Frequently Asked Questions for Divorce Cases
- How will I know if my spouse has returned the paperwork?
- When will I receive the divorce papers?
- Why must the signatures on the paperwork be notarized? Where can I find a notary public?
- What if my spouse loses the initial paperwork?
- My spouse found an error in the paperwork, what can I do?
- My spouse wants to change a term in the paperwork, should I contest the change?
- What if my spouse refuses to sign the divorce papers?
- My divorce has service by publication. which newspaper will my legal advertisement be published in?
- My divorce has service by publication. When will the legal advertisement start running?
- My divorce has service by publication. What happens if I hear from him or her after I have published the legal advertisement?
- Can I pay you in installments?
- What if I only want to speak with Mr. Leopard?
- Should I notify my spouse of the court date for the final hearing?
- What if I need a private investigator?
- How should I behave around my spouse?
- When can I get remarried?
- When do I get a copy of my Final Decree?
- How will the divorce affect my Last Will & Testament?
How will I know if my spouse has returned the paperwork?
Your spouse may or may not choose to sign the paperwork that is sent to them from this office; sometimes, a spouse may refuse to acknowledge the paperwork and simply ignore it. As such, it is your responsibility to ensure that your spouse has signed the paperowkr and returned it to this office. It is best to call fourteen (14) days after initial consultation to see if the paperwork has been received. if it has not, try calling your spouse to see if he or she recieved the paperwork.
When will I receive the divorce papers?
If you come in the office for your divorce appointment, you will receive the divorce documents then. If you pay by credit or debit card for online service, you will be emailed your agreement within 3 business days.
Why must the signatures on the paperwork be notarized? Where can I find a notary public?
Notarizing a document shows that a person of legal merit has witnessed and verified your signature. It is required on many legal documents. If these papers are not notarized, please do not mail them back to this office as we cannot use them. You can find a notary public to witness the signing in any bank. Real estate agents, insurance agents, and tax accounts are often notaries as well.
What if my spouse loses the initial paperwork?
You can use a copy or reprint a copy if it was emailed to you. If you need us to print a new copy, there will be a $5.00 charge.
my spouse found an error in the paperwork, what can I do?
If your spouse states that a date is wrong or something is misspelled, have him draw a line through it and write above it the correction. The correction will need to have the initials of you and your spouse beside it. Neither incorrect dates nor spelling errors affect the divorce, so an error if this nature is no reason not to sign the divorce papers.
My spouse wants to change a term in the paperwork, should I contest the change?
If the proposed change is at all reasonable you should consider it carefully. It is not usually worth the time and money to conteste minor matters. Both parites must put their initial beside any minor changes made to the agreement. If major changes are necessary, we can redraft the agreement for you for a $100.00 fee.
What if my spouse refuses to sign the divorce papers?
You will have to proceed with a contested case. You will be required to pay a filing fee if you have not already and the balance of a contested case. You may have to have your spouse served by the Sheriff.
My divorce has service by publication. Which newspaper will my legal advertisement be published in?
| Clayton County | The Clayton News/Daily |
| Cobb County | The Marietta Daily Journal |
| DeKalb County | The Champion |
| Fulton County | The Fulton County Daily Report |
| Gwinnett County | The Gwinnett Daily Post |
My divorce has service by publication. when will the legal advertisment start running?
The ad usually starts running about one week after the case is filed. We will often file your divorce paperwork in a few days after your initial visit. You can check the paper directly to find if your ad has started; it is very helpful if you notify this office as soon as you see this ad because that allows us to set down a court date for finalization.l If you do not call this office, we will eventually call to find out when your ad ran, but this can take a while longer because of the amount of divorces we handle.
My divorce has service by publication. What happens if I hear from him or her after I have published the legal advertisement?
You can choose to tell you spouse about the publication divorce if you so chose, but you are not legally obligated to tell him or her. It is usually in your best interest to be friendly, but not to discuss the divorce.
Can I pay you in installments?
Full payment of the legal fee is required before any work can begin on your case. If you would like to send partial payments, we can store a credit on file until you have paid the full amount. Only when the amount is paid in full will begin work on your case, or resume work on uncontested cases that have just become contested.
What if I only want to speak with Mr. Leopard?
If you call and Mr. Leopard is not in or if he is with a client, please speak with his staff. This will greatly speed up the time required to find an answer to your question. If you insist on speaking only to Mr. Leopard, you must make an appointment to come in and you will have to pay for a consultation.
Should I notify my spouse of the court date for the final hearing?
It is best not to notify your spouse of the court date. If your spouse shows up on the court date and makes any statement or objection to the finalization, the divorce could be delayed for several months.
What if I need a private investigator?
Please remember that we depend upon you for all information in this action and we do not investigate you or your spouse's assets. We do encourage you to hire an investigator, especially where issues are in dispute.
How should I behave around my spouse?
Even after all the papers are signed (sometimes even after finalization) a divorce can become contested. Please do not provoke your spouse in any way. Some of the most contested divorces starte out uncontested.
When can I get remarried?
Please do not set a date for remarriage until your divorce is finalized and you have received a copy of the final decree. You can get remarried as soon as your divorce is finalized.
when do I get a copy of my Final Decree?
If you are present at the final hearing, you will be able to obtain regular and certified copies from the courthouse. Call the office ahead of time to see how much copies of your Final Decree will cost. If you do not need to attend the final hearing, call and tell us before the hearing how many copies you would like.
How will the divorce affect my Last Will & Testament?
If you have a Last Will and Testament, it usually will be invalidated (made null and void) by the divorce.