Category Archives: Family Law
Divorced Parents and Tax Returns: What You Need to Know
One of the many things that should be determined during a divorce is which parent gets to claim the children on their tax returns. Since there are numerous benefits for the parent, such as getting to use the Earned Income Tax Credit, which leads to a larger tax return, it makes sense for both… Read More »
Five Benefits of Divorce Support Groups for Women
Divorce means more than just losing a spouse. Your entire world is uprooted. You and your children need to find healthy ways to cope with the new normal. This means finding a new support system for yourself, which allows you to entertain healthy coping methods that you can teach your children. At Buckhead Family… Read More »
Domestic Violence vs. Domestic Abuse: Is There a Legal Difference?
When it comes to matters of domestic conflict, it’s crucial to understand the legal distinctions that exist, particularly in cases involving violence or abuse within the home. Domestic violence and domestic abuse are terms that are often used interchangeably, but they actually carry distinct legal implications. At Buckhead Family Law, we believe that knowledge… Read More »
Parental Alienation: Identifying, Addressing, And Combating This Family Law Challenge
It’s actually extremely common for children to take one parent’s side in a divorce, especially if the kids are old enough to fully understand what’s going on. But it’s something else entirely when a child starts refusing to see the other parent, or the other parent doesn’t follow court-ordered visitation or joint-custody plans. At… Read More »
Life Forward – Let Me (Re)Introduce Myself, I’m Melissa Davis
In the modified words of The Rolling Stones, please allow me to (re)introduce myself. Last week, I legally restored my name to Melissa Davis. And it’s good to be me again. There’s no grudge or anything to prove. It’s just about me being me. Yes, it’s going to be a nightmare to go to the DMV and Social… Read More »
Founding Partner Melissa Davis Honored to Argue on Behalf of a Client Before The Supreme Court of Georgia
Recently, I had the incredible honor of arguing on behalf of one of Buckhead Family Law’s clients before the Supreme Court of Georgia, defending the constitutionality of Georgia’s grandparent visitation statute. It was a humbling experience to appear before Georgia’s highest court and a great reminder of the significance of the work we do… Read More »
Five Benefits To Filing First In A Divorce
The decision to move forward with a divorce filing is unquestionably difficult. One factor in making that decision for many people can be whether to file themselves or wait to see if their spouse files before them. For many people, this also raises the question of whether there are any benefits to being the… Read More »
Does Georgia Recognize Common Law Marriage?
Marriage can be complicated enough under normal circumstances. But what about when two people live together for a significant period of time and hold themselves out as spouses, despite never formalizing it through a ceremony or license? For a long time, Georgia (and many other states) recognized “common law marriage,” which is a legal… Read More »
How To Divide Custody And Visitation During The Summer
Summer can be both an exciting and daunting time of year, especially for separated parents. For single working parents of kids on summer break, without a plan in place with the other parents for childcare, it can be difficult to take care of the kids while juggling your other daily responsibilities. This is where… Read More »
Recent Court Rulings On Georgia’s Equitable Caregiver Act
Georgia’s Equitable Caregiver Act, which went into effect in just July 2019, allows trial courts to grant the status of equitable caregiver to groups of non-biologically related adults who may have previously had no parental rights but have played a fundamental, parent-like role in a child’s life. Now, three years later, Georgia’s courts have… Read More »