Today's blog entry authored by Tori White of the White Law Office.

Can gay couples be married in Georgia?
No, a constitutional amendment was enacted that prohibits gay marriage in Georgia.

I already have a house and property and I want to protect it. Will a Prenuptial Agreement help?
Yes. If you own property before the marriage and you want to protect that property in the event of divorce, a well drafted and enforceable Prenuptial Agreement can make it easier for you to keep that property in the event of a divorce.

Do I need my own lawyer if my fiancé's attorney prepared a Prenuptial Agreement?

What is marriage?

Adult name changes are fairly simple, but must go through the court system.

• An adult wishing to change his or her name must file a petition stating the desired new name and reason for the change.
• A legal notice is published once a week for four weeks in the legal newspaper of your county. This notice gives anyone else (such as creditors) the opportunity to file an objection.

Once this process is completed, the judge signs a decree ordering your change of name. This order is used as evidence to submit to Social Security, the DMV, and other entities.

A Prenuptial Agreement is a contract detailing how couples will resolve issues should the marriage end in divorce. They sometimes contain provisions for property distribution upon death, but those provisions are better placed in a Last Will and Testament.  Prenuptial Agreements are especially important for those coming into a marriage with children or property and allow each spouse to plan for his or her future by protecting assets and possibly avoid expensive litigation later.  

Divorce can be an emotional time for everyone involved.  Many couples prefer to end their marriage with an uncontested divorce.   "Uncontested" means the couple can agree on all issues, for example, where children will live, how to divide assets and debts, and whether child support or alimony will be paid.   An uncontested divorce can be filed quickly and economically, saving years in the court system and thousands in attorney's fees.