Strategy

The foundation of strategy in any family law case involving children is first and foremost what is in the child or children's best interest(s). Children, however, are not homogeneous, they are individuals so with multiple children an overall best interests is often not objectively obtainable when their individual best interests are investigated. The second element in strategy is preparation. It never ceases to amaze us how many cases are not prepared at all: Not ill prepared, but not prepared at all!   Budgets have to be scrutinized. Reasons|justifications have to be juxtaposed against a standard of reason. There is not a single thing that is "automatic" Call us to discuss your case and for representation 770-253-7778 or email us by going to one of our websites by clicking PRATLAW

GA Spring Family Law Review

The latest issue has several good articles. One addressing the cycle of family violence and one discussing the asset of "good will" in a family business being divided in a divorce. The spring issue always reviews what the legislature has been up to in passing laws related to family law and there is, like every issue, a review of recent decisions. Here is the link: GA Spring Family Law Review

Finding Calm

Divorce is emotional:  Leading the parade of cases in which a person should never, under any circumstance, represent themselves is the emotionally charged Divorce [or the Divorce where the person is "beat down" and just wants out].  We recognize that going through a divorce is one of the most difficult times an individual can go through. Your soon-to-be ex-spouse may be doing all he or she can to get under your skin, which only magnifies each little thing they do to make your life miserable.

Taking a deep breath calms you down and lets you think clearly.

When we represent you we are there to discuss proper responses to immature behavior by your spouse toward you that he or she calculated to try to get you seeing red; rather than let it get under your skin let's strategize how to turn that conduct back on  your spouse when we get in front of the Court.

Newnan || Always Get Counsel and Advise

Okay: I was raised an Army Brat and my Father and Mother and their friends used the old fashioned term a lot, almost always in a laughing conversation about either themselves or a mutual friend who had done something silly. I thought the term applied to the subject matter of this post, so I have posted a picture of one of the most beautiful motorcycle engines ever built and one that is highly sought after and is very expensive; and the engine's name [below in the label] is also the descriptive term I grew up hearing at the parties Mom and Dad threw and those they took me to until I was old enough to stay home ~ and in the Army that was every weekend, either Friday or Saturday night. It is a term of endearment and at the same time one acknowledging stubbornness to a fault, usually used in a good humored way. With that said, here is what I have to say: I have seen some of the most god-awful agreements seeking to be modified that in almost every case are presented by a prospective client who is well educated, and earning an above average income. How in the world they decided to sign an agreement without an attorney's advice and counsel is bewildering, still beyond me: alimony for life with no ability to modify for any reason ~ Wow! joint custody that is not joint at all but is completely ones-sided with no support despite dramatically disparate incomes ~ college with no cap on the amount to be paid ~ Wow!

Please: Don't do your own dentistry, surgery, engineering or legal work if you are not working in your profession and even then don't do it!

The Standard For Suing Your Investment Broker Over Fees

The Supreme Court loosened the standard a little but it is still hard row to hoe: Disproportionate fees is now the standard instead of outright fraud. Here is a link to the Wall Street Journal Article:
High Court Loosens Liability Standard in Mutual-Fund Fees Case - Law Blog - WSJ

Supreme Court Hearing Case On Private Prosecution

This right already belongs to the victim in Georgia via a Motion For Contempt. Expanding it to a private right to prosecute is not constitutional.

Article

Newnan Lawyer Pratlaw's Essay On Presenting Documents & Testimony

...when it comes to documents and testimony, a couple of free insights here, both centered around not being a moron ...
Over the past 23 years I have come to appreciate the fact that Judges as a whole do not like being given documents with highlighted passages or handwritten notes beside the part of the document you think is important. Doing that is really close to a demand that the Court become a participant in the blind men and the elephant philosophical exercise about the scope of perception: The Blind Men And The Elephant Fable and they do not like the Socratic Method to the extreme of banality, i.e., rain is rain you cannot assert you do not understand it until someone explains it to you and you "feel" it. What all this means in plain English is: (a) The Judge controls his or her court room and no one else has any right to control it. So make a copy of any document you feel the urge to write on, so your lawyer can present the 'clean' one to the Judge and draw the Judge's attention to the passage you have highlighted in your 'dirty' copy by asking the Court's permission to draw its attention to that passage; (b) A testifier's inability to grasp easy questions and evasive answers soon turns a Judge off [and a Jury Too]. Do not engage in Tabula Rasa Socratic Responses [inane question answers to straightforward questions], and; always remember: Neither Judge nor Jury need to be hit over the head with information they can clearly see or hear. They really can be trusted to figure it out.