In divorce and family law cases, clients often spend hundreds and sometimes thousands of extra dollars by simply stopping in the office to speak with the attorney or paralegal, because the other party did this or did that. If it is urgent or an emergency, of course, you need to contact us; however, simply noting such things and waiting to discuss them all at your next appointment will help reduce your litigation costs. Remember, we bill hourly for our time.
Child Support
Family law cases normally involve multiple issues that must be carefully considered, from visitation arrangements to the amount of child support paid, debt division and domestic violence issues to name a few. Our firm provides clients with a caring and experienced team approach, working closely with the client, to resolve the issues that may arise.
Child Custody and Visitation
Adoption
Family Law is a broad practice area. Some of the legal services we provide are adoptions and guardianships of minor children; divorces; disputes involving visitation and child support; modifying existing court orders due to changed circumstances; filing contempt actions where one party to a divorce has violated the divorce decree; legitimation and paternity actions; and legally changing the name of an adult or child.
You may have heard the stories of cybercrime and wire fraud being on the rise. As a result of the ever increasing and sophisticated ways criminals develop to hack our computers, steal our information and commit fraud, we require specific protocols to be followed in the ordering of a wire transfer. If we are handling your real estate transaction, someone from the firm will contact you and communicate with you closely to ensure proper precautions are taken to minimize the risks of cybercrimes and wire fraud. Further, our wiring instructions will
Theft
Identity Theft
Are you a victim of identity theft and need information on what to do? Here is a good place to start: https://www.identitytheft.gov/#/
Our firm forms and organizes various businesses from corporations to limited liability companies to general partnership agreements for our clients. We understand that properly forming your business in the beginning goes a long way in avoiding potential personal liability for a poorly or improperly formed business entity. As a result, filing “papers” with the Secretary of State is only one of several steps involved in the process when our firm is requested to assist a client in setting up a new company. From assisting clients in drafting and reviewing contracts; serving as your company’s registered agent; drafting employment agreements to the purchase of assets, we work closely with our business clients to ensure their needs are met in a timely and professional manner.
How may we help you? We provide legal advice, services and counseling in real estate matters, probate, estates and family law. For a full description of services, click the tab below.
Construction Litigation
Our firm primarily handles matters such as disputes with neighbors; property damage claims; construction litigation; we also represent many local homeowners’ associations in regard to drafting, implementing and enforcing the community’s rules and covenants; we draft contracts and sue over a breach or violation of a contract, to name a few examples. In addition, we work with clients who were harmed or injured due to the negligence of another, such as slip and fall cases or automobile accidents.
Real Estate Transactions
Real estate finance and litigation comprises a large part of the firm’s practice. Our firm handles both commercial and residential real estate transactions. Legal services include matters such as the closing of title to real estate; refinances; loan modifications; examination of title and the rendering of legal opinions concerning title; issuance of title insurance; preparing contracts to buy and sell property; reviewing contracts to buy and sell property; preparation of deeds, agreements, easements and covenants; tax deferred exchanges (1031 exchanges); preparation of or review of residential and commercial lease agreements.
Easement
Landlord-Tenant Disputes
We have assisted many clients over the years with various disputes from not maintaining the property in a good condition, wrongful eviction, rent collection and lawsuits to recover monies for property damage. We believe the key to any good landlord and tenant relationship is a well drafted lease agreement. In fact, many of the cases we have handled over the years arose out of vague or poorly drafted lease agreements. Lease agreements should be customized to the specific needs and expectations of the landlord and thoroughly read, understood and, where appropriate, particular terms negotiated. Having an attorney fully explain the terms of a lease to our tenant clients so he or she understands what is expected under the contract goes a long way in avoiding potential costly and time consuming legal battles later on. Our landlord clients appreciate the value in having an attorney available when questions or issues arise with a tenant as well as to draft customized and specific lease agreements that are appropriate for the needs of the landlord.
She began her legal studies in 1997 at Mercer University School of Law in Macon, Georgia. While in law school, she obtained an internship with the Bibb County District Attorney’s Office, working primarily in the area of domestic violence crimes. She was later employed by a private practice firm in Cartersville, Georgia, as a law clerk and was offered employment as an associate attorney after graduating from law school in 2000. In that capacity, Ms. Ray represented clients in general practice law, including matters in both federal and state court; criminal and civil matters; real estate litigation and transactions; probate court matters; personal injury cases; bankruptcy; workers’ compensation; and corporate law. While practicing law in Cartersville, Georgia, Ms. Ray also served as a court appointed attorney for the Juvenile Court of Bartow County, representing both parents and children in various matters, including deprivation and delinquency proceedings. In addition, she served the Federal Court of the Northern District of Georgia, Rome Division, as a court appointed attorney in federal criminal cases.
Ali J. Wanner is the paralegal and office manager for the firm. Ms. Wanner manages the firm’s civil matters, including estate planning, family law and business law. As office manager, Ms. Wanner supervises staff, manages vendor contracts and services and generally ensures the smooth day to day operations of the firm.
Wills
We believe a well planned estate could save thousands of dollars in legal fees incurred by the estate or beneficiaries where the deceased died without a will or with a bad will. When meeting with us, we will determine what your desired end results are and then work out an estate plan that most efficiently and effectively will reach your goal. This includes, in addition to a well drafted Last Will and Testament, the addition of trusts and particularly trusts where there are minor children receiving gifts, health care directives and drafting powers of attorney. Our firm also works closely with certified public accountants and financial advisors to ensure all aspects of your estate plan are addressed in a manner that best suits your needs.
Power of Attorney
Even the most thorough search of the public deed records cannot absolutely assure that no title hazards are present. In addition to matters shown by public records, other title problems may exist that cannot be disclosed in a search. A few examples of the most common hidden risks that can cause a loss of title or create an encumbrance on title are: false impersonation of the true owner of the property; forged deeds, releases or wills; undisclosed or missing heirs; instruments executed under invalid or expired power of attorney; mistakes in recording legal documents and improperly indexing by the Clerk’s Office; misinterpretations of wills or wills not properly probated; confusion due to similar or identical names; delivery of deeds after the death of former owner; deeds by persons of unsound mind; deeds by minors; liens for unpaid estate, inheritance, income or gift taxes; and fraud. As a result, it is never advisable to purchase property without both a title examination and an owner’s title insurance policy.