Filing for Divorce in Fulton County Means There Will Be Special Considerations
There are 159 counties in the state of Georgia. One hundred fifty-eight of those counties handle domestic relations cases under the same basic set of rules. Fulton County handles its domestic relations cases differently. In 1998, the Fulton County Family Division was established. Today, there are three Superior Court Judges who devote all of their time to such cases. The purpose of the Family Division is to make domestic relations cases less adversarial, under the theory that parties who reach an agreement are less likely to litigate in the future.
What Happens at a 30-Day Status Conference?
Just because Fulton County attempts to make domestic relations actions less adversarial, it does not mean that less preparation is needed. In fact, the converse is true; there is actually more time expended and more preparation needed. At the time that a domestic relations action is filed, a 30-Day Status Conference is scheduled in which the parties and their attorneys, if retained, must appear to meet with a judicial officer. At this conference, each party is required to complete a Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit, Court-Ordered Interrogatories, and Court-Ordered Documents to be Produced to be exchanged with the other party; these forms are available for your review on this website under the heading of "Client Resources." These documents incorporate significant disclosures (e.g., financial disclosures, child care plans, etc.) that can be used against you unless they are carefully prepared.
Your Kupferman & Golden attorney will work with you to prepare formal responses that will best serve your case in order to obtain your goals. At this Conference, a guardian ad litem or psychologist can be requested and appointed, if custody/visitation is at issue. At the close of this Conference, a 60-Day Status Conference is scheduled, in which the parties and their attorneys must also attend.
What Other Court Appearances Will I Have to Make in the Fulton County Family Division?
In addition to the 60-Day Status Conference, there will be other court appearances for the parties and/or their attorneys, including the 120-Day Status Conference, mediation, late case evaluation, temporary hearing, motions hearings, calendar calls and a final trial, though not all of these court appearances are required in every case. It is the hope of the judges of the Family Division that the parties will settle their issues at one of these stages. However, you do not just show up at one of these appearances and settle your case. Unless you are fully prepared at each one of these appearances, you will either not settle your case, or you will settle your case on terms that do not meet your goals.
It is your attorney's job to prepare you, and we believe such to be the single most important factor to influence the outcome of your domestic relations proceeding. In some cases, a final trial, before a judge or a jury, will be necessary; however, if you reach such a point, you will not feel that the case was not settled out of a lack of preparation.
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From offices in Atlanta, Kupferman & Golden, Attorneys at Law, advises and represents clients in communities throughout Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Cobb County, DeKalb County, and Forsyth County, Georgia. Contact their offices to arrange a free consultation with one of the firm's experienced divorce attorneys today.
