Change is a Part of Life
Divorce, child support and custody arrangements are rarely final. The lives of both you and your ex-spouse will continue to change throughout the years, and it may be necessary to modify your previously agreed upon terms and conditions. At the Law Office of Lydia J. Sartain, we help you make those adjustments smoothly and efficiently, so you can continue living your life. We’re here for you no matter where life takes you next.
Child Custody Modification
We have extensive experience in helping clients make modifications to their child support and custody agreements. There are various reasons that custody, financial support or visitation modifications may be needed including:
- Loss of job or decrease in income
- Increase in income
- New expenses for the child
- New family responsibilities for the parent
- Relocation
- Criminal issues
While child support is modifiable downward or upward, alimony is typically only modified downward or terminated because the marital partnership on which an alimony award is based ceases upon divorce.
Contempt of Court
Contempt of court, or simply “contempt,” is the act of willfully ignoring the court’s direction. A person can be held in either criminal or civil contempt for violating court order. Generally speaking, family law cases result in civil contempt. If you have a court order that you can’t comply with, or, if you have a court order that’s not being complied with, it’s in your best interest to consult The Law Office of Lydia J. Sartain.
WHAT QUALIFIES
CONTEMPT?
In order to hold a person in contempt, the court must find that there has been a willful refusal to comply with the court’s order. In family law cases, some of the most common instances where contempt is either found or alleged are the following:
- Failure to pay child support and/or alimony
- Failure to follow child custody and/or visitation orders
- Failure to sign any documents necessary to facilitate the transfer of property
- Failure to surrender property or allow access to property
- Failure to continue to provide a child with healthcare benefits
- Failure to pay attorney fees
Failure to pay child support or alimony is generally the most common form of contempt found in family law cases. However, if you find yourself unable to make your child support or alimony payments, there are ways to handle the situation such that you do not incur fines and other penalties.
OUR AREAS OF
EXPERTISE
Divorce
Divorce is the most common family law matter we encounter. We help our clients understand their options and show them that this process doesn’t have to be painful or prohibitively expensive.
Learn moreAlimony
Alimony, or spousal support, may be awarded based either on an agreement between the couple or a decision by the court itself. This is separate from the division of marital property and is decided on a case-by-case basis.
Learn moreTemporary Protective Order
A Temporary Protective Order (TPO) is what most people refer to as a restraining order. A TPO is a formal court order that may be granted to a person to protect them, and their children, from the real or perceived threat of physical violence, harassment or other harm.
Learn moreChild Custody
Child custody matters encompass legal and physical custody. Legal custody involves each parent’s right to make major decisions regarding a child’s welfare. Physical custody involves how much time a child will spend with each parent. We work closely with you and your family to determine what is in your child’s best interest.
Learn moreChild Support
In Georgia, child support is calculated by taking into account a child’s needs and a party’s ability to pay. Though it sounds straightforward, the process becomes more complex when you factor in insurance, child care, education, and so forth. We work to ensure the best possible outcome for you and your family.
Learn morePrenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
A prenuptial agreement is signed before two people are married and a postnuptial agreement is signed after. They often address factors like spousal support, asset division, and retirement benefits. If you have questions about either, it’s crucial to discuss them with an attorney who can explain your rights and your options.
Learn moreModification and Contempt
Modification of child support or parenting plans often occurs as children age. It’s important to have excellent representation by your side in cases where either you or your ex-spouse are in contempt of an agreement, whether willfully or due to circumstances beyond your control.
Learn moreMediation
Mediation is one way of resolving your case amicably and without the unpredictability and cost of going to court. Lydia is an expert mediator, so whether she’s mediating your case with your attorney or representing you, your case is in good hands.
Learn moreProperty Division
Georgia divorce laws give both spouses an equitable interest in all property acquired during the couple’s marriage. The general rule is that all property acquired during the course of the marriage, regardless of title, is marital property and subject to equitable division.
Learn more