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Questions Answered by Alake Colwell Furlow
2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody, Criminal Law, Federal Crimes and Family Law for Georgia on
Q: Can I get full custody of my 3 year old daughter if the mother is taking, selling and manufacturing drugs?

She also has untreated mental health issues because of drug use bipolar disorder and ptsd.

Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Mar 13, 2024

You will need to file for sole legal and physical custody in court and to assert your rights as the legal father and not just the biological father. The mother will need to be properly served so that she has notice and opportunity to be heard and the case can move forward.

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2 Answers | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for Georgia on
Q: I already have a child support order in place. How would I go about filing an uncontested divorce?

I have an existing child support case, and we agree on everything, and do not have any assets to split

Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Mar 13, 2024

I'm not sure what your existing child support case has to do with your divorce unless you are wanting credit for the current order with regard to a new order that may come out of your divorce. If a divorce is truly uncontested then you would have all the proper paperwork signed and it would... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law, Civil Rights, Constitutional Law and Juvenile Law for Georgia on
Q: how do i go about filing an answer of a petion against me if no one informed me to respond in writing not even my caa
Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Mar 2, 2024

When you were served, you should have been served with Summons that gave you instructions on how to respond. If you are unaware of how to respond, you should contact the court. It would also be beneficial for you to hire an attorney to represent you if you are unsure how to file an Answer and... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Georgia on
Q: My sons father got temp custody about 4/5mths ago. I am wanting to file the petition to reverse his temp custody.

Can I file on my own or do I need a lawyer? He has a lawyer.

Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Mar 2, 2024

If the opposing party has an attorney and you have already lost custody, even on a temporary basis, I would highly suggest you hire an attorney to represent you. Due to the fact that the court has already granted a change of custody, you run the risk of losing custody on a permanent basis if you... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Georgia on
Q: I was supposed to get my daughter for designated visitation, but her mother won't tell me where she is. What can I do?
Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Mar 2, 2024

If you have a court order giving you visitation then the mother is in contempt for not producing the child. If there is no court order and this was visitation verbally agreed too by the parties, she does not have to produce the child. And if that is the case, the only way to get a court order... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Georgia on
Q: I have a TPO order, one child is listed but is not legitimized. Does the person who the TPO is against get visitation?

The judge gave visitation but there is only a custody schedule in place for the older two children. The last child is not legitimized. The person the TPO is against has filed for legitimation but until then I have sole custody.

Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Feb 19, 2024

In the legitimation action if the father asks for visitation, the court may award him visitation, regardless of the TPO. You will have to present your case regarding what custody & visitation you think the court should award. I would hire an attorney if you are the defendant in a legitimation... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Georgia on
Q: Can a child granddad full rights to my kid causes they have Temporary guardianship
Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Feb 19, 2024

If I understand your question correctly, a grandparent can file in court to assert their rights and ask for custody. If they are the guardian and they have had the child or children for a period of time, the Court could take awarding them permanent custody seriously. But you will have your chance... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Business Law and Family Law for Georgia on
Q: If a LLC is created during a marriage, is that LLC considered a marital asset and value divided 50/50 between parties?
Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Feb 19, 2024

You should speak to an attorney regarding assets that are considered marital or separate property. A spouse starting a business during a marriage doesn't automatically entitle the other spouse to half ownership of the business. Income earned by both spouses is considered marital property.... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for Georgia on
Q: For an uncontested divorce without children who is the one that actually files? I've been told he has to file. Why?

We live in separate counties. I asked the Superior Clerk about filing fees and he inquired about the counties we live in. When I told him my husband was in another county, I was informed he'd have to be the one to file as the Plaintiff. This does not matter to us who is listed as who. We just... View More

Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Feb 19, 2024

It would probably be helpful if you hired an attorney, because the employees at the clerk's office are not suppose to give you legal advice. If it is a truly uncontested divorce where both spouses are going to sign the papers, you can file in your county. That is because your spouse is not... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Support for Georgia on
Q: what can i do about child support making mistakes that cost me my license and 40,000 in debt I'm not responsible but for

i was incarcerated in another county when my court date came up for determining the amount i would pay but none came and took me to court and they just put some number down that was incredibly higher than made or ever made and then wouldn't even look at it for another almost 3 yrs ...

Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Feb 6, 2024

For the last 3 years the court expected you to pay the child support ordered. Two years after the order you could have filed for a modification. But a court is likely going to enforce the arrears balance for support that has accrued and not been paid. You can hire an attorney to try and... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Child Support for Georgia on
Q: Hello - I have a letter enforcing an Income withholding order. I haven’t been late once and there’s a live court order.

I received a notification that the Georgia Department of Human Services notified my employer to begin enforcing an Income Withholding Order. Our court order states “both parties agree an IWO isn’t necessary at this time”… is this legal to enforce? I’m not late and pay each month on time.... View More

Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Feb 6, 2024

Child support enforcement is now involved in collecting your child support for whatever reason. You can contact the Division of Child Support Services and inquire as to why an Income Deduction Order was signed. But if a judge signed the Order, your employer is likely to enforce it and begin the... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Georgia on
Q: How do I get custody of my 14 year old son. We don't have a custody agreement at this time. We have never been married

He wants to come live with me

Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Feb 6, 2024

You would need to file an action to legitimize. In that action you would asking the court to award you primary physical custody and you may consider joint legal custody with the mother. An election can be filed showing the court where the child is asking to live as well. I would speak directly... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Georgia on
Q: Attorneys' May you help me. Case Law in State of Georgia that will help me in court & No Show Of the Defendant/mother

Attorneys' May you help me/ FAMILY LAW MATTER! Case Law in State of Georgia that will help me in court & No Show Of the Defendant/mother Dec 21st 2023 the Defendant/mother was a no show so I ask the judge to grant me full primary custody of my then 5yo daughter ( Her Birthday Jan. 29th,... View More

Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Jan 26, 2024

First, if the Defendant was not properly served according to GA law, they did not have proper notice & opportunity to be heard. Therefore, the Court would not consider the Defendant to have failed to appear if they were not properly served. Statutory Electronic Service is only proper service... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for Georgia on
Q: I am going through a divorce. Do I have to go back to my maiden name or can I chose a new last name once it’s final?
Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Jan 26, 2024

You can keep your current name or have your maiden name restored. You will need to inform the Court which option you are choosing and I would advise you to hire an attorney to represent you in this divorce. If you want a name other than your maiden name, the Court is not going to change your name... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Child Custody, Criminal Law and Family Law for Georgia on
Q: Can a GAL, testify in court if he have not completed his investigation or even spoken with the child repenting?

The GAL, was appointed at a contempt hearing. The contempt was not charged, an agreement was made with both parties. Two weeks later the child came forward with allegations of being molested by her father, therefore the mother stopped abiding the new agreement. After 2 months or more with the fact... View More

Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Jan 26, 2024

The parties are allowed to cross examine the GAL and ask any questions they think are relevant to said testimony or the case. If you felt like steps were not taken that the GAL should have taken, that was your opportunity to ask those questions and have the Court hear those answers. But yes, the... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for Georgia on
Q: I was in Ohio, my wife asked me for divorce. I moved to my home in Georgia. Do I divorce in Ohio or divorce in georgia

Can I go back to Ohio or do I have to wait the six months and do it in Georgia?

Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Jan 23, 2024

Where you file will depend on where you are a resident and what type of divorce you are filing. Regardless of where you are a resident, if your divorce is contested, you should file where the defendant lives. If your divorce is uncontested, then you can file where you live and make sure... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for Georgia on
Q: I inherited a home and then got married. If I refinanced it in my is it considered marital property now?

The house is in mine and my dad's name and mine and my dad's name is on the refinance. Husband nowhere on it.

Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Jan 16, 2024

If you ever get divorced, and your spouse asks for some equity out of the home, the Court will determine if he is owed anything and if so, what he is owed. And they may consider any money he has put into the home, any money he has paid on the home, whether joint funds contributed to the remodel or... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Georgia on
Q: My daughters mother is deploying and wants to leave her with her other child’s father
Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Jan 16, 2024

If you haven't established legally that you are the child's father, you will have to do so in order to obtain visitation, so the child can be left with you. If you have not established your rights, the mother can leave the child with whomever she chooses. Taking the mother to court is... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Georgia on
Q: Can I get custody of my nephew if im not blood related to him? Do I need to add my husband to the case since he is blood

We took care of my nephew for the last 2 and half years even though we were not his legal guardian while his legal guardian was homeless. She took him back because she got mad at me. Her household is violent and unstable and we want our nephew back.

Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Jan 8, 2024

The party who is blood related may have a better chance of obtaining custody. However, of course you can petition the court for custody yourself. You will have to prove being the child's guardian is what is in the child's best interests, and you may have some opposition from the current... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Divorce, Family Law and Child Custody for Georgia on
Q: My wife won the lottery, has been seeing about her guy behind my back and is now taking kids out country what do I do ?

She kept the winning concealed from me and ran off with this guy she’s our me through hell the last several years causing me to lose everything and now has her friends gang stalking me on line

Alake Colwell Furlow
Alake Colwell Furlow
answered on Jan 8, 2024

You can hire an attorney and file for divorce. In that petition you will tell the court what relief you are seeking with regard to custody, visitation, child support, and the distribution of assets and debts. In the case you can determine what is marital property and what is separate property, to... View More

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