MICHAEL J. KING

In Georgia there is only one way to end a marriage, resolve a custody dispute, obtain or modify an award of child support or alimony. You must present the matter to a Superior Court Judge. What county that will be filed in depends on the facts of the particular case.

Parties do have control of the extent to which they choose to abdicate the decision making authority to that Judge and the content of that Judge’s Order on the issue at hand.

If the parties choose not to negotiate or agree on terms then the Court will make those decisions for them.
The decision not to negotiate is also costly financially. Before the Judge can decide on a resolution for you, he/she has to be informed of all the facts of which the parties have knowledge and believe to be relevent. That process of edifying the Judge is referred to as “Litigation“. It involves more than just the public court appearances, hearings, and trial. It also includes all the pretrial discovery of documents and facts if those are not stipulated or voluntarily produced.

There is however another way…”MEDIATION“. Before you assume that issues are impasses, consider mediation as a means of exploring options and alternatives that are not easily seen or appreciated in the emotionally charged circumstance of a divorce or custody case. Rather than calling for “battle stations” as a first response consider the possibility that discussions moderated by a trained neutral may reveal more common ground than was first assumed and building from there may lead to a total or partial resolution that would significant reduce the financial and emotional cost for both parties.

Whether you are looking for an experienced trial attorney or a trusted neutral to assist you during this difficult time, Michael J. King has the experience and abilities necessary to assure you are well served.