William M. Ordway
Family Law and Overview of Practice Areas
William Ordway practices exclusively in the area of divorce and family law, focusing on the following types of cases:
Family Law
The term family law applies to legal matters that relate to family relationships, rights, duties and finances. In addition to relationships between members within a family, family law rules also apply to the relationship between a family and society. Family law reflects the values society shares regarding how people who are related treat each other. By definition, a family law attorney aids the creation or termination of family relationships. Because family law is the only area of law in which we practice, we can offer advice and assistance on many of the intricacies involved. Since you are dealing with a life-altering situation such as divorce, we want to assist in your understanding and resolve the matter to your satisfaction.
Divorce
Divorce, by definition, is the legal dissolution of a marriage. Rarely, though, are divorces as simple as people would like them to be. Most divorces involve the division of property between spouses and/or the arrangement of child custody and support. There are many other matters that can be affected by divorce including family businesses, social security, retirement benefits and health insurance. In addition to material issues, the emotional aspect of a divorce may well have its own timetable. Ideally, a divorce settlement will be reached without the intervention of the court. If, however, agreements cannot be reached, we offer aggressive legal representation to ensure that your personal needs are addressed. As divorce issues can be very complex, we can help you use a rational perspective to approach the process.
Child Support
Child support is a payment by a non-custodial parent to the custodial parent to contribute to the cost of raising children. Recent research has indicated that more than 13 million divorced parents have sole custody of a child in the United States. Luckily for those 13 million, there are strict laws in each state that dictate the collection and enforcement of child support. Because these laws vary from state to state, it is crucial that you meet with an experienced family law attorney to discuss your child support issues. 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.
Paternity & Legitimation
Paternity and legitimation are important not only for establishing a healthy relationship between a child and its 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.
Post-Divorce/Modifications
The Georgia Child Support Guidelines are used in determining if a modification is appropriate, and if so, how much the amount can be changed. However, a judge can deviate from the child support guidelines if necessary. Ultimately, the decision lies in the hands of the judge, who can accept or deny modifications.
Premarital Agreements
A prenuptial agreement is a contract entered into by two people prior to marriage. The purpose of this agreement is to establish the division of property or spousal support arrangements should the couple divorce. If you and your significant other are considering a prenuptial agreement, we encourage you to meet with us to discuss your rights and wishes.
Child Custody
After a divorce, who maintains custody of the children is one of the most difficult decisions a couple can agree upon. First, the couple must learn what custody and visitation options are available in addition to the details and implications of each. Physical custody is the set of parental responsibilities regarding day-to-day care in addition to the rights to direct the child’s daily activities, while legal custody is the set of rights and responsibilities regarding the child’s upbringing. As a family law attorney firm, we routinely work with child psychologists, parenting coordinators, guardians ad litem and other mental health professions to develop parenting plans which are in the best interests of the children. Ideally, an agreement can be made without the need of a court order.
