Archive for July, 2015

We often have couples who come in to consult with us about prenuptial agreements. Although it doesn’t seem like a very romantic thing to do before a couple decides to marry, we think it saves time, money and heartache on down the road if the marriage doesn’t work out. It’s not a sign that the marriage isn’t going to be strong, it’s a sign that the couple are thinking ahead and trying to resolve potential conflict before conflict ever happens. After all, about half of all marriages end in divorce.

A simple prenuptial agreement is a document that a couple can use to establish property and financial rights of each spouse in the event of a divorce. This can be particularly important when one or both parties have accumulated property or money on their own and would like to keep the things that they have earned or inherited in the event of a divorce down the road.

In some case, couples also agree to certain penalties if one of them is unfaithful in the marriage. Because infidelity can lead to divorce, this type of clause in a prenuptial agreement is not uncommon. Actress Sandra Bullock had a prenuptial agreement with her fiancé, Jessie James, which stated that if James cheated on her, he would no longer be entitled to any of her assets. The couple divorced in 2010 after James admitted to an affair with tattoo model Michelle “Bombshell” McGee.

In Georgia, prenuptial agreements are valid and upheld by the courts. They serve as a protective barrier from one person taking from the other what they did not have a hand in helping to produce, thus minimizing legal expenses during a divorce.

When you are getting ready to plan your future with that person you want to grow old with, think about the wonderful life you will have ahead of you as well as any potential pitfalls. Then, consider making an appointment to speak with one of our attorneys to discuss how you can show your love for each other by protecting each other’s assets.

Our law firm has specialized in family law, business law, divorce, adoption, and LGBT legal protections by some of the most skilled Atlanta attorneys. In our quest to offer more services to our clients, we are happy to announce a new of-counsel attorney, Stephen Scriber. Stephen specializes in Estate Planning (wills, trusts, tax planning) as well as Probate Litigation.

We sat down with Stephen and had a “Getting to Know You” session so we could help acquaint you with him and his work.

Stephen, where are you from?

I grew up in a military family (Army) and moved around a lot. I was born in Texas and eventually moved to Maryland, Virginia, Texas (a second time), and Alaska before my dad retired. I went to high school in Cobb County and consider the Atlanta-area to be my home.

Tell us a bit about your family/friends.

I am married. My husband’s name is Lance. We live in Atlanta (Edgewood/Candler Park area) with two dogs and three cats. My parents live near Greenville, SC with their dog. I also have an older brother who lives in Oklahoma City. He’s a Linux Administrator for a for a DoD-affiliated web hosting company.

What are your hobbies and interests?

Running, brewing beer, marathon Netflix watching (particularly House of Cards, it is amazing!), building and upgrading computers and playing with the newest gadgets.

What is your education?

I graduated from Campbell High School in 2002, Amherst College in 2006 with a BA in Political Science and History, then from University of Mississippi in 2008 with a Master of Arts, Curriculum and Instruction. Finally, I graduated from Duke University School of Law in 2011, Juris Doctor.

What type of work have you done in the past?

Before law school, I was a high school teacher in Jackson, Mississippi and Byhalia, Mississippi as a member of the Mississippi Teacher Corps. It was an amazing, stressful experience that really makes me appreciate all teachers and the fantastic work they do on a daily basis.

What clubs or organizations do you belong to?

I’m a board member and the Treasurer of the Stonewall Bar Association of Georgia, I serve on the Lambda Legal Atlanta Steering Committee, and am a member of the Metro Atlanta Association of Professionals and the Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

What is your legal specialty?

In broad terms, I specialize in estate planning and estate litigation. More specifically, anything related to Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning, Probate, Administration, Year’s Support, Will Contests, Trust and Estate litigation, and Asset Protection.

What are you looking most forward to in working at KNC?

I look forward to collaborating and working with an excellent team of attorneys. I am continuously impressed by their hard work, dedication, and commitment to the community. They are some fantastic Atlanta attorneys.

If you would like to know more about Stephen, you can visit his website here: http://scriberlaw.com.

We got a call from a client asking for a gay divorce in Atlanta. Then another call came in. Then one came in from a client who had 2 other Atlanta area law firms hang up on them when they asked about getting a gay divorce. We knew this would be coming because gay marriage has been legal in many other states for some time now.

Our Atlanta law firm has begun processing a number of gay divorces since the Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality last month. Calls came from gay and lesbian couples who had traveled to other states (and sometimes countries) to get legally married where it was legal. As sometimes happens in marriage, people find out that they were not compatible after all and want to divorce. These particular couples were stuck in “marriage purgatory” where they were legally married but not able to obtain a legal divorce in Georgia until the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowed it.

Over the past week, we have initiated divorces for several Atlanta area gay and lesbian couples. We remain focused on our clients during what can be a very emotional and stressful time. Our job as their lawyers is to protect their rights and guide them through the process in a confident and knowledgeable way. Whether it is a gay divorce or a straight one, the attorneys at Kitchens New Cleghorn are ready to represent you.