When a Georgia family court judge makes a custody ruling, they rely on a flexible standard known as the "best interests of the child." This standard lists about a dozen different criteria for a judge to use in determining the best child custody arrangement for the child and the circumstances. As such, custody rulings often vary significantly from judge to judge and from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
Boys will continue living with woman who killed her children
Managing your finances during a divorce
When you are going through a divorce, adjusting to your new financial reality can be one of the most difficult aspects of your split. Regardless of the circumstances and of each spouse's respective income and expenses, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to maintain the same lifestyle while paying for two households, court fees, and other costs associated with a divorce. Often, parties to a divorce need help to make good financial decisions during and after the split.
Georgia fatherhood program loses funding
Several Georgia technical colleges have lost funding for their long-running fatherhood programs, which provide education and support services to both father and mothers with the goal of strengthening families and serving the low-income community. The colleges are working to find alternative funding for the programs, but until that happens, this underserved population may again fall through the cracks.
Should religion affect child custody orders?
In most states, family court judges may not use personal disapproval or a lack of understanding of a religion determine their ruling on a child custody dispute. However, what happens when a parent alleges that the other parent's religious practices cause harm to the child in an attempt to gain custody of their child?
Ruth Madoff to file for divorce
When Bernie Madoff was arrested in 2008 and charged in connection with one of the largest, most damaging Ponzi schemes in U.S. history, his wife of 50 years denied any knowledge of her husband's fraudulent actions. "Like everyone else, I feel betrayed and confused," Ruth Madoff said in a statement released shortly after Bernie's arrest. "The man who committed this horrible fraud is not the man whom I have known for all these years."
Father calls ex-wife "psycho" on public blog
When you are fighting to gain or keep custody of your children, it seems like a bad idea to publicly insult and criticize your children's other parent, especially in a very public forum that is open and available to anyone, including the family court judge that is deciding your case. Most parents would likely agree with that statement, right? Not Anthony Morelli, the creator of a blog titled "The Psycho Ex-Wife," on which he publicly belittles and disparages his ex-wife and the mother of his two children, criticizing everything from her appearance to her parenting skills.
Terrell Owens sued for child support in Atlanta...again
In June, we wrote about professional football player Terrell Owens' failure to pay child support to the mother of one of his children, which caused her to seek legal action. At that time, she filed court papers on Fulton County, asking a family court judge to charge Owens with contempt after his alleged failure to pay child support for the month of June. In those court documents, the Atlanta mother alleged that she had been told by Owens' financial advisors that the player would no longer be making his full monthly child support payments.
What you tweet can be used against you in divorce court
In this day and age of social media and online inter-connectedness, it seems that over-sharing has become the norm. Users of social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and now, Google Plus, regularly post about their daily lives, from the minute details ("I had oatmeal for breakfast this morning") to major life events ("I just filed for divorce.")
State updates antiquated alimony laws
In Georgia, alimony is largely unregulated by state laws. This was done purposefully by the state legislature, with the intent that Georgia family court judges be given significant discretion to award alimony if, when, and how it is the most appropriate for a divorcing couple and their financial situation. This, of course, can be good or bad, depending on which side of the alimony dispute you find yourself on.
Congressman reportedly owes $100,000 in back child support
After repeatedly accusing the Obama administration of irresponsible spending and financial policies, a Republican member of the House of Representatives is now facing questions about his own financial management after reports surfaced that he owes his ex-wife over $100,000 in unpaid child support. However, the congressman is fighting back, claiming that the negative reports are politically motivated and largely untrue.
