When you are facing a legal issue, you may feel as though you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. Whether you are dealing with a family or a criminal matter, we understand that your legal concerns are important and can affect you many years into the future. However, once you come into our office, your problem becomes our priority. We are The Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Williams, LLC. We are an Atlanta Attorney law firm representing individuals and families in the North Metro-Atlanta area. This includes Alpharetta, Cumming, Roswell, and Marietta.
We believe that legal clients deserve the same care and compassion as patients receive from their doctors or as pastors give their ministries. We are a resource for your family in your time of need.
Family Law
At The Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Williams, LLC, we seek to provide personalized representation for each and every client who comes to our offices for assistance. In choosing a family attorney, it is important to find a person that offers unconditional support and compassion. If you, a family member or friend are faced with a legal issue, our goal as your attorney is to help you resolve the problem and keep your relationships, finances, and emotions as intact as possible.
Representing Families in the North Metro-Atlanta Area
The following links provide information about specific kinds of family law cases:
Divorce: Getting a divorce in Georgia is rarely as simple as filing a divorce petition. Untangling the legal and financial union of two people can be complicated, time consuming, and stressful, especially for families with military ties. Regardless of your initial thoughts, most divorces are rarely uncontested and simple.
Temporary and permanent spousal support: Spousal support, or alimony, is payment that one person in a marriage must pay to the other when the couple separates or divorces. The purpose of alimony is to avoid any unfair economic consequences of a divorce, even after property is divided.
Child custody and visitation: If you have children, the most important issue in your divorce will be making choices that are best for them. In fact, Georgia courts base their decisions on what is in the best interest of the children.
Child support: Child support is a payment by a non-custodial parent to the custodial parent to contribute to the cost of raising children. Whether you are seeking child support for your child, or are required by law to pay child support, we will fight to secure a final disposition that is sufficient and fair.
Order modifications: Court orders reflect a family’s circumstances at the time a divorce is finalized. Since, over time, situations and needs change, child support, custody or other court orders may need to be modified to reflect your current situation.
Paternity cases: Paternity and legitimation are important not only for establishing a healthy relationship between a child and his/her parent, but also in determining responsibility for the upbringing and support of the child. We will work with you to obtain all of the required tests to ensure that your child receives the support he or she deserves. Many potential clients do not understand the differences in paternity and legitimation. Allow me to explain why legitimation is important. Failing to legitimate a child can have devastating implications.
Family violence: When a domestic conflict results in a call to the police, what was once a private or family matter is now an issue of the state versus the accused. We will take immediate steps to protect your reputation and your rights.
Restraining or Protection orders: Restraining or protection orders, commonly called TPOs, fill a need for people who feel threatened by an abusive spouse or other persons with which they have had a relationship. Unfortunately, these orders can be abused and cause serious consequences for innocent people. Our firm can assist in obtaining or defeating such actions.
Prenuptial agreements: In Georgia, prenuptial, or pre-marriage, agreements are a great idea for couples who wish to enter marriage with an explicit understanding of their property rights. Properly prepared, such agreements can allow couples to avoid taking or assuming unnecessary risks in their new relationships. Full and fair disclosure is necessary in entering the agreements. Improperly prepared agreements are against public policy and can be voided by Superior Court Judges.
Adoption: We represent step-parents, relatives and others who wish to adopt children in their care. Adoption is the legal act of permanently placing a child with a parent or parents other than the birth parents, and terminating the legal rights of the birth parents. Whether you are an adoptive parent or a birth parent, we will put the interests of your children first and foremost.
Mediation: In Georgia, many family disputes must go through mediation before they go to court. As your attorney, we will protect your interests at every step of the process.
Criminal Defense
If you have been charged with a criminal offense, no matter the type, it is our responsibility to stand between you and the State. We are not here to judge you, but to defend you. Specific criminal defense cases include the following:
DUI defense: Following an arrest for DUI, you must act quickly to protect your ability to drive. In Georgia, you have only 10 business days to challenge the suspension of your driver’s license by the Division of Driver Services (DDS). Failing to request a hearing may cause your driver’s license to be suspended for one year.
Drug offenses: A skilled defense lawyer knows how to protect your rights by holding the prosecution to its burden-of-proof requirement and providing aggressive advocacy in the courtroom.
Sex offenses: If you have been accused of any sexual misconduct, you will need knowledgeable legal advice to protect yourself from consequences such as sex offender registration.
Family violence: When a domestic conflict triggers a call to the police, what was once a private or family matter is now public.
Probation violations: There is no bond for violating probation. For your protection, in Violation of Probation (VOP) cases, you should speak with an experienced probation violations attorney.
Juvenile law: Juvenile law is less about punishment than it is about providing services to the youthful offender after a criminal arrest. We take our responsibility very seriously to help put young offenders back on the right track.
Business Employment Law
The Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Williams has a wealth of business experience across a broad range of industries. Whether the issue regards construction, engineering, or finance, The Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Williams is a reliable source for issues pertaining to Business and Employment Law. Contact our Firm to discuss any of the following matters of Business Law:
Business startups
Entity selection
Sole proprietorships
Limited partnerships
C corporations
S corporations
Business organization
Shareholder agreements
Business charters
Annual meetings
Registration with the secretary of state
Mergers and acquisitions
Business dissolutions
Licensing
Franchising
Commercial leases
Commercial property mortgages
Contract negotiations
Employment issues
Business disputes
Alternative dispute resolution
Arbitration
Mediation
Business litigation
We will help you organize your business, negotiate leases and contracts, and protect you from personal liability. If you have been unfairly terminated, we can also advise you of your rights.
Personal Injury
A serious personal injury can have a devastating effect on your health and your finances. As your lawyer, we will deal with the legal and financial issues so you can concentrate on getting your life and health back.
The Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Williams understands that no amount of money can put a seriously injured person back to where he or she was before the accident. However, financial resources can help you build a new life after an accident and compensate you for your pain and suffering.
Personal Injury Cases in Georgia
The most common personal injury cases involve one, or more, of the following:
Car accidents: After an auto or truck accident, care and treatment of the injured is the first priority. The second priority is to secure a personal injury attorney that will advocate for your rights and hold those that cause serious accidents accountable for their actions.
Bus accidents / Semi / Other professional vehicle accidents: Again, your first priority following an accident involving a professional vehicle is to seek medical treatment for your injuries. While the legal process is similar to that of auto or truck accidents, After an auto or truck accident, treatment for your injuries is your first priority. A close second priority is the need for experienced, efficient legal representation to hold accountable those that cause serious accidents.
Premises liability: Many people assume that the insurance company of the property owner will pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses after a slip-and-fall injury. However, unless you can prove liability, the insurance company is not likely to pay you anything. The Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Williams can guide you through premise liability issues of all types while protecting your rights and your interests.
Wrongful death: To make a wrongful death claim, it is necessary to show that the fatal accident was the result of someone’s negligence and that the surviving family members have suffered economic losses. During this emotionally difficult time, it is critical to secure the assistance of qualified counsel.
Wills, Trusts, and Estates
Estate Planning
Estate Planning is a broad description that includes instructions for your medical care, names your appointed agents to represent you in business activities, and defines your financial desires before and after your passing.
Wills
The most common Estate Planning document is a Will, though it is but one of three documents usually included in Estate Planning.
• Georgia Last Will and Testament: Upon your passing, your Will dictates your wishes regarding how your property is to be distributed among your family and friends.
• Georgia Durable Power of Attorney: In the event you become physically or mentally unable to complete day-to-day financial transactions, or make business decisions for yourself, you can select the person you wish to continue these activities on your behalf. The Georgia Durable Power of Attorney is the instrument that names this person you’ve selected and allows this person to act in your stead to pay bills, run your business, buy or sell property, and act in any manner that you would, if you were able.
• Georgia Advance Directive for Healthcare: It is advised that everyone being admitted into the hospital prepare a Georgia Advance Directive for Healthcare. Attorney Jeffrey S. Williams will be happy to meet you or your loved one at a local hospital to assist you in securing this directive.
In the state of Georgia, the Advance Directive for Healthcare combines the intent of the Living Will and the Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare. Like the Living Will, this document allows for withholding or withdrawing treatment and authorizes a person’s physician to withhold or remove certain medical procedures, such as a ventilator, respirator, or feeding tube. The Georgia Advance Directive for Healthcare also allows one to appoint a spokesperson, or agent, to make medical decisions on behalf of the patient if the patient is unable to do so, as did the former Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare.
Trusts
There are two basic types of trusts, Living and Testamentary. Within the category of Living Trusts, there are Revocable and Irrevocable.
• Living trusts are established during the person’s lifetime
o Revocable living trusts allow you to remain in control of the assets in the trust, plus you can make changes to the trust at any time.
o Irrevocable trusts define the case in which you are not in control of the assets in the trust. Since the assets are no longer yours, you typically can’t initiate a change without the beneficiary’s consent. However, the appreciated assets in the trust are not subject to estate taxes.
• Testamentary trusts are set up in a will and established only after the person’s death