In the State of Georgia, troubled marriages that cannot be mended have three potential options: annulment, divorce, and legal separation. While an annulment is not a viable option for most circumstances, divorce and separation often are. Understanding Divorce in Georgia The more common of the two options, divorce (O.C.G.A. § 19-5-1) is the legal dissolution …
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Roberta D. Cooper has joined the Corporate and Business Transactions practice group at Andersen, Tate & Carr. Her practice specializes in immigration law; including immigrant and non-immigrant employment and family-based petitions, I-9 audits, J-1 waivers, Deferred Action (DACA), U visas, and citizenship. Ms. Cooper represents clients at interviews with USCIS officers in the Atlanta field …
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Georgia is a state that allows for no-fault divorces, but there are still 12 other reasons set forth by O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3 that, if proven, the state will grant a divorce. An uncontested, or “no-fault” divorce means that either spouse can file for divorce without having to prove the other did something wrong. This is …
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Thomas J. Andersen, founding partner of Andersen, Tate & Carr is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and has been named “Lawyer of the Year” for Real Estate Law in Atlanta for 2016. Mr. Andersen has concentrated his practice in real estate and banking. His commercial real estate practice includes representation of developers in …
Recent changes to O.C.G.A. § 19-7-3 have expanded visitation and intervention rights in domestic relations cases concerning minor children to include siblings of parents as well as great-grandparents. Under the previous version of O.C.G.A. § 19-7-3, only grandparents were allowed to file for visitation rights, as well as joint custody of minor children if certain …
On June 18, 2014, Justin Ross Harris strapped his 22 month-old son, Cooper Harris, into his car seat and drove to work. On a normal day, Cooper would have been dropped off at daycare on the way to Justin’s work; but a tragedy occurred that day instead. After a stop at Chick Fil-A, Justin Harris …
What Are Miranda Rights? Many people associate the term “Miranda Rights” with a potential get-out-of-jail-free card. It’s a common misconception that if you are not read your Miranda Rights, which all evidence will be thrown out, and your criminal case will automatically be dismissed. In some cases, the suppression of the defendant’s statement may lead …
When it comes to arson charges, they vary from serious to much more serious. Though classified as first, second, or third degree, they are all prosecuted as felonies. Sentencing varies based upon the degree of the charge. If you are facing potential arson charges, you need to know how each degree is different, and what …
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Animal cruelty charges frequently escalate into high-profile cases that are exploited and widely promulgated through media and news outlets, especially when celebrities and public figures are involved. The emotionally charged nature of this crime often results in a prejudiced backlash against the accused before they have had to chance to defend themselves. While animal cruelty …
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Divorce is painful and emotional for all parties involved, especially when children are affected by the ending of the marriage. Even if both parties have easily solved the custodial agreements, there can often be a much more difficult battle over child support. The Family Law Attorneys at Andersen, Tate & Carr specialize in generating results …
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A Temporary Protective Order, or TPO, is an order issued by the court designed to protect victims of “family violence” from harassment and/or abuse. The order will require that the alleged aggressor keep a distance from the petitioner’s place of residency and employment, and prohibits them from initiating any kind of contact. This order may …
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Finding yourself pulled to the side of the road after stopping for a drink with a friend can be a terrifying moment. Even if you’ve only had one alcoholic beverage, you could be driving illegally, and in the moment, it can be impossible to know for sure. Many drivers don’t understand Georgia’s Driving Under the …
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The controversy continues over Georgia’s so called “religious liberty” bill. House Bill 757 would allow faith-based organizations to deny services to those who violate their “sincerely held religious belief.” Under the bill, clergy could refuse to perform gay marriages, and opponents of same-sex marriage would be allowed to deny services to gay and lesbian couples. …
Stalking is considered a serious crime that can carry significant sentencing. Stalking is no longer limited to traditional forms of contact, as it now encompasses new forms of electronic communication. In some cases, alleged victims of stalking will provide false information to authorities or mistakenly identify their stalker, so it is critical to understand what constitutes …
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Our client, a middle-aged male, was convicted on two counts of child molestation for inappropriate contact with his minor children in 1994. The charges were brought against our client during a time when he and his ex-wife were engaged in a dispute over custody and visitation. He was sentenced to five years in prison, and …
Continue reading “Removal From the Georgia Sex Offender Registry: an ATC Success Story”
White-collar crime encompasses a full range of financially motivated, nonviolent crimes committed by individuals, businesses, and government officials. There are many different types of white-collar crimes, and depending on the circumstances, charges can be brought as either a misdemeanor or a felony. In addition, an individual convicted of a white-collar crime may face civil lawsuits …
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When parents decide to get a divorce or unwed parents have a child, custody agreements get put in place. In Georgia, child custody and visitation orders are always based on the best interests of the child. When evaluating the child’s best interests, parents submit parenting plans to the court, which may include topics such as …
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For many parents who have either never been married or are divorced, child support plays a major role in their financial realities. While the laws can become rather complicated, having a cursory understanding of the basics of Georgia’s child support laws can help parents comprehend and plan for child support payments. Income Shares Model of …
In many divorces, one of the most common areas of contention is the division of assets. Whether discussing property, savings, or even debt, this step can be stressful and emotionally-charged, especially if either of the parties are entering into the discussion with unrealistic expectations. Therefore, understanding the concepts of marital property, separate property, and commingled …
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In Georgia, criminal property damage is the most common form of property damage. Broken down into 1st and 2nd degree charges, both forms of criminal property damage are felonies and can lead to life-altering consequences. However, the severity of sentencing relies heavily on whether the defendant is charged with 1st degree or 2nd degree criminal …
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