What we do

 If you are in the process of divorcing, or even just contemplating a divorce, it is important to create a strategy to navigate your next steps. We help clients clarify their goals and implement all the legal tools needed to achieve those goals. A good family lawyer is like a contractor, with many tools in their toolbox, and they know that each project is unique. Building a birdhouse does not take a sledgehammer, and building a bridge takes more than a screwdriver. Our focus is to identify your goals so that we can select the right tools for your case to help you achieve your best results while being mindful of your time, emotional energy and money.  

  We like to say that YOU made the family, we are just handling the paperwork to make it official. Adoption is a complex process and we try to make it as easy as possible for families. 

  When you need an advocate who will look out for the best interest of a minor, Caitlin is an experienced Guardian Ad Litem. Caitlin also accepts limited-scope GAL appointments to meet with older children who wish to express their wants as it relates to which of their parents has primary custody of them. 

 As a parent or guardian, ensuring that your child is cared for and supported is paramount. Litigating child custody can be complex. Georgia law focuses on the best interests of a child for custody, and outlines over a dozen factors for a judge to consider in making a custody determination. For child support, Georgia law focuses on the income of both parents and certain expenses, like health insurance and childcare for your child. It’s important to have an advocate who can present your case for custody and child support effectively.  

 Georgia recently began recognizing nonbiological parent caregivers for children with the possibility of expanded rights. This can apply to step parents, distant relatives, and other third parties who have taken an unequivocal role in raising a child without any expectation of repayment. The process of being designated an “Equitable Caregiver” is complex, but in some cases it may be the only way to preserve a relationship with a child.  

 In Georgia, when a child is born to unmarried biological parents, only the biological mother has rights to the child. There are necessary steps to establish parental rights and responsibilities for the biological father, as well as establish the legal relationship between father and child. A biological mother can file for paternity against a biological father in order to establish child support. A biological father can file for legitimation to establish their legal bond with a child as well as custody and parenting time. Even couples who intend to remain unmarried but in a committed relationship should pursue legitimation just in order to establish that legal bond for inheritance purposes.  

 After going through a family law case, sometimes one party fails to honor their agreement or follow the orders given by the Court. In these cases, we will walk you through the process of enforcing your order and taking steps to prevent the need to go through the process again. 

 When your circumstances have shifted and your existing orders no longer fit your family’s needs, it’s important to take a goal-oriented approach to quickly and efficiently achieve your family’s needed changes.  

  When spouses agree to separate while remaining legally married, having a formal agreement for how they will handle finances and any parenting issues is important for securing the rights and responsibilities of both parties.

 Pre- and Postnuptial Agreements are like insurance; you hope you never need it, but if you do, you want to be protected. We help walk clients through their options for agreements that protect their financial futures.  

  If you have experienced domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking and harassment, seeking a protective order can be part of an overall safety plan. Many counties offer free resources to unrepresented parties to get a case started for a short-term order, but having representation at a hearing to extend that order for 12 months is critically important.