Jeanette Soltys Attorney, Partner

(678) 203-9893
(770) 854-1008

Jeanette Soltys always knew she wanted to help children and families. Prior to attending law school, this passion drove her to want to be a high school teacher. However, upon deciding that teaching was not for her, she realized she could help families by practicing family law.

After Jeanette graduated from the University of Georgia and then Wake Forest University School of Law, she held a position representing the Georgia Department of Family and Children’s Services in abuse and neglect cases. This gave her extensive courtroom experience that enables her to litigate the most complex child custody cases. She has worked for over a decade focusing on divorce and custody cases, handling hundreds of family law matters throughout metro-Atlanta.

Her achievements in advocacy began in law school, when she exposed that the Atlanta Municipal Court was restricting public access to weekend hearings. Her work was highlighted in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and her efforts caused the Atlanta Municipal Court to reevaluate its practice of barring the public from the courtroom on weekends. Additionally, she earned two CALI Awards for Academic Excellence, received a 10 out of 10 rating on AVVO, and was named to ‘Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Stars’ for 2018 and 2019.

In addition, Jeanette belongs to various professional organizations. She is a member of the Cobb County Bar Association, the State Bar of Georgia and the American Bar Association. She has spoken at continuing legal education courses for the ABA and the National Business Institute. She is a regular presenter at the Cobb County Pro Se Family Law Workshop and has given various scholarly lectures and writings related to the practice of family law.

What Does Family Mean to Me?

As an adoptive parent, blood relations do not define family. My situation is unique in that my son is adopted and has two biological siblings who were adopted by two different families. We consider those families our extended family..

Family are the people with whom we choose to spend our time making memories, who we will support unconditionally through thick and thin. This may include step-parents, step-siblings, old friends, in addition to those related by blood.

I am divorced and remarried, so my immediate family is myself and my husband, my son, Logan, who is eight years old, and two step-daughters, who are nine and seven. My parents are nearby, so I have my parents and my aunts, uncles, cousins that I also consider my family. These people are always there for me.

It is also interesting having step-children. The blended family dynamic is not often discussed and I never knew about the challenges of a blended family until I found myself in that situation. It has been challenging but also rewarding.

My Favorite HAPPILY EVER AFTER DIVORCE ® Story

When my son was three, my ex-husband and I separated and began the divorce process. Our marriage had been unhappy for years and we tried a significant amount of marriage therapy, but in the end we had differences that were insurmountable. However, the one issue where we always saw eye to eye was putting the best interests of our son first. We knew this meant putting our differences aside to parent as a team even after the divorce.

The divorce process is never pleasant, and there were of course some difficult times during the divorce and the transition to shared custody of our son. However, we knew that his happiness depended on us insulating him from the conflict between the two of us. We both learned to put on a happy face for the sake of our son, and eventually the faked happiness turned into genuine happiness as we both moved on with creating a new and happier life for ourselves.

My ex-husband and I are now both remarried, and our son loves his new step-parents and step-sisters We are both actively involved parents and give each other flexibility so that we can do everything possible to foster a positive relationship between our son and his other parent. Our son is extremely well adjusted and happy because of this, and I enjoy a full life with a career I love, travel, a new family, and pursuit of hobbies without the stress and sadness of an unhappy relationship. Divorce can be a blessing for all involved!

What I Do When I Am Not Working

I love to travel. My last big trip was to Machu Picchu in Peru, and my husband and I are getting certified to scuba dive for an upcoming trip to Bonaire. A few months later we head to Paris and Bordeaux. We also like to camp and hike and do that frequently. I grew up camping and have been camping all over the country with my parentsOur last camping trip was in the North Georgia Mountains. We had no cell phone coverage and were completely off the grid. It was a great family trip because we spent our time playing with the children in a stream, visiting a farm with animals, playing board games, and interacting as a family. We enjoyed good old fashioned family time, making s’mores and trout fishing.

Camping helps me realize the importance of slowing down, unplugging, and connecting with nature and family. As a family law attorney, camping helps shape my belief of the importance of family and relationships. I realize that having close bonds does not have to be complicated or expensive. Simple, inexpensive experiences help a family be cohesive. I bring that knowledge into my practice when talking to parents about what life looks like after a divorce. Typically, a client’s standard of living changes after divorce because one household is split into two. Because I am divorced and because of my background and beliefs about what is really important, I can help my clients understand that while they may have less money after divorce, they can have a higher quality of life.