In Georgia, it is the responsibility of both parents to ensure the child’s financial needs are met. When divorced, the noncustodial parent may be required to pay for child support. Many factors are considered when calculating child support in GA, including the income of both parents, the number of children, extracurricular and school activities, child care, and entertainment needs of the child.
If you wonder how child support is calculated, contact a Paulding County child support attorney to learn more and receive assistance with your child support needs.
How is Child Support Calculated in GA?
In Georgia, child support is calculated using various factors. Still, first, the courts need to finalize and determine who will be the custodial parent and who will be the noncustodial parent. Typically, the custodial parent is the parent who has the child more than half of the time. Therefore, the amount of time each parent has is used to calculate child support in GA.
What is considered and taken into consideration?
In addition, to which parent is the custodial parent and which one is the noncustodial parent, Georgia law considers several other factors when calculating child support. To complete child support calculations, the total gross income of both parents is considered.
Worksheets are typically used to list out all sources of income, including wages, commissions, military pensions, retirement account payments, disability payments, investment income, and military pensions. If you are self-employed, some deductions are allowed based on similar deduction items permitted by the IRS.
Are there exceptions?
Georgia does not have any specific exceptions for getting credit or helping offset child support payments before a modification. However, a child support attorney Paulding County can help you with your child support needs.
How a child support attorney can help
A child support attorney in Paulding County GA can help file all necessary paperwork related to your child support case. Call the Law Offices of William R. Pike Law LLC to schedule an appointment to learn more about how child support in Georgia is calculated.
Why is Divorce Mediation Required in GA?
Divorce mediation is required in Georgia because the state believes that it is in the best interests of the parties and their children for the parents to resolve their differences without the need for a lengthy and expensive court battle. Mediation provides an opportunity for the parties to communicate with each other constructively and to reach a resolution that is in the best interests of the entire family.
If you or someone you know is looking for a Dallas GA divorce attorney, look no further than Dallas GA divorce mediation attorney William R. Pike Attorney at Law for all of your mediation and divorce settlement needs.
What requires mediation in regards to divorce and your children?
The state of Georgia requires that before the final judgment of divorce is entered, the parties to a divorce must attend mediation. The purpose of mediation is to encourage the parties to reach a settlement agreement resolving all issues related to their divorce, including child custody and visitation, child support, alimony, division of property, and attorney’s fees. If the parties can reach a settlement agreement at mediation, the agreement will be reduced to writing and signed by the parties. The settlement agreement will then be submitted to the court for approval. If the parties are unable to reach a settlement agreement at mediation, the mediator will prepare a written report detailing the issues on which the parties were unable to agree. The court may then schedule a hearing to determine how those issues will be resolved.
How your attorney can help
If you are considering a divorce in Georgia, it is important to consult with an experienced divorce attorney Dallas GA, at William R. Pike Attorney at Law, who can explain the requirements for divorce mediation and help you protect your rights throughout the process. Contact us today for a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!
Uncontested Divorce Issues Covered in Mediation
If you are considering an uncontested divorce, or have already decided to proceed with one, you may be wondering what issues can be covered in mediation. The answer is: pretty much anything! While some divorcing couples may find that they only need to meditate on a few key topics, others may want (or need) to mediate on a much wider range of issues.
Some of the most common topics that divorcing couples cover in mediation include:
- Child custody and visitation schedules
- Child support
- Alimony/spousal support
- Property division
- Debt division
Of course, these are just some of the potential topics that can be discussed and negotiated in mediation. If there are other issues that you and your spouse need to resolve to finalize your divorce, they can likely be covered in mediation as well.
If you are interested in learning more about mediation and whether it may be right for you, contact a qualified Dallas GA divorce attorney or mediator in your area today.
How your attorney can help
If you are considering mediation to resolve your divorce, it is important to have an experienced Dallas GA divorce mediation attorney by your side. If you have questions about your rights or what a particular issue may be worth in court, you will need to look to your attorney for answers.
Additionally, your attorney can help you understand the mediation process and what to expect from it. He or she can also help you prepare for mediation by gathering any relevant documentation or evidence that may be needed to support your position on various issues.
Most importantly, your attorney will be your advocate during mediation, working to protect your rights and interests. If you reach a point where you feel like you are not being heard or that the mediation is not progressing fairly, your attorney can help you take steps to address the situation.
If you are considering mediation for your divorce, contact William R. Pike Attorney at Law, an experienced divorce attorney Dallas GA, to learn more about how we can help you throughout the process.
The Stress of the Divorce Process
The ending of a marriage by divorce can be a perplexing ordeal. You have had the best advice and representation from your attorney, but for some reason, it seems that after the judgement has been made, the process is still not complete. The attorney at the Law Offices of William R. Pike Law LLC, your Paulding divorce attorney, will continue to be at your assistance to help update all necessary documents and forms.
Things that should be updated after a divorce
It is very important that you take time to update certain estate planning documents like your Last Will and Testament, Your Health Care Directive, and Power of Attorney, because these are things that address your assets and property, health care wishes, and who you choose as a representative in the case of an emergency. Divorce is a life-changing event, and your Paulding divorce lawyer will help you with changing your beneficiaries, or agents, to ensure that your best interest is maintained.
Other Important Documents to Update
The Paulding County family law attorneys will also help with updating an End-of-Life plan that will outline your personal wishes in regard to your remains and funeral. You can also update your guardian for any minor children. The Law Offices of William R. Pike Law LLC will also help with updating your name change if you choose not to keep your ex-spouse’s family name and return to your maiden name. If you change your name, do not forget to go to the Department of Motor Vehicles to change your driver’s license as quickly as possible.
Divorce is overwhelming, and you need expert legal representation to help you through the process. Allow the Paulding divorce attorney to do all the work involved for you. With over 25 years of service to clients in Georgia, they are the family and divorce lawyers you can trust and depend on.
As the holidays approach, it’s easy to get stressed out thinking about where your children will celebrate these important occasions. Both parents are likely to want to have the kids make memories and participate in holiday traditions with extended family members. Instead of being drawn into an argument with your ex about your children over the holidays, which is sure to stress the kids out, consult your parenting plan for help.
Creating a Parenting Plan with Time Sharing
If you used the services of a divorce attorney Dallas GA, there should be a child custody plan established that sets out what holidays the children will celebrate and how they will divide time on those holidays. If you do not have one, it isn’t too late to create one that you and your ex agree on and file it in the court. In addition to the holidays that fall under your family’s religion, you’ll also need to consider where they will spend school breaks, teacher planning days, and national holidays like the Fourth of July.
How Should You Split the Holidays?
Some popular custody arrangements for parents who split custody of children over the holidays include:
- Alternating where the children spend the holidays each year
- Splitting time on special days by establishing the hours each parent will have them
- Allowing the regular custody schedule to dictate where the children will go
Can Holiday Visitation Schedules Be Modified?
In most cases, the holiday visitation schedule can be modified. In order to make these changes official, both parents must sign off on them in writing and file them with the court. If the parents can’t agree, the matter will have to go before a judge to decide whether to modify. At that time, you will have to have a Georgia uncontested divorce lawyer or family court lawyer help you as you appear in court.
If you can’t come to an agreement with your ex, you might find the services of a Dallas child custody attorney helpful. At the Law Offices of William R. Pike Law LLC, we have the experience and knowledge to help you get a set schedule for holiday visitation with your children.
When a couple is getting married, they may want to discuss and decide ahead of time how they would like to resolve their financial situation before they get a divorce. The written agreement is a prenuptial agreement and documents the couple’s wishes, such as division of property and alimony, if they decide to get divorced. For help writing up a prenuptial agreement or to get answers about what should be included, speak with a divorce attorney Dallas GA.
What should be covered in the agreement?
A prenuptial agreement is a contract two people enter into before getting married. Typically, this agreement spells out what happens should their marriage end. Items to include in the agreement, including how the property (homes, cars, etc.) gets divided, how debts are to be handled, and how to deal with other financial situations in the event of divorce. Additionally, if the couple owns a business, a prenuptial agreement covers what happens to the company and how it will get divided.
A Dallas GA divorce attorney can help ensure everything that needs to be included in a prenuptial agreement.
What is not covered?
There are some things a prenuptial agreement cannot cover. Though the agreement determines who takes care of what bills, it cannot take away a spouse’s responsibility to pay their debts before the marriage. Additionally, a prenuptial agreement in Georgia can never determine child custody or support. The judge makes this determination when filing the divorce based on the needs and best interest of the child or children.
How your attorney can help ensure everything is covered that can be in agreement
Divorce lawyers in Dallas GA can help determine what needs and should be included in your prenuptial agreement. Additionally, the attorney can help negotiate for terms in your best interest. Once everything is agreed upon, the attorney handles all filing of any necessary paperwork associated with the agreement.
Call to schedule a consultation with the Law Offices of William R. Pike Law LLC to discuss your upcoming marriage and prenuptial agreement needs.
Every year, tens of thousands of children are born outside of marriage in the United States. Fathers often assume that, because they have been in a committed relationship with the mother, that they automatically have rights concerning their child. This may be true in some states, but in the state of Georgia, there are no automatic father’s rights. The mother is the only one allowed physical or legal custody of the child. The father would need to go through the process of establishing paternity, and legitimating the child, or lose all legal rights involving the custody and care of the child. The law office of William R. Pike Law LLC can assist you in getting the rights you deserve with your child.
The child custody attorney Dallas GA, can help you with the process necessary to obtain your legal paternity rights. The easiest way to establish paternity is for both parents to sign and file a voluntary acknowledgement of paternity, which can be facilitated with the help of the child custody attorney Dallas, William R. Pike. The next step is to legitimate your child because just having your name on the birth certificate does not establish a legal relationship. The Dallas child custody attorney can help you take this to the Superior Court if the mother refuses any attempt on your behalf to legitimate your child.
The Law Offices of William R. Pike Law LLC is the Dallas father’s rights attorney who can assist you with being a proactive father in the life of your child. Georgia does not grant automatic rights to an unwed father, so you can protect yourself and your child by retaining the father’s rights lawyer and following the process of obtaining legal rights and visitations with your child. Start planning for the birth of your child, or if the child is already here, by visiting the Law offices of William R. Pike Law LLC.
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.
