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When you’ve just been through a divorce, it can take months, or even years, for you to finally get closure and move on with your life. However, when you have kids to take care of, you need to consider their needs as well to make sure they can adjust to the sudden changes.

If you’re constantly arguing with your ex-spouse about your co-parenting agreement, you’ll end up neglecting your kids and significantly affecting their mental wellbeing. You need to leave your anger behind to give your kids a chance to recover from your separation.

Take a look at some ways you can resolve co-parenting conflicts with your former spouse.

Show Empathy

If you had a messy divorce, it can be extremely difficult to keep your emotions in control every time you see your ex-spouse. Instead of lashing out every chance you get and finding things to argue about, you need to practice empathy.

You should try and envision yourself in your ex’s shoes to understand their point of view and realize that they’re also going through a hard time. Instead of making the situation more complicated, you need to listen to each other’s concerns and try to make things work for the sake of your kids.

Let Go Of The Past

It’s not easy to let go of hard feelings for your ex-spouse, but one way you can shift your focus to the present is by making your kid’s happiness a priority. Instead of fixating on the hurt you felt during your divorce, you need to start regarding your ex as your kid’s parent- not just someone who’s wronged you.

Treat them the same way you’d wish to be treated. If you keep holding on to the past and letting your anger influence your decisions, your kids will have a miserable childhood.

Set Aside Your Differences

It’s hard to co-parent with someone who’s no longer a part of your life. Both of you may have different parenting styles and you’ll have to learn how to live with that as long as your kid’s safety and wellbeing are prioritized. Set aside your differences and try to get along with your ex to make sure your kids can have a happy childhood.

When you’re working out a co-parenting plan after divorce, you should consider your ex’s needs as well as your own to make sure the arrangement works for both of you. You also need to set co-parenting boundaries to minimize future conflict as much as possible.

Final Thoughts

Parents often forget how their words and actions can scar their kids for the rest of their lives. When you’re in the midst of a conflict with your ex-spouse, you need to remember that it shouldn’t be about winning, especially when your kids are involved.

Here, at Atlanta Family Law Group LLC, we specialize in high conflict divorce and child custody cases. Contact us at 404-738-5805 to schedule an appointment and let us give you all the legal support you need to get through these trying times.

Navigating your emotions when you’re going through a divorce can be extremely challenging. If you want to minimize conflict as much as possible while simultaneously protecting your assets, you need to proceed with caution in the days leading up to your divorce.

You need to do your research, stay on top of your emotions, and gather all the information you need to make sure everything goes well. Here, we’ll take a look at what you need to do to effectively prepare for your divorce.

1. Keep Your Emotions In Check

Before you can worry about your finances, you need to understand how your life post-divorce will be completely different and make peace with your reality. You need to keep your emotions under control if you wish to settle your divorce outside of court.

To learn how to prepare for divorce emotionally, you need to realize that it’s okay to feel emotional because you’re going through a life-changing event. You’ll need to understand your emotions first to avoid letting them influence all your decisions.

Talk to a therapist so they can help you process what you’re feeling. You can even join a support group and learn from other people’s experiences. Once you’ve learned how to deal with your emotions, you’ll heal a lot faster from your separation and be able to lead a happy and successful life post-divorce.

2. Do Your Research

Before filing for divorce, you need to familiarize yourself with everything that goes into a divorce, all the factors you need to consider, and the kind of decisions you need to make to make sure the whole process goes smoothly.

You need to educate yourself about all the steps you need to take before you file for divorce and get acquainted with how divorce procedures work. You should also consider the benefits of divorce mediation and how it’ll make things a lot simpler for you.

You should look for the most experienced divorce lawyer to get the legal support you need to win the case. It’s also important for you to be active during your divorce negotiations to make sure you’re being treated fairly.

3. Get Organized

It’s important for you to stay organized because everything that goes on during your divorce proceedings may shape the rest of your life. When you’re organized, you’ll be able to negotiate where you need to and reach a suitable settlement agreement.

This is where your divorce lawyer can help you. They’ll guide you through all the steps to make sure you’re financially prepared to handle pretty much anything that comes your way. For this purpose, you may have to sit down with your spouse and create a list of all your assets and debts.

Make sure you have electronic and hard copies of all your financial records and a marital budget in place to figure out what your current monthly expenses are and estimate what they will be after separation.

Final Words

Keep the tips we’ve mentioned above in mind if you wish to minimize any conflicts that may arise and have an easier life post-divorce.

If you’re in search of an experienced lawyer, contact us at 404-738-5805 and let us help you in your case. Here, at Atlanta Family Law Group LLC, we prioritize our clients’ needs and expectations so they can protect their assets and have a healthy divorce.

If you’ve just proposed to your partner and are preparing to get married soon, the last thing you’d be thinking about is the possibility of divorce. However, divorce isn’t something most married couples can foresee.

Sometimes, a divorce happens due to factors that seem way beyond your control. With time, your feelings about each other may change and you may not see a happy future with your spouse anymore.

In times like these, you’ll realize the importance of getting a prenuptial agreement. It’s an agreement signed by a couple who’s considering marriage in the near-future. One main reason for a prenuptial agreement is to settle the division of assets in the event of a divorce or death.

When you’re head over heels in love, you don’t want to think about financial matters and splitting up down the road. But ask any divorcee, and they’ll tell you that a prenup will save both your time and money when your marriage is in shambles.

Here, we’ll take a look at three reasons why couples need a prenuptial agreement.

1. Either Of You Is A High-income Earner

People who earn a lot more than their spouse may be required to pay spousal support after ending a long-term marriage. Getting a prenuptial agreement, however, will allow you to set your own terms and (possibly) waive alimony in case of a divorce.

It may also state that premarital assets are a separate property and only the assets earned during the course of marriage are subject to division.

2. You Have Children From A Previous Relationship

If you or your spouse has children from a previous relationship or marriage, you need to sign a prenuptial agreement to protect your kids in the event of a separation.

A prenuptial agreement is needed to preserve future income and property of the children and make sure all their financial responsibilities are taken care of. It’s drafted to ensure that their inheritance and child support don’t get caught up in divorce settlement negotiations.

3. Your Soon-to-be Spouse Is In Debt

If your soon-to-be spouse is indebted, you need to consider getting a prenuptial agreement before you can tie the knot. It’s necessary to clarify future financial responsibilities for both you and your spouse to minimize conflict as much as possible in divorce proceedings.

If you decide to help your spouse pay off their student loans using your retirement money, it can cost you a lot after you’ve separated. If your spouse takes out a loan during the marriage and doesn’t pay it back, debtors may come to you to seek payment.

Final Words

It’s advisable to discuss the terms of your prenup with your soon-to-be spouse at least 6 months before the wedding ceremony. In any event, your soon-to-be-spouse should have sufficient time to consider the agreement prior to the wedding ceremony, even if you find yourself short of the six-month timeframe. It can be an awkward conversation to initiate with your partner, but it’s a conversation worth having to make sure your assets are protected during a messy divorce.

Get in touch with Atlanta Family Law Group LLC and let us help you draft your prenuptial agreement. Call us at 404-738-5805 to schedule a meeting and discuss your options.

Most couples can’t tell if they’re headed for a divorce right away. It can take months, even years, before they realize that their marriage is in shambles and there’s no other way out.

Every marriage is unique, but there are some common warning signs of a marriage falling apart. If you can spot these signs earlier on, you may have a chance to work things out with your spouse. Let’s take a look at four signs your marriage is failing.

1. Your Partner Isn’t Willing To Make Things Work

If you’ve expressed your desire to work on your marriage but your partner seems less than interested, then your marriage might be in trouble. The secret ingredient for a happy and long-lasting marriage is that both partners are on the same page and willing to make things work.

If your partner is avoiding you and doesn’t want to acknowledge the elephant in the room, then it’s obvious that you’re the only person in this relationship who’s keeping things going. Just like you care about your spouse’s needs, they should also make an effort for you.

2. You Don’t Enjoy Spending Time With Your Spouse

One of the warning signs you’re ready for a divorce is that you no longer enjoy hanging out with your spouse. If you love spending time with your friends and family, but can’t stand being in the same room as your significant other, you need to figure out why you feel the way you do.

If it’s something that you can work on during counseling, then you should get in touch with a professional marriage counselor. However, if it’s something you’re afraid won’t go away no matter what you do, then a divorce may be the only solution.

3. You Have Been Unhappy For A Long Time

When you feel like your marriage isn’t exciting for you anymore and you’re starting to reminisce about the old days, then that’s not a good sign for your marriage. You need to talk to your spouse and figure out a way to work on your marriage.

If trying new things and counseling doesn’t help fix the problem, then you need to choose your happiness and consider getting a divorce.

4. You Don’t Communicate With Each Other Anymore

The biggest sign that your marriage is failing is that you stop making an effort to communicate with each other. If you feel like your partner is keeping things from you or withholding important information, and you’re always finding out about it through other people, then there’s a clear communication gap between you two.

If you want to get your marriage back on track, you have to initiate a conversation and then see where it goes. Both you and your spouse should be willing to communicate if you want a successful marriage.

To Sum Up

Sometimes, it’s too late before you can spot the signs and figure out a way to make your marriage work. If you’re considering getting a divorce, you should get in touch with us.  Here at Atlanta Family Law Group, focus on divorce and child custody cases. We believe in helping you preserve what’s important while redefining families through divorce.

Contact us at 404-738-5805 to schedule a consultation and let’s discuss how we may be able to help you.

One of the biggest downsides of divorce is that it can put a strain on your relationship with your kids. When you’re going through the most stressful time in your life, staying as involved in your kids’ lives as before can become an extra burden to bear.

Even though your co-parenting agreement may not allow you to see them as often as you’d like to, you can still be a great dad if you know how to make the most of your time and make them feel loved and cared for.

Let’s take a look at some ways you can stay involved in your kids’ lives post-divorce.

1. Make The Most Of Your Visitation Schedule

Being a good dad after divorce can become especially challenging if you can’t work out a suitable co-parenting plan with your ex-spouse and they’re less than willing to make things easier for you.

However, you can get the most out of a limited visitation schedule if you regard your bond with your kids as the most important one in your life. You need to show your kids that you care about what’s going on with their lives, even if you can’t always be around to see it.

Get them to open up to you by asking about how things are at school and if there’s anything that’s bothering them. Earn their trust by showing up for them when they need you and sticking around on special occasions as well.

2. Make The Transition Period Easier For Your Kids

It can be difficult for kids to adjust to the changes in their lives after divorce, especially if they’re in their formative years. Make sure that the transition period is easier for them by maintaining some form of their old routine.

Do your best to stick to the traditions they’ve grown accustomed to. This is a time when your kids need you more than ever.  You need to make active efforts to let them know you still care as deeply about them as you did prior to the divorce.

3. Show Affection To Them

It’s understandable if your kid is upset about the divorce and has resorted to acting out. Instead of letting that add to your frustration, you need to take this opportunity to grow even closer to them than ever before.

Encourage them to be honest about their feelings and show them how important they are to you with your words and actions. It’s also important to take time out of your schedule to celebrate their achievements and let them know how much you appreciate their presence in your life.  Love on them just a little bit harder while they’re going through this difficult period.

Bottom Line

Before you can start to lose hope, you should know that the hurt feelings do not disappear overnight. It can take months and months of efforts on your end before you can finally become the parent you’ve always hoped to be.

If you’re on the verge of divorce and looking for a divorce attorney in Georgia, then look no further. Here, at Atlanta Family Law Group LLC, we take our client’s desires to be involved co-parents after divorce seriously. Get in touch with us at 404-738-5805 to schedule a consultation to discuss how we can ensure you remain an integral part of your children’s lives after a divorce or separation.

Divorce can be messy, especially if you’re parting ways with a spouse you’ve been with for a long time. There are so many unresolved feelings that you need to navigate before you can come to terms with reality.

The possibility of losing half of your life’s savings can make this time even more stressful for you. Let’s take a look at some ways you can protect your assets during divorce.

1. Identify Your Assets

Before you can get down to the financial aspects of divorce, you need to have an idea about how much money you own and where you’ve kept it. Make sure you’re aware of what belongs to you or your spouse, so it’s easier for you to divide the assets when the time comes. This includes investments, mortgages, bank accounts, etc.

It’s always safer to sign a prenup before getting married so that you can set your own terms regarding spousal support. But even if you didn’t get a prenup, you can still safeguard your assets by focusing on the assets that are solely yours (inheritances, personal savings, property you own, etc). Make sure your attorney knows all about the cash you brought into the marriage and how you spent it, so it can be divided fairly.

2. Close All Your Jointly-owned Accounts

You need to cancel your jointly-owned credit cards, but you must inform your spouse before doing so. This is necessary because most joint accounts can be used by either party to withdraw cash. If your spouse charges a huge sum, and you’re not yet divorced, you’ll both be liable to pay for it.

Don’t empty any joint accounts before telling your spouse or you may run into legal problems later on. You can also put restrictions on your joint bank accounts so that both parties’ signatures are required to withdraw money to make sure your spouse doesn’t get a chance to clean them out.

3. Protect Valuable Assets

When you’re leaving an abusive marriage and you’re afraid your spouse will damage valuable assets, you need to take these assets into your possession before any harm can be done. Make sure your spouse knows you’re keeping them safe or they can use that against you in court.

Avoid selling them for cash because you’ll have to pay the money back during the divorce settlement.

4. Get In Touch With A Tax Professional And A Financial Planner

It’s advisable to get help from a tax professional to figure out how you can reduce your alimony payments or take advantage of tax credits to protect your money down the line. Instead of creating your own budget, you should hire a financial planner to do it for you as they’ll have a more accurate idea of how you can organize your finances and live a decent life after divorce.

Final Words

Now that you’ve learned how to protect your money during divorce, all that’s left to do is curb your spending habits and make sure you have enough money for your day-to-day expenses as well as legal fees.

Going through a divorce can be extremely stressful, so you need all the legal support you can get to win your case.

At Atlanta Family Law Group, we put our client’s needs above everything else. Contact us at 404-738-5805 to discuss your divorce strategy and let us help you protect your assets during divorce.

The COVID-19 Global Pandemic has created unique challenges for all of us with significant impact to those divorced or separated parents attempting to follow their Parenting Plan or time-sharing schedules.  This pandemic has caused so much confusion when making the decision whether to follow the parenting plan as written, or make some concessions and changes, especially in light of the shelter at home orders that do not specifically address visitation exchanges.

Unfortunately, there are some parents that are attempting to utilize the provisions set forth in our local stay at home orders to permit the withholding of their children during this Pandemic, in direct violation of their Parenting Plans.  There is no authority to support such a position in the Metropolitan Atlanta area.

Because many of the governmental stay at home orders that have recently gone into effect both nationally and internationally have failed to specifically address whether or not an exception is included for children to be transported between the residences of their separated parents during the Pandemic, parents are left confused and fearful that they may not see their children for an indefinite period of time; or conversely, perhaps they will be forced to be the sole caretaker for their children for an unidentified period of time.

To ease this confusion, many of our Superior Court judges have issued clarification orders which clarify that the shelter at home orders do not prohibit custody exchanges, and that all custody orders are to be followed throughout any governmental shelter in place orders.

At this time, we are advising all of our clients to make every effort to utilize this unprecedented pandemic to bridge some of the distance between them and their co-parent, despite what may have been years of conflict and perhaps, contentious litigation.  This is an extremely challenging time for every family, even those families living under one roof. Try to be mindful of what is best for your kids throughout what is likely a very scary and overwhelming time for them.  Continuing to institute as much routine and stability, including mealtimes, academics and play, along with adhering to the visitation schedule that you children have come to anticipate, as much as possible, is best and most comforting to their young minds.  Be flexible.  Be accommodating.  If you legitimately believe that exchanging your children with your co-parent will be to the child’s detriment, perhaps because your co-parent refuses to adhere to, or is unable to adhere to the recommendations of the CDC, then try to be creative to ensure continuous remote access.  But before you withhold parenting time, you MUST have proof of the failure to abide by the CDC recommendations.  You CAN NOT withhold visitation simply because you believe your home is safer.  Failing to abide by the order will likely subject you to contempt when the smoke clears.

If you have a long-distance parenting plan, where it’s unsafe to travel or one of the involved states has a mandatory quarantine period for visitors, you may have to be creative and think outside of the box to ensure continuous access to the child.  Set up frequent, regular and ongoing opportunities for your child and co-parent to communicate via FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, or any other videoconferencing program.

In short, absent specific written governmental prohibitions, if you have a Parenting Plan or a Court Order in place, follow it!  If you have an informal visitation schedule, continue to follow it.  Keep doing what is best for your children.  If you have a good co-parent on the other side, allow them to continue to be a good co-parent during this pandemic.  If you have legitimate and justifiable fears that your co-parent will not follow the social-distancing and protective practices recommended by governmental bodies and accordingly may risk exposure to the children, then we recommend contacting an experienced family law attorney so that your personal situation can be properly assessed, before you unilaterally disregard the terms of your agreement or prior court order and risk contempt penalties for the same.

On the flip side, if you have been denied visitation during this epidemic, you should consult an experienced family law attorney to discuss what your options are and how we can get you back with your children.

Here, at Atlanta Family Law Group LLC, we specialize in high conflict divorce and child custody cases. Contact us at 404-738-5805 to schedule an appointment to discuss how we can help you come up with a co-parenting agreement to get you through these trying times.

Divorce can be extremely time-consuming. To make the most of your time spent with your divorce lawyer, you need to be fully prepared for all the meetings and provide detailed answers to their questions.

This way, they can come up with the perfect divorce strategy for your case and give you the legal support you need to have a healthy divorce.

Let’s take a look at some common questions a divorce lawyer will ask you in the initial meeting.

How Should The Marital Home Be Divided?

The marital home has to be one of the biggest marital assets couples need to divide in the event of a divorce. Since Georgia is an equitable distribution state, marital properties, whether shared or personal, will be divided fairly- and fair may not always mean ‘equal.’

Equity is determined by assessing the current market value of the home during separation. Both parties can decide to sell the marital home and divide the proceeds or one of the parties can refinance the house and buy out the other party’s interest.

Regardless of how you choose to divide the marital home, you’ll need to be prepared for the following questions your divorce may ask you:

• Do you wish to keep the home or sell it to someone and divide the proceeds?
• Are your other real properties in your or your spouse’s name, or both?
• What is the mortgage vs. equity balance in your home?

How Will You Share The Custody Of Your Kids?

You need to be prepared to answer any questions related to your children, like how old they are, how many of them are there, and other basic facts about them. This can also be the perfect time to bring attention to exceptional cases like health problems and special needs that might influence custody arrangements.

You should also come prepared to discuss factors that may affect your visitation rights. Here are some questions that your lawyer may ask you:

• What is your work schedule and do you have any obligations that we need to know about?
• How do you divide child care duties between you and your spouse?
• How much time do you spend with your children?
• What kind of child custody arrangement would you like to have?

What Marital Assets And Debts You Own & Owe Respectively?

Your divorce lawyer should also be fully aware of the value of your assets and any debts you’ve incurred. You should make a list of all your assets and debts, marital and separate, that includes bank loans, stocks, cars, jewelry, electronics, etc. You should make a separate list of student loans, auto loans, credit cards, mortgages, and other such liabilities.

After you’ve provided the lists to your attorney, they may ask you these questions:

• Which of these assets do you wish to keep to yourself and which of these are you willing to give up?
• Whose name is on the debt obligations?
• Was the debt you’ve acquired used to contribute to your household?
• Did you own any of these assets before marriage and are they separate from your marital assets?

Bottom Line

You need to be prepared for all kinds of questions to have a productive meeting with your divorce lawyer.

If you’re looking for divorce lawyers in Atlanta, get in touch with Atlanta Family Law Group LLC at 404-738-5805 to schedule a meeting with our team to discuss your divorce strategy. We can take the legal worries off your hands so you can focus on healing.

When you’ve just been through a divorce or separation, it can take months, or even years, for you to finally get closure and move on with your life. However, when you have kids to take care of, you need to consider their needs as well to make sure they can adjust to the sudden changes.

If you’re constantly arguing with your ex about your co-parenting agreement, you’ll end up neglecting your kids and significantly affecting their mental wellbeing. You need to leave your anger behind to give your kids a chance to recover from your separation.

Take a look at some ways you can resolve co-parenting conflicts with your former spouse.

Show Empathy

If you had a messy divorce, it can be extremely difficult to keep your emotions in control every time you see your ex-spouse. Instead of lashing out every chance you get and finding things to argue about, you need to practice empathy.

You should try and envision yourself in your ex’s shoes to understand their point of view and realize that they may also be going through a hard time. Instead of making the situation more complicated, you need to listen to each other’s concerns and try to make things work for the sake of your children.

Let Go Of The Past

It’s not easy to let go of hard feelings for your ex, but one way you can shift your focus to the present is by making your kid’s happiness a priority. Instead of fixating on the hurt you felt during your divorce, you need to start regarding your ex as your kid’s parent- not just someone who’s wronged you.

Treat them the same way you’d wish to be treated. If you keep holding on to the past and letting your anger influence your decisions, your kids will have a miserable childhood.

Set Aside Your Differences

It’s hard to co-parent with someone who’s no longer a part of your life. Both of you may have different parenting styles and you’ll have to learn how to live with that as long as your kid’s safety and wellbeing are prioritized. Set aside your differences and try to get along with your ex to make sure your kids can have a happy childhood.

When you’re working out a co-parenting plan after divorce, you should consider your ex’s needs as well as your own to make sure the arrangement works for both of you. You also need to set co-parenting boundaries to minimize future conflict as much as possible.

Final Thoughts

Parents often forget how their words and actions can scar their kids for the rest of their lives. When you’re in the midst of a conflict with your ex-spouse, you need to remember that it shouldn’t be about winning, especially when your kids are involved.

Here, at Atlanta Family Law Group LLC, we specialize in high conflict divorce and child custody cases. Contact us at 404-738-5805 to schedule an appointment to discuss how we can help you come up with a co-parenting agreement to get you through these trying times.