Personalized Attention From A Hometown Attorney

Experienced Gainesville Divorce Attorney

A divorce requires you to make important decisions that will affect you and your family for years to come. At the law firm of Candace M. Williams, P.C., you can expect to receive straightforward information about the documents and decisions that are vital to your case.

Families throughout northeast Georgia can rely on two decades of legal experience as they navigate some of the most challenging family disputes of their lives. As a family law attorney, I help clients through the dissolution of marriage, child custody concerns and asset division. I provide personalized attention to each client, regardless of the circumstances that brought you to this point.

Guiding You Through A Difficult Divorce

Divorce can bring forth feelings of anxiety and uncertainty. With such a big change in your life, you need an attorney who is capable of handling all elements of divorce.

I can assist with all aspects of divorce including:

Divorce doesn’t have to mean drawn out legal battles. If you and your spouse are splitting amicably, divorce mediation may be right for you.

Legal Grounds For Divorce In Georgia

Many clients seek divorce once they determine that their marriage is irretrievably broken – they cannot improve their relationship. This is often called no-fault divorce. However, in Georgia, the divorce process can also begin due to specific allegations of fault, including:

Adultery
Impotency
Mental illness
Domestic abuse
Regular intoxication
Abandonment for one year or more
Forced or coerced agreement to marry
Prison sentencing for two or more years
Intermarriage among specified blood relatives
Mental incapacity when entering into the marriage

A husband’s unawareness of his wife’s pregnancy by another man at the time their marriage began could also factor into a divorce filing.

Why Work With An Experienced Divorce Lawyer?

Having the assistance of a hands–on, skilled lawyer provides a feeling of assurance that you and your children will receive the representation you need to get the best possible results in your case. My reasonable hourly rate will prepare you to:

Understand the pros and cons of each choice available to you
Strategize the announcement of your separation
Determine how to serve divorce papers to your spouse
Trace potential hidden assets
Appoint a guardian ad litem to represent your children
Obtain asset appraisals, including business valuation, when applicable

As your attorney, whether during mediation or in court, I will protect your interests.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

In some situations, mediation may be mandatory. Although this alternative to court often proves to be more cost-effective than a trial, you and your spouse may need to prepare to pay mediator fees.

To start, it is reasonable to plan on between four and six hours of mediation sessions at a rate of up to $400 per hour. Highly contentious cases may need more time to negotiate a settlement. Even so, mediation can allow you some control regarding your future and the custody arrangements of your children, rather than entrusting those decisions to a judge.

Expert Involvement In Your Case

The need to include expert testimony in your divorce depends on the specific matters of contention. Examples of these experts include:

Psychologists: Support claims of mental or physical abuse, especially when children are involved
Forensic accountants: Assess the value of a closely held business and appraise marital property
Vocational experts: Determine how much money each party is capable of earning

An independent custody evaluator can also study your situation to aid financial support arrangements.

What Are The Grounds For Divorce In Georgia?

Georgia, like all other states, provides for a no-fault divorce, and that’s a benefit to everyone seeking divorce. If you wish to end your marriage, you can simply claim irreconcilable differences and move on. There are several other potential grounds for divorce, such as impotence, bigamy and adultery, but they can be harder to achieve since you would need to prove the fault.

However, if you have compelling evidence of a divorce fault, it may be an option if you want to seek a better alimony or child support outcome. This is a discussion I’ve had with clients many times, and how to use this information always comes down to personal strategy.

How Is Property Divided In A Georgia Divorce?

Georgia uses what’s called an equitable distribution method to divide the assets of a marriage. This means the court looks at the length of the marriage, the health of the parties and many other factors to decide how to split the marital estate. The split isn’t usually 50/50, but it can greatly favor one side or the other depending on what the court finds as the case goes on.

Do You Need A Lawyer To Get A Divorce In Georgia?

It’s not a requirement to have a lawyer to get a divorce, but if you attempt to get a divorce without a lawyer, you may be in for a much harder time. I’ve seen the results of self-service divorce before, and the people are often less happy and in far greater financial straits than they would have been with experienced, professional legal help.

Can You Use Mediation To Resolve Your Divorce Issues?

Absolutely you can. I have helped with many divorce mediations, and I’ve seen my clients achieve a lot of success in the less aggressive, more amicable discussions in a mediation.

What Happens To Debts In A Divorce?

Debts in a divorce will get divided equitably, just like the assets. The court looks at who originated the debt, how much the debt is and how fair it is that it be split between both parties before doing anything with it.

Get Help For Your Unique Family Matters

My Hall County family law practice has been home to the management and training of legal associates, assistants and paralegals. I have tried hundreds of cases and know how to get the best possible results in your case.

I provide in-person representation at the Candace M. Williams, P.C., Gainesville office. Depending on your circumstances, I can also meet with you by phone or on digital platforms (video calls, etc.). To schedule your initial consultation, complete this confidential intake form online or call 470-705-5442 to get more information about your options.