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Frequently Asked Questions
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Where is your office located?The Rea Law Firm is conveniently located off Decatur Square. For signings or any other in person meetings, our address is: 120 W Trinity Place Decatur, Ga 30030.
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How much experience do you have?Attorney Rea was licensed in 2014 and spent the first few years of her career as a staff attorney for a Superior Court Judge, where she worked on a wide variety of cases. She has been privately practicing at The Rea Law Firm since 2018.
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How much do you charge?We are very proud of our flat fee model that takes all the guesswork and mystery out of legal fees. To see our prices for legal services, click here.
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Do I have to pay for an initial consultation?Not with our firm. All initial consultations are free of charge. Click here to schedule one today!
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How do you ensure the rights of LGBTQ+ folks are protected?We draft our estate planning documents to be gender affirming and to make sure that LGBTQ+ families are recognized as they intend to be under the law. We have custom language that we include in wills and powers of attorney for same-sex couples to safeguard their rights in the tragic event that Obergefell vs. Hodges is ever overturned. Attorney Rea always remains informed about the status of any litigation and legislation that effects the LGBTQ+ community so that she can provide the most up-to-date recommendations and protections for her clients.
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Are you a minority-owned business?YES! We are proud to be a black-owned and woman-owned small business.
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What exactly is estate planning?Estate planning is the process of putting legal documents together to prepare for incapacity and/or death. Wills, powers of attorney, and advance directives are common components in an estate plan.
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Do I really need an estate plan?Yes, you do! Everyone over 18 can benefit from an estate plan. If you own property and/or have children, it's especially important to set up a plan so that your family is taken care of according to your wishes.
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What's the difference between a will and a trust?A will is a legal document that sets out who will recieve your property and assets when you pass away. In Georgia, wills are administered in Probate Court. A trust is also a legal document that sets out who will recieve your assets, but in addition a trust allows you to set specific guidelines for how and when those assets are distributed. A trust gets administered privately and avoids the extra time and expense of Probate Court. We recommend speaking to an attorney to decide if a will-based plan or trust-based plan is right for you.
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How do I name guardians to care for my children if something happens to me?In Georgia you are able to name guardians for minor children in your will.
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How long does it take to make an estate plan?On average our clients are able to complete the process in 30 days. The timing depends on the complexity of the situation and on the client's availability and responsiveness.
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How much will an estate plan cost?We offer four different estate planning packages on a flat fee basis. To see our full package list with price information, click here.
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What types of adoptions do you handle?The Rea Law Firm handles all types of adoptions, including: private, independent, foster care, adult, stepparent, second parent, and grandparent/relative.
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Do I need an attorney to adopt?It is not legally required to have an attorney but is highly recommended. There are many legal requirements involved in an adoption and an attorney will make sure that everything is done correctly and as fast as possible.
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Are you connected to an agency or consultant?No, we are not affiliated with any adoption agency or adoption consultant. However if you are just beginning your adoption journey and would like some recommendations, we would be happy to share some of our trusted organizations with you.
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How much do adoptions cost?This question has many answers depending on many factors. To see our prices for legal representation in an adoption, click here.
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Do you represent birth mothers?Currently our practice only represents intended/adoptive parents.
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Do you work with LGBTQ+ clients?Absolutely! We are proud to serve members of the LGBTQ+ community. Please see our policy on inclusion for more information.
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What is surrogacy?Surrogacy is an arrangement where a woman, called a surrogate, carries and births a baby for a couple or individual. The intended parents and surrogate need to enter into a surrogacy agreement so that there are no legal complications during the pregnancy or when the baby is born.
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Do I need a lawyer? Does my surrogate need one?It's important that both the surrogate and intended parents have legal counsel in the surrogacy process. Our firm represents intended parents during the process of forming a surrogacy agreement and obtaining an order from the local court naming them as legal parents.
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Is surrogacy expensive?There is certainly a cost associated with having a baby through surrogacy. Feel free to contact us to discuss your options.
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Do I need an attorney to change a name?You are not required to have an attorney to get a legal name change. However it can make the process a lot smoother if you have an experienced attorney handling it. An attorney can handle the drafting of court documents, filing, and representation during your court hearing.
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Can I change my child's name?Yes, as a parent you can petition your local court to change your child's name. The court will want to know why you are requesting the name change and how it is in the child's best interests to do so. Whether the petition is granted is up to the court, but these petitions are granted most of the time.
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Will I have to give a reason for my name change?Yes, your petition will need to explain why the name change is being requested.
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How long does it take to get a name changed?It depends on several factors such as the client's schedule and the judge handling your case, but for most of our clients the process is about 30-60 days from start to finish.
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How much does a name change cost?To see our flat fees for name change cases, go to our pricing page.
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Can you handle my divorce or custody matter?The only areas of family law we handle is family formation (adoption, surrogacy, egg/sperm donation). However if you're in need of a divorce or custody attorney in Georgia, let us know and we can provide recommendations to family attorneys in the area.
This page is being provided for general informational purposes. None of the information on this page, or anywhere on this site, is to be construed as legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Where is your office located?The Rea Law Firm is conveniently located off Decatur Square. For signings or any other in person meetings, our address is: 120 W Trinity Place Decatur, Ga 30030.
-
How much experience do you have?Attorney Rea was licensed in 2014 and spent the first few years of her career as a staff attorney for a Superior Court Judge, where she worked on a wide variety of cases. She has been privately practicing at The Rea Law Firm since 2018.
-
How much do you charge?We are very proud of our flat fee model that takes all the guesswork and mystery out of legal fees. To see our prices for legal services, click here.
-
Do I have to pay for an initial consultation?Not with our firm. All initial consultations are free of charge. Click here to schedule one today!
-
How do you ensure the rights of LGBTQ+ folks are protected?We draft our estate planning documents to be gender affirming and to make sure that LGBTQ+ families are recognized as they intend to be under the law. We have custom language that we include in wills and powers of attorney for same-sex couples to safeguard their rights in the tragic event that Obergefell vs. Hodges is ever overturned. Attorney Rea always remains informed about the status of any litigation and legislation that effects the LGBTQ+ community so that she can provide the most up-to-date recommendations and protections for her clients.
-
Are you a minority-owned business?YES! We are proud to be a black-owned and woman-owned small business.
-
What exactly is estate planning?Estate planning is the process of putting legal documents together to prepare for incapacity and/or death. Wills, powers of attorney, and advance directives are common components in an estate plan.
-
Do I really need an estate plan?Yes, you do! Everyone over 18 can benefit from an estate plan. If you own property and/or have children, it's especially important to set up a plan so that your family is taken care of according to your wishes.
-
What's the difference between a will and a trust?A will is a legal document that sets out who will recieve your property and assets when you pass away. In Georgia, wills are administered in Probate Court. A trust is also a legal document that sets out who will recieve your assets, but in addition a trust allows you to set specific guidelines for how and when those assets are distributed. A trust gets administered privately and avoids the extra time and expense of Probate Court. We recommend speaking to an attorney to decide if a will-based plan or trust-based plan is right for you.
-
How do I name guardians to care for my children if something happens to me?In Georgia you are able to name guardians for minor children in your will.
-
How long does it take to make an estate plan?On average our clients are able to complete the process in 30 days. The timing depends on the complexity of the situation and on the client's availability and responsiveness.
-
How much will an estate plan cost?We offer four different estate planning packages on a flat fee basis. To see our full package list with price information, click here.
-
What types of adoptions do you handle?The Rea Law Firm handles all types of adoptions, including: private, independent, foster care, adult, stepparent, second parent, and grandparent/relative.
-
Do I need an attorney to adopt?It is not legally required to have an attorney but is highly recommended. There are many legal requirements involved in an adoption and an attorney will make sure that everything is done correctly and as fast as possible.
-
Are you connected to an agency or consultant?No, we are not affiliated with any adoption agency or adoption consultant. However if you are just beginning your adoption journey and would like some recommendations, we would be happy to share some of our trusted organizations with you.
-
How much do adoptions cost?This question has many answers depending on many factors. To see our prices for legal representation in an adoption, click here.
-
Do you represent birth mothers?Currently our practice only represents intended/adoptive parents.
-
Do you work with LGBTQ+ clients?Absolutely! We are proud to serve members of the LGBTQ+ community. Please see our policy on inclusion for more information.
-
What is surrogacy?Surrogacy is an arrangement where a woman, called a surrogate, carries and births a baby for a couple or individual. The intended parents and surrogate need to enter into a surrogacy agreement so that there are no legal complications during the pregnancy or when the baby is born.
-
Do I need a lawyer? Does my surrogate need one?It's important that both the surrogate and intended parents have legal counsel in the surrogacy process. Our firm represents intended parents during the process of forming a surrogacy agreement and obtaining an order from the local court naming them as legal parents.
-
Is surrogacy expensive?There is certainly a cost associated with having a baby through surrogacy. Feel free to contact us to discuss your options.
-
Do I need an attorney to change a name?You are not required to have an attorney to get a legal name change. However it can make the process a lot smoother if you have an experienced attorney handling it. An attorney can handle the drafting of court documents, filing, and representation during your court hearing.
-
Can I change my child's name?Yes, as a parent you can petition your local court to change your child's name. The court will want to know why you are requesting the name change and how it is in the child's best interests to do so. Whether the petition is granted is up to the court, but these petitions are granted most of the time.
-
Will I have to give a reason for my name change?Yes, your petition will need to explain why the name change is being requested.
-
How long does it take to get a name changed?It depends on several factors such as the client's schedule and the judge handling your case, but for most of our clients the process is about 30-60 days from start to finish.
-
How much does a name change cost?To see our flat fees for name change cases, go to our pricing page.
-
Can you handle my divorce or custody matter?The only areas of family law we handle is family formation (adoption, surrogacy, egg/sperm donation). However if you're in need of a divorce or custody attorney in Georgia, let us know and we can provide recommendations to family attorneys in the area.
This page is being provided for general informational purposes. None of the information on this page, or anywhere on this site, is to be construed as legal advice.
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