Send a confidential email directly to attorney Bechtold for legal information Christine@Bechtold-Law.com .

If you have a shared minor child and plan to be divorced in the State of Georgia you will likely be required to attend a parenting class or seminar. Requirements, schedules, and fees 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). “ 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. ” alcovycircuit.com “The seminar focuses on the developmental needs of children, with emphasis on fostering the child's emotional health during periods of stress.” gwinnettcourts.com Information on local county parenting classes are listed below: Alcovy (Newton and Walton Counties): Fee : $25.00, cash or money order Attendance : Di