Breakups and divorce are very difficult. Things become even more complicated when there are children involved. You need to decide who will get custody of the children and figure out visitation, child support, and you will need to learn how to raise the children together, even though you and your ex are no longer together. Fortunately, this can be easily done when you hire a Dallas GA divorce attorney.
What Is a Co-Parenting Plan?
A co-parenting plan is a written document that both parents need to agree upon to and sign. The document outlines how you will work with your ex to raise your children when you are no longer together. Some parents go on a verbal agreement regarding how things will be done; however, this isn’t the best option. When you have a divorce attorney Dallas GA help with a legal co-parenting plan, you and your ex will be legally required to follow the stipulations in the document.
What Do You Need To Take Into Consideration?
When coming up with a co-parenting plan that everyone can agree upon, there are several things that need to be taken into consideration and included in the co-parenting plan. These include;
- The children’s school schedule: Who will drop off the children and pick them up and the time these things need to be done.
- Extracurricular activities: Will the cost associated with the activities be split between both parents, and who is responsible for drop off and pickup and the time these things should be done.
- The parent’s work schedule: This will determine who is available to handle pick up and drop off for school and extracurricular activities. Stipulations can also be included if a parent’s work schedule on a particular day makes it impossible for them to uphold their obligation for pickup or drop off.
- Holidays and vacations: Who will have the children during each major holiday, school vacations and summer vacation.
What If Changes Need To Be Made?
There are a few situations that would require a change in the co-parenting plan. These include:
- A permanent change in work schedules
- A long-distance move
- A change in either parents ability to care for the children
- A change in the children’s needs due to their age, health, etc.
If changes need to be made, Dallas GA divorce attorneys can file a motion with the court to modify the co-parenting plan accordingly.
What Is Your Attorney’s Role In the Co-parenting Plan?
Your attorney will help you create a co-parenting plan based on your schedule, your needs and the needs of your children. They will also work with your ex’s attorney to negotiate the stipulations in the agreement to ensure both parents are happy with the outcome. The attorney will be there with you in court for a judge to sign-off on the agreement, making it legally binding.
If you need to create a co-parenting plan, the professionals at the Law Offices of William R. Pike Law LLC can help. We can help create a co-parenting plan that with make both parties happy.
Helping the Children of Divorce
Divorce is a difficult process for the separating parties, but it can be far worse for children of the divorcing couple. The Law Offices of William R. Pike Law LLC can help with both the legal and the personal consequences of a divorce, and can especially be helpful when children are involved.
Dealing with children during a divorce is dependent upon the age and maturity of the youngsters. In the case of young children, the message should be simple and concise. However, older children will still require support and sympathy. The best way to help them is through the type of planning that can be provided by a Dallas GA divorce attorney.
One of the most important issues pertains to child custody. In some cases, one parent may have sole custody. In cases involving joint custody, the time shared may be equal or may favor one parent. The children will have understand whether they will continue to live in the same home or, at least, in the same community, and whether they will continue attending the same school. Custody issues are so important that they require legal advice, the type available from Dallas GA divorce attorneys.
In terms of personal behavior, children can suffer great emotional harm when witnessing conflicts between their parents. This is why it is important for parents to avoid arguments or serious confrontations in front of them. In cases where one party has become abusive, it may be necessary for the other to seek a temporary protective order. This can be done with the help of a divorce attorney Dallas GA.
Although the parents may be at odds, it is still possible to create a caring environment for the children of a divorce. In the event of a separation, the best way to ensure fair treatment for everyone involved is by turning to the services available from the Law Offices of William R. Pike Law LLC.
How to make Co-Parenting Plans Effective
Breakups and divorce are very difficult. Things become even more complicated when there are children involved. You need to decide who will get custody of the children and figure out visitation, child support, and you will need to learn how to raise the children together, even though you and your ex are no longer together. Fortunately, this can be easily done when you hire a Dallas GA divorce attorney.
What Is a Co-Parenting Plan?
A co-parenting plan is a written document that both parents need to agree upon to and sign. The document outlines how you will work with your ex to raise your children when you are no longer together. Some parents go on a verbal agreement regarding how things will be done; however, this isn’t the best option. When you have a divorce attorney Dallas GA help with a legal co-parenting plan, you and your ex will be legally required to follow the stipulations in the document.
What Do You Need To Take Into Consideration?
When coming up with a co-parenting plan that everyone can agree upon, there are several things that need to be taken into consideration and included in the co-parenting plan. These include;
- The children’s school schedule: Who will drop off the children and pick them up and the time these things need to be done.
- Extracurricular activities: Will the cost associated with the activities be split between both parents, and who is responsible for drop off and pickup and the time these things should be done.
- The parent’s work schedule: This will determine who is available to handle pick up and drop off for school and extracurricular activities. Stipulations can also be included if a parent’s work schedule on a particular day makes it impossible for them to uphold their obligation for pickup or drop off.
- Holidays and vacations: Who will have the children during each major holiday, school vacations and summer vacation.
What If Changes Need To Be Made?
There are a few situations that would require a change in the co-parenting plan. These include:
- A permanent change in work schedules
- A long-distance move
- A change in either parents ability to care for the children
- A change in the children’s needs due to their age, health, etc.
If changes need to be made, Dallas GA divorce attorneys can file a motion with the court to modify the co-parenting plan accordingly.
What Is Your Attorney’s Role In the Co-parenting Plan?
Your attorney will help you create a co-parenting plan based on your schedule, your needs and the needs of your children. They will also work with your ex’s attorney to negotiate the stipulations in the agreement to ensure both parents are happy with the outcome. The attorney will be there with you in court for a judge to sign-off on the agreement, making it legally binding.
If you need to create a co-parenting plan, the professionals at the Law Offices of William R. Pike Law LLC can help. We can help create a co-parenting plan that with make both parties happy.
How to Protect your Children during the Divorce Process
Helping the Children of Divorce
Divorce is a difficult process for the separating parties, but it can be far worse for children of the divorcing couple. The Law Offices of William R. Pike Law LLC can help with both the legal and the personal consequences of a divorce, and can especially be helpful when children are involved.
Dealing with children during a divorce is dependent upon the age and maturity of the youngsters. In the case of young children, the message should be simple and concise. However, older children will still require support and sympathy. The best way to help them is through the type of planning that can be provided by a Dallas GA divorce attorney.
One of the most important issues pertains to child custody. In some cases, one parent may have sole custody. In cases involving joint custody, the time shared may be equal or may favor one parent. The children will have understand whether they will continue to live in the same home or, at least, in the same community, and whether they will continue attending the same school. Custody issues are so important that they require legal advice, the type available from Dallas GA divorce attorneys.
In terms of personal behavior, children can suffer great emotional harm when witnessing conflicts between their parents. This is why it is important for parents to avoid arguments or serious confrontations in front of them. In cases where one party has become abusive, it may be necessary for the other to seek a temporary protective order. This can be done with the help of a divorce attorney Dallas GA.
Although the parents may be at odds, it is still possible to create a caring environment for the children of a divorce. In the event of a separation, the best way to ensure fair treatment for everyone involved is by turning to the services available from the Law Offices of William R. Pike Law LLC.
Four Reasons You Need a Prenup
A prenuptial agreement is a document drawn up between couples before getting married to serve as a form of protection for each party in the event that their union leads to a divorce in the future. Especially for those that have huge amounts of properties and assets to take care of, it would be wise to talk to a Dallas GA divorce attorney at the onset to get this document in order.
Protect Your Assets
It’s only natural that you would want to protect your hard-earned assets. A divorce will divide conjugal assets equally between the couple. Conjugal assets refer to property and assets owned by the married couple. However, it could also include those that were acquired even before the marriage.
If you want to preserve those properties as solely your own, then stipulating that in the prenuptial agreement is a good way to protect them.
Protect Against Inerting Debt
While it may seem romantic to know that whatever your partner owns is going to be yours as well, it takes on a more worrisome form if the thing being shared between you two is debt. Yes, marriage treats two individuals as one unit, which means that a debt owed by one can be collected from either one of the couple. You can opt out of this less than romantic situation by asking for it from a Dallas GA prenup attorney.
Protect Your Inheritance
Your inheritance is not something that your partner contributed to in any way. This is something bestowed upon you by family, other relatives, or even a previous marriage, and so should be a personal asset. To exempt it from being a part of conjugal assets, seek the help of Dallas GA prenup lawyer.
Stipulate Enforcement Guidelines
A prenup can set up more specific clauses pertaining to its effectiveness. For example, a clause stating that the prenup becomes void if either party becomes involved in infidelity, thereby dissolving all the protections set in place.
The prenup agreement can be as specific as you want. Consult with a prenup attorney such as those from William R. Pike Law LLC to know more.
You’ve probably heard of contempt of court, which basically refers to being disobedient or disrespectful towards the court and its officers, such as the judge, but did you know that there is also specifically such a thing as Contempt of Court with Child Custody?
As any family law attorney would tell you, such as a Paulding GA child custody attorney, this specific type of custody pertains to the offense of substantially interfering in a child custody or visitation rights.
For example, the custodial parent blocking visitation rights, or communication, with the other parent, which is otherwise allowed by the court can be found to be in contempt of court with child custody.
The parent seeking relief may resort to filing a case with the court, with the help of a Paulding child custody attorney.
Child Custody Laws in Georgia
In Georgia, judges involved in a child custody case are required to consider certain factors impacting the child’s best interests. These include each parent’s ability to care for the child, their physical and mental capacity, the strength of bonds with the child, and the kind of home environment they can provide for the child.
Both parents should have equal rights when it comes to arranging who takes custody of the child. But given the listed factors above, the court may also end up awarding sole custody to one parent instead, with the other merely being afforded visitation rights. Although one parent would have sole custody, the visitation rights awarded by the court must be faithfully enforced, to ensure that the parental rights of the non-custodial parent is retained. Otherwise, the case becomes ripe for contempt of court with child custody.
How a Lawyer Can Help
Contempt of court with child custody could have serious repercussions not only on both parents but the child itself. If the non-custodial parent feels that their visitation rights are indeed being infringed upon, then it is recommended to seek counsel from a Paulding County GA child custody attorney, such as those from William R. Pike Law LLC.
The lawyers can help file the case before the court, as well as present evidence proving the claim, so that the non-custodial parent can get the enforcement they need for the visitation rights.
Child custody is one of the more difficult points of contention during a divorce. Depending on how amicable or hostile the situation is, the couple may need to hire a Paulding GA child custody attorney as well to make sure they protect their parental rights.
That situation is pretty clear-cut, but what if the custody battle takes place outside of a divorce because the parents of the child are not married to begin with? Do unmarried mothers have to file for custody in court?
Child custody laws in Georgia for unmarried mothers
In Georgia, unmarried mothers get sole custody of the child by default, therefore they do not need to file for child custody. Instead, it is the father who would have to file for visitation rights with the court.
Even with the paternity established, this does not mean that the father can immediately have custody. The issues of custody and visitation have to be pursued and ordered separately, all thought such can be done in the same legal action.
Determining paternity can be as simple as having the father sign in the birth certificate recognizing the role. In case of doubt, genetic testing may also be completed, and then filed with the courts through the help of a Paulding child custody attorney.
How a lawyer can help
For child custody cases, whether or not the parents are married, it is advisable that they seek help from a Paulding County GA child custody attorney, such as those from William R. Pike Law LLC.
They can help file the necessary paperwork required by the court to facilitate the case, gather evidence to present viability for custody, as well as prepare strong arguments to support the case.
The court will be judging the matter of child custody based on the best interests of the child. It is therefore up to the non-custodial parent to make a strong case before the court so that they can earn more rights as a parent, and be given the opportunity to be with their child.
Do Unmarried Mothers have to file for custody?
Child custody is one of the more difficult points of contention during a divorce. Depending on how amicable or hostile the situation is, the couple may need to hire a Paulding GA child custody attorney as well to make sure they protect their parental rights.
That situation is pretty clear-cut, but what if the custody battle takes place outside of a divorce because the parents of the child are not married to begin with? Do unmarried mothers have to file for custody in court?
Child custody laws in Georgia for unmarried mothers
In Georgia, unmarried mothers get sole custody of the child by default, therefore they do not need to file for child custody. Instead, it is the father who would have to file for visitation rights with the court.
Even with the paternity established, this does not mean that the father can immediately have custody. The issues of custody and visitation have to be pursued and ordered separately, all thought such can be done in the same legal action.
Determining paternity can be as simple as having the father sign in the birth certificate recognizing the role. In case of doubt, genetic testing may also be completed, and then filed with the courts through the help of a Paulding child custody attorney.
How a lawyer can help
For child custody cases, whether or not the parents are married, it is advisable that they seek help from a Paulding County GA child custody attorney, such as those from William R. Pike Law LLC.
They can help file the necessary paperwork required by the court to facilitate the case, gather evidence to present viability for custody, as well as prepare strong arguments to support the case.
The court will be judging the matter of child custody based on the best interests of the child. It is therefore up to the non-custodial parent to make a strong case before the court so that they can earn more rights as a parent, and be given the opportunity to be with their child.
The idea of prenuptial agreements has been there for some time. But most people seem not to have much knowledge about another type of agreement couples can make known as postnuptial agreements.
Unlike prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements happen after a marriage has been formalized. A Paulding divorce attorney can help you draft a postnuptial agreement that is favorable to both sides.
What is a postnuptial agreement?
A post-nuptial agreement is almost similar to a prenuptial agreement. The only difference is that post-nuptial agreements are entered into during a marriage unlike prenuptial where the two partners sign the agreements before formalizing the marriage.
In a post-nuptial agreement, the couple agrees on how their assets and debts will be divided in the event of a divorce or death. In most cases, a Paulding divorce lawyer is usually involved in the drafting and signing of the agreement.
What makes a postnuptial agreement valid?
There are several things that must be contained in a post-nuptial agreement to make it valid. Here are the main requirements:
- Written: An oral post-nuptial agreement can’t be considered legally binding. You must get a Paulding county divorce lawyer and have it written.
- Voluntary: All parties signing the agreement must do so without any form of coercion. Any indication that a spouse was threatened to sign will invalidate the agreement.
- Fairness: a postnuptial agreement is not supposed to be biased to one side. There must be an element of fairness to both spouses.
- Disclosure: all parties must declare all their assets and liabilities before signing the agreement
Is it possible to make changes?
Yes, it is possible to change the contents or terms of a postnuptial agreement. All you have to do is to agree with your partner and talk to a Pauling county post nuptial attorney.
If you have already entered into marriage and are considering a postnuptial agreement, Law Offices of William R. Pike is always open for consultation.
One of the most contentious issues during a divorce is child custody. This is because no parent is ever willing to let go of the custody of their child. That’s why the services of a Paulding divorce attorney are very important.
Types of child custody
There are two types of custody recognized by the state of Georgia – legal and physical custody. Physical custody is where a parent physically lives with a child. Both parents can share physical custody in what is known as joint custody or one parent may be granted sole custody rights.
In the case of joint custody, both parents have equal rights in terms of time spent with the child. For instance, one parent can stay with the child for four nights a week while the other gets three. Sometimes you will need a Paulding divorce lawyer to put such agreements in writing.
If one parent is granted physical custody of the child, then he or she will have a greater say in terms of legal, medical, educational or religious affairs of the child. But in most cases, a judge will issue joint child custody.
Best interest of the child
According to Georgia’s custody laws, a judge is supposed to make a custody decision based on a child’s best interests. It is also important to hire an experienced Paulding county child custody lawyer during the hearings.
A judge will also consider other factors such as the mental status of each parent, history of physical abuse, emotional ties of the parent to the child, the financial ability of each parent among others.
Another major factor that may determine the decision of the judge is how a Pauling county child custody attorney argues the case.
Parenting plans
The law of Georgia demands that parents filing for a divorce must present a parenting plan before the court as long as the child custody issue is in question. Having a qualified lawyer from Law Offices of William R. Pike Law will be an added advantage.
After a separation where a child is involved, the parents must figure out how time will be spent by the child with each of them. In many cases, it is difficult for the parents to reach this agreement on their own, so they must get the family court involved to make the decision. Prior to attending a hearing in front of a judge to state how the child’s time will be spent, it is best to consult a Paulding divorce attorney. A lawyer will help you to prepare your request for this arrangement to be presented to the judge.
Visitation and Custody
Custody is decided based on the best interest of the child and on which parent has offered the most care. The parent that is not granted physical custody — where the child will spend the majority of their time — is given visitation where they have time to spend with the minor child. In some instances, the visitation must be supervised and a judge will make this determination if the parent with visitation is a risk to the child’s safety. A Paulding divorce lawyer can help with this request if there is a concern for the child when they will be with the parent who has visitation rights.
If you have gone through Pauling County divorce mediation and still need further help from the family court to decide which parent will have custody and visitation, an attorney can help you. A Paulding County divorce lawyer will explain the entire process of how custody is decided and the type of information that you need to submit. They will also help you prepare the necessary forms and will be present in court when you have to go before the judge.
At the Law Offices of William R. Pike Law, our attorneys will help you get the parental visitation you are entitled to. Contact us for a consultation.
