Main: (706) 375-2145
Our Ringgold office have moved to the RTC (Ringgold Telephone Company) building on Alabama Highway conveniently located near the interstate. We are happy to be in this new location and look forward to continuing to serve the legal needs of Ringgold and Catoosa County. This office will be by appointment only.
Posted on: 27 Jan, 2016 under: Uncategorized
New Location in Walker County
We have had an office in Ringgold since 2008. Now we have opened a second office in Chickamauga Georgia to better serve our Walker County clients. The office was until recently occupied by attorney Steven Ellis who was recently appointed to be the full time Walker County Juvenile Court Judge. Its is located in downtown Chickamauga across from the Gordon Lee Mansion.
Posted on: 27 Jan, 2016 under: General
It should go without saying that one should be careful what you post on social media. For example, if you are in the middle of a divorce it is not a good idea to post pictures of your new boyfriend/girlfriend. Or if you are a young person facing an underage drinking charge it is a bad idea to share with the world on Facebook how drunk you got last Friday.
Anything that you post, tweet or otherwise make public on social media can and likely will be used against you in court. It is fairly typical for divorce attorneys to look at the opposing sides Facebook page. Anything you make public is fair game for an opposing attorney in a divorce or custody dispute.
The same is true in criminal cases. I have seen people on probation violated because of what they posted on social media. For example, if you are on felony probation you are prohibited from abusing alcohol and drugs so don’t post pictures of you and your buddies at a bar. Furthermore, if the public can see it then so can the prosecutor handling your case. Do not post anything you don’t want the prosecutor, police, and your probation officer to see.
The above seems like common sense that everyone would know already. However, in every court across the United States people routinely get in trouble due to social media posting. Don’t be one of those people.
I was a guest this past Friday on Senior Talk with Virginia Scott on local station UCTV. We talked about issues related to senior citizens such as Wills, Powers of Attorney and Living Wills. My practice does not include estate planning but I was happy to speak on the subject.
Posted on: 5 Sep, 2015 under: General
Posted on: 2 Sep, 2015 under: Criminal Law
Posted on: 1 Sep, 2015 under: Divorce
Posted on: 1 Sep, 2015 under: Criminal Law, DUI
Posted on: 25 Aug, 2015 under: Uncategorized
I got a lot of calls about “expungments” or record restrictions. A criminal record can be a hindrance when applying for employment. You don’t necessarily need to hire an attorney to apply for a “record restriction”. Generally with a few exceptions, if your case was dismissed you will likely be eligible for a record restriction in Georgia. You do this by filing a request with the law enforcement agency which arrested you. However, if you were convicted or plead guilty you will likely not be eligible for a record restriction.
With that said, it is a good idea to consult with an attorney before you file any such request. You should especially consult an attorney if you request a record restriction and your request is denied as you may have only 30 days to appeal the denial.
If you cannot afford to consult with an attorney check out the website for the Georgia Justice Project. Georgia Justice Project
Posted on: 26 Feb, 2015 under: Uncategorized
Recently the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit with the encouragement of local law enforcement and the District Attorney’s Office began a “pretrial diversion” program. This program is open to some first time felony drug offenders. Basically, the program allows a defendant in a felony case to complete a drug rehabilitation program instead of going through the court system and if they successfully complete the program have their case dismissed. The main benefit of the program is that the Defendant who successfully completes the program can have their criminal record “expunged” or restricted and they will not be a convicted felon.
Overall such programs are a great idea and give people a second chance. However, a defendant should always consult an attorney before entering into any such agreement. Such programs are not unique to this area and are being tried across the United States. While they are not for every Defendant such innovations in the “war on drugs” are welcomed and we hope successful. Here is a link to the Center for Hope for information. The Center for Hope
Posted on: 26 Feb, 2015 under: Criminal Law, General