Forsyth County Family Lawyer

Although many people understandably want to keep their family issues private, sometimes these issues can have legal implications. If you have a potential family law issue, you may need an attorney’s help to resolve it effectively. For Georgia family law issues, a Forsyth County family lawyer from our firm could listen to your concerns and potentially help assess which legal options could be most effective.

Legal decisions in a family law case could influence a person and their family’s lives for many years in the future. Whether you are considering an annulment, divorce, adoption, or another type of family law issue, consulting with a skilled family lawyer could be beneficial.

What Are the Forsyth County Marriage and Dissolution Laws?

In Forsyth County, a marriage typically is only valid if both individuals are of sound mind and able to enter a marriage contract, according to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated §19-3-1. Generally, and both individuals must be 18 years of age or older. However, those that are 16 or 17 years old may marry with parental consent, as per O.C.G.A. §19-3-2.

What is the Annulment of a Marriage?

Under O.C.G.A. §19-4-1, annulments generally are permitted only for marriages that were legally invalid to begin with. For example, if either party to a marriage has a living spouse, then that marriage could be considered invalid according to O.C.G.A. §19-3-2. In such instances, either party may seek an annulment to dissolve their marriage as if it never happened.

According to O.C.G.A. §19-4-1, courts may not grant an annulment if children have been or will be born as the result of the marriage. Anyone who thinks an annulment may be appropriate for their situation may benefit from contacting a Forsyth County family attorney as quickly as possible.

Divorce in Forsyth County

Other than annulment, the only option to dissolve a marriage in the state of Georgia typically is divorce. If a married couple is unable to obtain an annulment, then either of them may file a divorce petition.

To obtain a divorce in Forsyth County, at least one individual generally must be a Georgia resident, according to O.C.G.A. §19-5-2. Georgia typically recognizes several grounds for divorce, including “no-fault” divorces. A family lawyer in Forsyth County may be able to provide additional information on how to file for divorce and what grounds to base the divorce petition on.

Adopting a Child

O.C.G.A. §19-8-3 generally allows the following individuals to adopt a child:

• Persons 25 years of age or older
• Individuals who are married and living with their spouse
• Individuals who are 10 years older than the child

Additionally, all adoptive parents typically must have been a Georgia resident for the six months immediately preceding the adoption.

Adoption Process

Generally, prospective parents must file an adoption petition to initiate the adoption process. As per O.C.G.A. §19-8-13, this petition typically must contain the following,:

• Biographical information about the child
• Biographical information on the prospective parents
• Details on how the child came up for adoption
• Written consent of either the adoption placement agency or the child’s biological parents

Additionally, if an individual is adopting a child through a placement agency, that agency typically must conduct an investigation and background check pursuant to O.C.G.A. §19-8-16 to be sure the individual is suitable to be an adoptive parent. In many cases, the adoption agency attempts to make decisions in the best interests of the child.

A Forsyth County Family Attorney Could Help with Many Legal Issues

When complex family issues arise, many people may be unsure exactly what to do. They may not know how to solve the problem or what steps they may need to take. Any individual facing these kinds of issues should contact a Forsyth County family lawyer.

Our attorneys are knowledgeable about various kinds of family law problems. If you choose to retain a lawyer from our firm, they could potentially research the applicable laws, determine how they may impact you and your family, and work with you to come up with a solution that satisfies your needs.

Do not wait to solve your family law issue. Call today to schedule a meeting with our intake team.