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Can I Change Back To My Maiden Name?

Yes, you can restore your maiden name after divorce in Georgia. “Your last name does not automatically revert to your former or maiden name once you get divorced.” www.wikihow.com . “In most states, you can request that the judge handling your divorce make a formal order restoring your former or birth name.” www.nolo.com People have many reasons to change (or not change) their name after divorce. In blog post “Should You Change Your Name Back After Divorce?” Jackie Pilossoph lists the following considerations: (1) Children, (2) Reason, (3) Profession, (4) Comfort, and (5) Time. www.huffingtonpost.com . The decision to change your name is a personal decision that only you can make, however, “one reason a woman absolutely should not change her name back to her birth name, is if it is solely for the purpose of avoiding creditors or criminal prosecution.” www.forbes.com . Georgia allows for the restoration of your maiden name with your divorce as long as it is requested in your divorce

Completing the Georgia Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit

The Georgia Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit (also called “DRFA”) is a standard form used by the Courts in all family law cases. The purpose of the DRFA 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. You can either type in your information or hand-write it on the DRFA. The person completing the form is the “affiant” and the form should reflect your individual current financial situation.   This DRFA will be made under oath; you are swearing to tell the truth based on the information contained in the Affidavit. After you fully complete the form, do not sign it until you are with a notary. Do not 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. Y

Merry Christmas

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

Independence Day 2018

“ When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.” Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence is one of America’s most important founding documents. In the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson lists various reasons why Independence is necessary, just a few are listed below: ·      "He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.” archives.gov. ·      "He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.” archives.gov. ·      "He has obstructed the Administrat

Memorial Day Court Hours 2018

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 .

How Much Does It Cost to File My Divorce? Updated, March 2018

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-

Happy Constitution Day 2017

" 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