JACQUELYN F. LUTHER, ESQ., P.C.

ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW

Appeals:  Whether you are appealing an unfavorable decision or defending against an appeal by the opposing party, your success depends upon having the very experienced appellate representation.  There are strict time constraints and deadlines that must be followed and significant research and preparation of briefs required.  Our office has handled numerous appeals successfully and you will find some listed under our attorneys.
 
Business and General Civil Litigation:  We help clients resolve business disputes efficiently and effectively. We have experience litigating matters throughout the greater Atlanta metro area.  We understand the concerns that businesses face, and we help clients avert expensive and time-consuming litigation when that approach is consistent with their aims. Protecting your rights, your best interests, and your bottom line are our driving concerns at every stage.
 
Child Custody:  Your child is the most important thing in your world.  The world is changing.  We have many different parenting models now.  Many fathers are as involved with their children as mothers and want more shared responsibility for child rearing. We believe fathers have rights, too! Let us assist you with developing a parenting plan that best serves the interests and needs of your children and your family.
 
Child Support:  Traditionally, the parent with the greater income and less time with the child pays child support to the primary custodian of the child.  But, that is not always the case and there are lots of factors to consider that affect the final child support numbers.  We will work to preserve your financial interests and the interests of your children.
 
Contempt Proceedings: When someone violates a court order by failing to do something ordered or by doing something that is contrary to what was ordered, it can be addressed by filing a contempt proceeding.  Let us assist you with enforcing your rights and the responsibilities under your court order.
 
Criminal Defense:  Often times criminal charges arise out of family disputes.  We represent defendants facing criminal charges in state, federal and appellate courts. The scope of our practice includes bail bond hearings, plea bargains, trial, revocation hearings (parole or probation), appeals and post-conviction remedies. Additionally, we represent individuals with misdemeanor charges and some felony charges, depending on the nature of the charge.
 
Divorce:  Whether you are facing a contested divorce or uncontested divorce we will work with you to outline your divorce goals and prepare you for your case. Because traditional roles are changing, the rules of the past, may or may not apply to your particular circumstances.  We are experienced in divorce matters at all income levels.

Legal Separation:  So right now you are not sure that you want a divorce.  You need some time to think it through, but in the meantime, you need some protection from the court.  We can assist you in obtaining a legal separation from your spouse.

Legitimation:  Perhaps you want to establish your legal relationship with your child because you and your child's mother were not married.  Or, perhaps you have been involved but you are subject to the whims of your child's mother.  Or you want to do the right thing and make sure your child has the benefit of you being declared the legal father.  We can help you to legitimate your child and establish your parental rights including visitation and or custody as well as child support. We represent both mothers and fathers seeking to establish paternity and custody rights.
 
Military Family Law:   When a couple decides to end their marriage while one spouse is serving in the military, divorce tends to get more complicated. There are spousal benefits, retirement benefits, and other considerations that are different from a civilian marriage.  We are experienced with addressing those issues.
 
Modification of Decrees:  If you have found yourself earning less income, or if your ex has a larger earning potential we can help you file a modification to modify your past decrees or orders. If the custody arrangements or visitation schedule from your previous decree no longer is suitable and in the best interest of your child, we can assist you with modifying the previous decree in such a way as to do what is in the best interest of your child at the present time.

Paternity:  Mothers have the right to have the court determine the paternity or the father of a child born out of marriage.  Let us help you establish paternity and the support responsibility for your child.
 
Prenuptial and Post Nuptial Agreements:  Georgia law allows a couple to enter into their own contract to define each party's financial obligations during the marriage. These contracts may be created either before or after the wedding and are respectively described as prenuptial or post nuptial agreements. While having a pre or post nuptial agreement in place is a sensible decision for couples at all income and asset levels, it is imperative for those with considerable resources. We have experience in drafting, challenging and defending prenuptial and post nuptial agreements.
 
Protective Orders: If you are or have experienced domestic violence, we can help you acquire a temporary and or permanent restraining order. We understand the laws designed to protect victims of domestic violence, and we will fight to protect these victims. We also understand the importance of protecting children in such situations as well. If you are experiencing any form of domestic violence, physical abuse, or abuse concerning your children, do not hesitate to reach out to us for our experience and expertise.

We also represent those who are accused of domestic violence. If you have been accused of domestic violence, the potential repercussions are enormous.  Not only may you suffer financially as a result, you even have the potential to be arrested and possibly convicted of a  felony. You need a highly trained, and experienced attorney and you cannot effectively handle it on your own.

Property Division:  Who gets what? How is marital property divided?  Dividing the accumulated assets and debts of a marriage is often one of the most difficult aspects of divorce. Keeping what you owned when you came into the marriage as well as retaining your  individual belongings and achieving a satisfactory property settlement in the final divorce decree are the primary financial goals, especially for high net worth individuals. You can be comfortable in knowing that we routinely handle these sorts of matters successfully for our clients.

Same sex divorce:  In same sex marriages there are numerous issues that require special attention, particularly where children are involved.  If the children have not been adopted by the none biological parent, or if the children were conceived by artificial insemination, there are issues that an inexperienced attorney may not be aware of that will impact your case. We are experienced in navigating the pitfalls in same sex divorces.

Spousal Maintenance:  Spousal maintenance or alimony is money paid to your former spouse to maintain a standard of living enjoyed and used to during your marriage. Let us assist you with addressing alimony that may be requested of you or that you believe you are entitled to from your marriage. Alimony is determined by a number of factors, including standards of living, income, earning potential, and even the length of the marriage. In Georgia, alimony is not a right, and awards may be one-time, temporary, or permanent.