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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.

You Didn’t Fail: Why the End of a Marriage Isn’t the End of Your Story

Some words carry more weight than they deserve. "Failure" is one of them. It's a word I hear whispered in consultations. Sometimes directly. More often between the lines. "I never thought I'd be here." "I feel like I've let everyone down." "I guess I failed." I...

The Pen Is Mightier Than the Showdown

Edward Bulwer-Lytton famously wrote, "The pen is mightier than the sword." More than 180 years later, I'd argue it's also mightier than the argument. Especially in divorce. Because once the conversations are over...Once the emotions settle...Once everyone goes home......

Decision Fatigue

People think divorce is one decision. It isn't. It's hundreds. Some are obvious. Should we sell the house? What happens with the retirement accounts? What's the parenting schedule? Others are much smaller. When do I move? Who keeps the family photos? Should I answer...

The Waiting Room

There is a season in almost every divorce that nobody talks about. It's not the filing. It's not the paperwork. It's not even the divorce itself. It's the waiting. The months—or sometimes years—spent knowing something needs to change but not quite knowing how to...

Myth & Order: The “We’re Too Far Apart” Myth

⚖  THE MYTH "We could never have an uncontested divorce." I hear some version of this all the time. Sometimes it's: "We don't agree on anything." Other times it's: "We can barely be in the same room together." And occasionally it's: "If you met my spouse, you'd...

An Hour That Can Save You Thousands

Let's talk about something nobody gets excited about paying for: A paid legal consultation. I understand it. You're already dealing with uncertainty. You may be worried about finances. You may be trying to keep costs down. You may even be thinking: "It's just a few...

The Divorce Survival List: 7 Things to Remember

A divorce attorney's words of encouragement for the road ahead. If you're reading this in the middle of a divorce, there's a good chance your life feels a little unrecognizable right now. The future may feel uncertain. Your emotions may be taking turns driving the...

Uncontested Doesn’t Stop at Divorce

Approaching Family Law Matters Without Unnecessary Warfare When people hear the phrase “uncontested family law,” they usually think of one thing: Divorce. And yes—uncontested divorce is a major part of what I do. But it’s far from the only thing. Because life keeps...

Myth & Order: The “If We Agree, We Don’t Need Attorneys” Myth

⚖  THE MYTH “We agree on everything, so we really don’t need lawyers.” This one usually starts with good intentions. Two people decide they want to handle things “like adults.”No fighting. No courtroom drama. No expensive legal war. And genuinely? I respect that...

Keeping the Peace Shouldn’t Mean Losing Yourself

There’s a moment that happens in a lot of divorces. Usually somewhere between emotional exhaustion and “I just want this over with.” One person leans back in the chair and says: “Fine. They can have it.” The house.The furniture.The retirement account.Extra parenting...

Recent Posts

She’s Not Evil—But I Still Want Joint Custody

You don’t hate your ex. You don’t want drama.You just want time with your kids—and that shouldn’t require a war. Georgia law supports shared parenting when it makes sense. So if you’re a capable, consistent, and committed parent, asking for joint custody is not only...

He’s Not a Bad Dad—But I Still Want Full Custody

You’ve likely been told: “If he’s not abusive, you should split time.” “You’ll look bitter if you push for full custody.” “Don’t take the kids from their dad—it’s not fair.” But here’s the reality: you can respect your co-parent and still ask for full custody.It’s not...

Stop Paying for Peace: How to Protect Yourself Without Going Broke

Being reasonable doesn’t mean being a doormat. Too often, people enter divorce or custody agreements thinking if they’re just nice enough, quiet enough, or generous enough, it’ll all work out. But here's the truth:Being agreeable doesn’t mean giving everything away....

She’s Not ‘Letting You See the Kids’—You Have Rights

It’s Time to Reclaim the Narrative We hear it too often: “She’s letting me see the kids this weekend.”“She won’t let me FaceTime him.”“She said I can’t come to the birthday party.” If you’re an unmarried father in Georgia, this might sound familiar. But here’s what...