Law Office of George W. Weaver

PRACTICE · FAMILY & DOMESTIC · CHEROKEE COUNTY

Family & Domestic in Cherokee County, Georgia.

Family & Domestic representation in Cherokee County, Georgia — handled out of our Jasper office in the Appalachian Judicial Circuit.

Call (706) 692-3527Free, confidential consultation

The problem

When a family case starts, the clock starts with it.

Temporary hearings happen fast. Whatever the court orders at the temporary hearing tends to set the gravity of the case for months. Custody, possession of the home, child support, who pays the mortgage — all decided quickly, often before the parties have even completed discovery.

Get the temporary order wrong and you spend the rest of the case trying to undo it. Get it right and the case settles on terms you can live with.

What's at risk

What's at risk:

Custody and parenting time

Primary physical custody, legal custody, and the parenting plan that governs every weekend.

Child support

Calculated under the Georgia Child Support Worksheet — dependent on accurate income and credits.

Equitable division

Marital home, retirement accounts, business interests, and debt all divided.

Alimony

Type, duration, and amount — once decreed, very difficult to modify.

Protective orders

Family-violence TPOs and 12-month protective orders affect housing, custody, and firearm rights.

Our process

A standard approach to your matter.

  1. 01

    Listen

    A confidential meeting to take your facts, your goals, and your non-negotiables before any pleading is filed.

  2. 02

    Plan

    A written case plan — temporary hearing strategy, discovery scope, expected motions, and a settlement range you can defend.

  3. 03

    Position

    Pleadings, financial affidavits, parenting plans, and discovery prepared to support either settlement or trial.

  4. 04

    Resolve

    Mediation when it serves you, trial when it does not. Either way you know what is happening at every step.

Services

What we handle in family & domestic.

  • Contested and uncontested divorce
  • Child custody and parenting plans
  • Child support and modification
  • Alimony and equitable division of property
  • Legitimation and paternity
  • Contempt and enforcement actions
  • Family violence protective orders (TPOs)
  • Post-decree modification and relocation
  • Mediation and alternative dispute resolution

Why us

Family cases need a steady hand.

Family law is personal, and the stakes — your children, your home, your finances — do not allow for guesswork. We listen first, explain the law plainly, and lay out a realistic strategy before any pleading is filed.

Every matter at this firm gets the trial-readiness posture set by our founder, George W. Weaver Sr. — first District Attorney of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit, sworn in 1983.

We do not push clients toward pleas to manage caseload. We tell you exactly where you stand, what the State or opposing counsel can prove, and what the realistic outcomes are — and we prepare for trial when trial is the right answer.

FAQ

Common questions about family & domestic.

How long does an uncontested divorce take in Georgia?

A Georgia uncontested divorce can be finalized as quickly as 31 days after the defendant is served (the statutory minimum waiting period under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3). With minor children involved, courts typically take longer to review the parenting plan and child-support worksheet. We commonly close uncontested cases in 45–75 days.

How is custody decided in Georgia?

Under O.C.G.A. § 19-9-3, the court decides custody based on the best interest of the child. Courts consider home environment, parental fitness, the child's relationship with each parent, the child's preference (age 14+ has near-controlling weight on physical custody under § 19-9-3(a)(5)), and many other factors. There is no automatic presumption favoring either parent.

Can I get a Temporary Protective Order in Georgia?

Yes — a Temporary Protective Order (TPO) under O.C.G.A. § 19-13-3 is available where there has been an act of family violence between qualifying family members. An ex parte TPO can issue immediately; a 12-month order requires an evidentiary hearing within 30 days. TPOs affect housing, custody, and firearm rights, and should be defended or pursued with counsel.

How is child support calculated in Georgia?

Georgia uses the Income Shares model under O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15. Both parents' gross incomes are entered on the Child Support Worksheet, and the basic obligation is divided pro-rata. Adjustments include health insurance, work-related child care, parenting time, low-income deviations, and others. The Worksheet is mandatory in every order.

Can I modify custody or child support after the divorce?

Yes, but only on a showing of a material change in circumstances under O.C.G.A. § 19-9-3 (custody) or § 19-6-15 (support). Common grounds include relocation, job loss, remarriage, or a substantial change in the child's needs. Modification is a separate action filed in the original county.

What is legitimation and do I need it as a father?

Legitimation under O.C.G.A. § 19-7-22 is the legal action that establishes a biological father as the legal father of a child born outside marriage. Without legitimation, a biological father has no custody or visitation rights, regardless of being on the birth certificate. Legitimation must be filed before custody can be sought.

Next step

You deserve a clear plan and a lawyer who will see it through.

Step 1 of 2

Urgency

Matter type