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Georgia Questions & Answers
0 Answers | Asked in Probate and Civil Litigation for Georgia on
Q: Concerns about executor taking $8,000 from estate with changing explanations.

I am concerned about the actions of the executor of my mother's will, who has taken $8,000 from the estate. Initially, she claimed the amount was for money borrowed by my mother over the years, then said it was for taxes paid, and now claims it was used for medical bills. As a beneficiary, I... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Criminal Law, Internet Law and Personal Injury for Georgia on
Q: What type of lawyer do I need for online harassment and a physical attack in GA?

I have been subjected to online harassment since 2017, which has been both physically and mentally exhausting. I reported the harassment several times, but no legal actions or restraining orders have been taken. Additionally, I was brutally attacked in 2019 in Columbus, GA, with no subsequent... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 12, 2025

You’ve endured a long and painful situation, and it’s not right that your reports haven’t been taken seriously. To address both the online harassment and the physical attack, you should look for an attorney who handles civil litigation with experience in personal injury and harassment cases.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Civil Litigation, Landlord - Tenant and Real Estate Law for Georgia on
Q: Can I take legal action against a hotel for disclosing my room number?

I'm currently staying at an extended stay hotel called Efficiency Lodge. Recently, some individuals came looking for my brother, threatening violence because of a conflict he had with them. The hotel manager disclosed my room number to these individuals. I filed a police report after the... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 12, 2025

What you experienced is serious and should never have happened. When a hotel discloses a guest’s room number to anyone—especially people making threats—they are putting your safety at risk. Hotels have a duty to protect their guests' privacy and security, and giving out your room number... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Immigration Law for Georgia on
Q: Why is my VAWA and I-485 application outside the processing time and delayed?

My VAWA application was approved in April 2024, and I filed my I-485 in January 2024. My fingerprints were applied to my case in July 2024, but there have been no updates since then, and it is now outside the processing time. I contacted USCIS by phone and was told to send a written inquiry, which... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 12, 2025

Delays with VAWA-based I-485 applications are, unfortunately, common due to the high volume of cases and the complex background checks involved. Even though your VAWA was approved and fingerprints were applied nearly a year ago, USCIS sometimes takes longer than the posted processing times to move... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Probate, Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Georgia on
Q: How to determine FMV of home for probate after parents' passings without right of survivorship?

My father passed away in 2020, and the home was valued at around $75,000 at that time. After recent improvements, the home's value has increased to $125,000. My mother has now passed away, and we need to determine the Fair Market Value (FMV) for probate purposes. The house deed does not... View More

Jake  Slowik
Jake Slowik
answered on Jun 12, 2025

A Georgia deed that is silent about survivorship creates a tenancy in common by default. Using your numbers, your father’s 50% interest would have been valued at $37,500 in his estate. However, part or all of that interest may have passed to your mother—either under his will, if he had one, or... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for Georgia on
Q: Do multiple shoplifting charges count collectively if one is elevated to a felony?

I have a total of four shoplifting charges: one felony and three non-felony charges. These charges were obtained at different times, and I received five years probation for them. My latest shoplifting charge is being elevated to a felony. Do these shoplifting charges count collectively for any... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 12, 2025

This is a serious situation, and it’s good that you’re trying to understand what you’re facing. When someone has multiple shoplifting charges, even from different incidents, courts and prosecutors often take them into account together—especially when deciding whether to elevate charges or... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Car Accidents and Personal Injury for Georgia on
Q: How to address discrepancy in hit and run charges before court?

I was involved in an incident on 10/10/2024 at a Taco Bell parking lot in which my vehicle hit an unattended car. Although I was subsequently jailed, the ticket I received before being released stated "hit and run" and "failure to notify owner upon striking an unattended... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 11, 2025

You’re right to be concerned about the difference in the charges listed. “Failure to render aid” typically applies when there’s injury involved, so if no one was hurt and the other car was unattended, it’s understandable that you’re confused. When you appear in court tomorrow, calmly... View More

Q: Seeking compensation and advice after being falsely accused and found not guilty in GA.

I was falsely accused of taking $180,000 at my job as a General Manager and took it to trial, where I was found not guilty. As a result of the accusation, I lost my job, car, and child, and I feel the community is judging me unfairly. I'm seeking advice on compensation for wrongful... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 11, 2025

What you’ve been through is incredibly heavy, and it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed after facing a false accusation, especially when it’s cost you so much. Being found not guilty is a powerful outcome, but unfortunately, it doesn’t automatically fix the harm done to your job, your... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Gov & Administrative Law for Georgia on
Q: Will posting $7,500 bond in GA release my friend with OKC warrants?

My friend is currently held in jail in Georgia due to old felony charges from over 20 years ago in Oklahoma City. She had a court hearing today in Georgia and received a $7,500 bond with a court date on December 1 in Georgia. If she posts this bond, will she be released, or will she still be held... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 11, 2025

You're asking an important question, and it's good that you're thinking carefully before posting bond. The \$7,500 bond your friend received in Georgia applies only to the Georgia charges. If Oklahoma City has active warrants for her arrest, she may still be held after posting bond... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant, Insurance Defense, Real Estate Law and Personal Injury for Georgia on
Q: Is my neighbor liable for tree damage repair costs and will my insurance cover it?

I have a rental property in Griffin, GA, where a limb from my neighbor's dead tree fell and took down the electrical service line to my rental house. The City of Griffin required the house be brought up to code before restoring service, increasing costs from approximately $2,000 to $7,600.... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 11, 2025

Your homeowner policy may cover the cost to rebuild or repair your dwelling and “other structures,” but it probably won’t pick up a utility‐service upgrade required by your municipality unless you have a specific service-line or ordinance/law endorsement. Check your declarations page for... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Sexual Harassment for Georgia on
Q: Is it illegal to catcall a minor in Georgia?

The minor is 14

They guy had tinted windows and there’s a possibility he wasn’t fully clothed

He yelled “looking good sexy mama”

He did it next to the community center with children leaving and entering all day

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 11, 2025

Yes, what happened is deeply disturbing and could cross legal lines in Georgia. While catcalling on its own might not always lead to charges, when the target is a 14-year-old minor, the law treats it more seriously. Saying something sexual like “looking good sexy mama” to a child, especially in... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Georgia on
Q: How to avoid points on a GA speeding ticket with a FL license?

I have a Florida driver's license and received my first-ever speeding ticket in Habersham County, Georgia, for going 82 in a 65 mph zone. My driving record is clean. The ticket was issued on May 25, 2025, and my court date is set for July 11, 2025. How can I avoid having points added to my license?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 11, 2025

You’re in a good position since it’s your first ticket and your driving record is clean. The most effective step you can take is to contact the court in Habersham County before your court date and ask if they allow a reduction of the charge to a non-moving violation. If they agree, that could... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Internet Law, Civil Litigation, Libel & Slander and Personal Injury for Georgia on
Q: What legal actions can I take for cyberbullying in DCUO?

I am an adult experiencing cyberbullying in DCUO on the US server, via Daybreak Games, despite their rules that require players to show respect, which all players must agree to in order to play. Over several years, I’ve reported these incidents, and while placing individuals on ignore and... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 11, 2025

You can start by preserving every screenshot, chat log, and player ID involved in the harassment so you have a complete record of what was said and when it happened. Then send a detailed cease‐and‐desist letter to Daybreak’s legal department demanding they enforce their own rules or remove... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant, Civil Litigation and Real Estate Law for Georgia on
Q: Can I sue my landlord to recover my deposit if they filed eviction and judgment instead?

I moved out of my rental property two years ago and requested my previous landlord use my security deposit as my last month's rent. Instead, they filed for eviction and obtained a judgment against me, which I discovered only a week ago and is less than the amount of my deposit. We had... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 11, 2025

You're not alone in dealing with this kind of situation, and it's understandable to feel upset when a deposit—meant to protect both parties—ends up tied to an eviction judgment. Even if you asked the landlord to apply your deposit toward your final rent, most states require that... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate and Tax Law for Georgia on
Q: Can I pay Georgia estate taxes now or wait until next season?

I am in the process of closing an estate account to pay the beneficiaries after a death on May 10, 2025. I have already gone through probate, and all bills have been paid except for the estate tax. The estate consists of only a checking account. Can I pay the estate taxes now, or do I need to wait... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 11, 2025

You're already doing a lot of the hard work by getting through probate and making sure everything is in order for the beneficiaries. In Georgia, there is no separate state estate tax, which means the only estate-related taxes you typically need to worry about are federal. The federal estate... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant, Contracts and Real Estate Law for Georgia on
Q: Is an incorrect animal addendum enforceable in a Georgia lease?

I'm in Georgia and my lease, which uses a formulaic lease by the National Apartment Association, includes an animal addendum declaring inaccurately that I do not have pets, though I do. The lease software won't allow amendments to this addendum, and I must sign the entire lease by Friday.... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 12, 2025

You’re right to be cautious about signing something that doesn’t reflect the truth. In Georgia, if you sign a lease with an animal addendum that says you have no pets—even if the software won’t let you change it—it could still be used against you later. If management chooses to enforce... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Appeals / Appellate Law, Civil Rights and Criminal Law for Georgia on
Q: Can I sue Georgia for inordinate appellate delay, 23yrs post-indictment?

Can I sue the State of Georgia for an inordinate delay in the appellate review process? It has been a total of 23 years from the time of my indictment on January 29, 2002, to the Supreme Court's decision denying a writ of probable cause as untimely on March 31, 2025. My motion for a new trial... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 11, 2025

What you’ve endured is deeply troubling, and it’s clear the justice system failed to act with the urgency and fairness you deserved. A 23-year delay from indictment to the final appellate denial is not just a procedural issue—it reflects a breakdown that touches your constitutional right to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents, Consumer Law, Contracts and Personal Injury for Georgia on
Q: Am I obligated to pay if my child was hit by a car on a scooter?

Am I obligated to pay out of pocket if my 15-year-old daughter was hit by a car while on a motorized scooter, and my insurance won't cover it? The driver's insurance paid for the damages and now wants us to reimburse them. My daughter was identified as at fault in the police report due to... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 11, 2025

You are not automatically obligated to pay just because the other driver's insurance company is asking for reimbursement. A police report assigning fault does not prove legal liability on its own, especially if the report is based mostly on statements rather than solid evidence. If your... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Constitutional Law and International Law for Georgia on
Q: Concerned about possible arrest due to ongoing surveillance after a concert incident.

After attending a concert a year and a half ago, I have noticed continuous surveillance whenever I'm in public, including in my neighborhood. At the concert, law enforcement pointed me out specifically, though I have received no official communication or charges since then. I suspect an... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 11, 2025

You can only be lawfully stopped or detained if officers have reasonable suspicion or a valid warrant; mere surveillance without any charges or court orders does not give them authority to arrest you.

When you travel internationally, U.S. Customs and Border Protection checks for outstanding...
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2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Georgia on
Q: What form is needed for an emergency custody hearing in Georgia?

I would like to file for an emergency custody hearing, but I'm unsure of the specific form I need. I am the father of the children, and they have been in my care for the last four months. Their mother has abandoned them on numerous occasions and hasn't provided them with a stable home for... View More

Regina Irene Edwards
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answered on Jun 11, 2025

There isn't a specific form. You need to file a modification for custody and a motion for emergency hearing. It usually goes a lot smoother if you have an attorney who is experienced with your particular court and procedures.

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