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Read Catherine Ryan’s perspective on divorce and personal injury law to understand steps you can take to protect your legal rights.

Same-Sex Divorce, Same Peace, Different Paperwork Traps

The myth that causes delays “Uncontested is uncontested, our forms will be the same.”Mostly true, not always. Same-sex couples often have extra documents and histories that a generic packet does not capture. When those details...

Relocation Roulette: Moving Out of State Without Wrecking Your Parenting Plan

The surprise text that changes everything “Got the offer. It’s in another state.”Career, family, or a cheaper cost of living can make moving look irresistible. But relocation without rules is the fastest way to turn a peaceful Georgia agreement into a logistical and...

The 72-Hour Panic: Can You Undo a Deal Before It’s Filed?

The “oh no” moment is normal You kept it calm, talked like adults, and signed a draft… then a detail starts buzzing in your head at 2 a.m. The house refinance date seems vague. The parenting exchange is during baseball practice. The child support payment method isn’t...

Final Order, Now What? Your First 14 Days That Make Everything Work

The quiet moment that costs people money You picked the peaceful route. You got your Final Order. Then… life calls, work piles up, and small “I’ll do it later” items start eating your wallet and your sanity. The truth: your first two weeks after the decree determine...

Do Not Sign Yet: 7 Quiet Red Flags in “Friendly” Agreements

The trap: “It all looks fine…” You kept it civil, you agreed on the big stuff, and the draft feels tidy. But friendly divorces often hide silent problems—phrases that sound reasonable and later explode into credit issues, parenting fights, and do-overs. Here are the...

Screenshots Don’t Delete Themselves: The Social Media Clause Your Divorce Needs

The post you didn’t mean to post It starts harmless: a song lyric, a “new chapter” selfie, a joke your friends will “get.” Then your ex gets the screenshots, your in-laws chime in, someone’s boss sees it, and the quiet divorce gets loud. Online drama is the fastest...

Who Gets the Dog? Pet Plans That Don’t Turn Peace Into War

The furry third rail of “friendly” divorce You split the furniture, you mapped the parenting schedule, you even agreed on the refinance. Then four words blow it up: “But he’s my dog.”Pets carry real emotion. In Georgia, they’re treated as property in divorce, but...

Miss This Window, Lose Your Voice: Uncontested Legitimation Explained

The headline no one tells dads You can love your child, be on the birth certificate, and still have no legal say about school, doctors, travel, or where your child lives. In Georgia, if you weren’t married to the mother at birth, you must complete legitimation to be...

One Lawyer for Both of Us? The “Neutral Attorney” Myth

The tempting shortcut that isn’t a shortcut When a couple is calm and cooperative, the idea pops up:“Can one lawyer just do everything for both of us?” Short answer: No. In Georgia, one attorney can’t ethically represent two people whose legal interests may differ in...

Paper Trail, Peace of Mind: The 30-Day Proof Plan That Ends Money Fights

Why “trust me” collapses after the first bill You meant it when you said you’d keep things friendly. Then the mortgage auto-pays, a medical bill arrives, and a streaming subscription renews on the wrong card. Without a clear proof routine, even kind people end up...

Recent Posts

Why Does Filing First Matter?

In uncontested divorce, people often think filing first is aggressive.They picture courtroom drama, power plays, or someone “making the first move.” But in real life?Filing first is usually a practical choice — not an emotional one. Still, it does come with benefits,...

Why Does This Feel Harder Now That We’re Being Nice to Each Other?

It’s strange, isn’t it?You spent months — maybe years — in a cycle of tension, resentment, sharp words, or just emotional distance. But now that you’re both finally calm, making rational decisions, and trying to end things respectfully…Suddenly the weight hits you.Not...

He Says He’ll “Handle the Paperwork”—Should I Be Worried?

It starts with something small.“He said he’d handle the paperwork.”And honestly, that sounds like a relief—because who wants to deal with all that legal language and fine print? But when you’re ending a marriage, the person who controls the paperwork controls the...

We Promised to Stay Friends—So Why Is Divorce So Awkward?

We Promised to Stay Friends—So Why Is Divorce So Awkward? You told each other it wouldn’t be messy. No yelling, no lawyers fighting it out in court, just two adults agreeing to move on.But now that you’re actually signing papers and dividing life into “yours” and...

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Attorney Catherine Verdery Ryan | Divorce, Family Law, Personal Injury

Catherine Ryan is the best attorney in the Augusta area for your uncontested divorce and legitimation cases. With over 30 years of experience, she’s the attorney who will advocate for your rights.