Welsh Law, LLC

Family Law, Divorce, Custody and Support/Mediation/Social Security Disability/Tax Disputes/Arbitration

Welcome.  This is the online home for Michael Shane Welsh and Welsh Law, LLC, serving clients all over Georgia.  You can find more information about us at  LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.    Michael has helped clients in twenty-six Georgia counties, and in Atlanta, Macon, Augusta, and Savannah.  

Michael is a Family Law attorney and a Divorce Mediator.  Michael is also a trial lawyer, with a law practice that primarily focuses on Family Law - divorce, custody and child support, on business litigation, on social security disability claims, and on resolving tax disputes with IRS and GA Department of Revenue.  His dispute resolution practice focuses on Divorce Mediation, Civil Mediation, Domestic Violence Mediation, and Arbitration (schedule a mediation).  We have been solving legal problems for individuals, families, and businesses in State and Federal Courts since 1993. 

His 26 years of courtroom work includes the following types of cases:

100 Bench and Jury Trials/100+ Mediations and Arbitrations

1. Divorce, Custody, Child Support, and Modification
2. IRS Tax Disputes
3. Guardianship, Probate, Estate and Trust Litigation
4. Social Security Disability Claims
5. Railroad collision and trauma
6. FELA workplace injury
7. Personal injury
8. Mass Tort Drug and Asbestos
9. Contract disputes
10. Commercial Litigation
11. Condemnation and Adverse Possession
12. Residential Real Estate
13. Commercial Real Estate
14. Bankruptcy Adverse Claim Litigation
15. Discrimination and Sexual Harassment
16. Executive Compensation
17. Defamation
18. Worker’s Compensation
19. Medical Malpractice and Professional Malpractice
20. Construction Litigation and Lien Enforcement
21. DUI Defense
22. Felony Jury Trials

Michael also teaches and gives talks on overcoming the fear of public speaking, and he is the author of a forthcoming book titled "Overcoming Fear".

How can we help you? 

404-890-0044

SynerG Law Complex, 6075 Barfield Road, Atlanta, GA 30328

michael@welshlaw.info

 

Divorce Checklist

Here are some actions you can take, and some records you can gather, to help prepare for a divorce.  Planning and acting ahead may allow you to preserve information and prepare for court or negotiations.  Preparing before you file makes the process easier and potentially less stressful.

1.  Counseling:   Most parties could benefit from counseling.  Consider working with a professional counselor to help you decide whether to work on saving the marriage or to just get a divorce.  If you decide to divorce, a counselor can help you work through the confusion and stress of the divorce process.

2.  List and Copy:  Make a list of all assets and liabilities and try to get as many supporting documents for each entry as possible. Make copies and put them in a safe place.  Or get them in the hands of your lawyer sooner rather than later.  Anything relating to finances should be included.

3.  Budgeting:  Make a budget for yourself and your family, based on current numbers.  Start thinking about a future budget for your new situation.  Spousal or child support is almost always an issue, so go ahead and prepare a budget showing your income and expenses now, and projecting forward.

4.  Income Records:  Collect your pay records and your spouse’s pay records for the last three to six months, including pay stubs, if possible. That includes bonuses and any income other than pay checks, such as dividends.  Make copies and/or scan these documents so they can be kept in a safe place, and so you can get them when you need them.

5.  Collect Financial Records:  Gather any of the following that you can find.  These will be needed during the divorce:

• tax returns (last 3 years);
• profit and loss statements for any businesses owned by you and your spouse;
• credit card statements (last 12 months, at least);
• bank statements with canceled checks (last 1-3 years);   
• mortgage payment records;
• statements on all financial accounts, including money market funds, IRAs and mutual funds, if any (last 1-3 years); and
• the most recent quarterly and annual statements for any pension, 401K account, SEP account, stock and stock options.

6. Family Law Attorney:  Research family law attorneys until you find one you like.  

7.  Chemistry:  Meet with a lawyer in person and decide whether or not to hire him or her, considering in part whether the chemistry between you and attorney feels good.  The attorney should have good experience and be qualified in family law.  Once the attorney has experience and qualifies as a family law attorney, chemistry is key.

8.  Hiring a Lawyer:  Sign a fee agreement and pay the retainer.  To complete the deal, make sure you get a written contract spelling out your obligations in plain English.  You should expect to pay a substantial retainer on a major case. The attorney should keep you informed about the balance on your retainer and attorney fees.

9.  Good Start:  Timeline — It will really help your attorney if you will prepare a timeline of the major events of your marriage.  Add a lot of details. Include major life events, financial high points and low points and any issues that upset you, your spouse or other family members. It helps to add good events as well.

The timeline helps your attorney understand your case faster and better.  It is also helpful in preparing for negotiations or court. It will save you money by you doing the work and helping your attorney be better prepared.

IRS Tax Debt and Bankruptcy

You should know your rights with respect to what can be discharged in a bankruptcy case and what cannot.  The big things that cannot - child support obligations, student loans, and IRS tax debt.  For those you should consult with a bankruptcy attorney and evaluate your options for consolidating or working out a payment plan that fits your budget.   Download IRS Bankruptcy Tax Guide

We can help with the tax debt part by negotiating with the IRS to potentially reduce or eliminate penalties, interest, and principle.  How can we help you?

Useful Guide and Summary to the Medicare Program

We just posted a new link on our Resources for Seniors page - https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/.  Thank you to Samantha Litten for the link.  This resource highlights coverage, costs, eligibility and enrollment information, along with answers to some frequently asked questions.  And it provides links if you need additional information.  

People First Initiative Offers Relief And Options To Deal With IRS Liens and Levies

Are you presently in an Installment Agreement payment plan?

From the IRS website - "For taxpayers under an existing Installment Agreement, payments due between April 1 and July 15, 2020 are suspended. Taxpayers who are currently unable to comply with the terms of an Installment Payment Agreement, including a Direct Debit Installment Agreement, may suspend payments during this period if they prefer. Furthermore, the IRS will not default any Installment Agreements during this period. By law, interest will continue to accrue on any unpaid balances."

Liens and garnishments are not being automatically released.  However, now is the best time to contact the IRS and try to negotiate on these matters.  The key is being able to show "economic hardship".  During this time of COVID-19, that probably will not be difficult.  IRS People First Initiative

Let us help - 404-890-0044

Divorce Mediation and Family Law

There Is Hope For Dealing With IRS Liens, Garnishments, and Threatening Notices

One things seems to be missing these days - missing from news broadcasts, missing from the daily newspapers, missing from your stack of mail - hope.  Hope is missing.  But when all seems to be gloom and doom, and when you are facing moments of great stress staring at yet another unopened notice from the Internal Revenue Service, you need to know that there it is still possible to have hope.  

We offer hope.  We have been solving legal problems for individuals, families, and small businesses for 26 years.  We solve tax problems, including tax liens, tax garnishments, and threatening notices from the IRS.  You can once again collect your mail at the end of the day without dreading the contents you will find.  Let us deal with the problem.  How can we help?

Small Businesses With Tax Problems Have Another Option

If you have a small business facing tax problems, threats of levies or garnishments by the IRS or the GA Department of Revenue, you may have another new option to consider.  There is now a Subchapter 5 under Chapter 11 bankruptcy law that allows for a bankruptcy stay while you reorganized, that may allow you to keep your business open.  See Small Business Restructuring Act article - https://www.nytimes.com/article/small-business-bankruptcy-coronavirus.html.  This option is worth considering if you have creditors that refuse to cooperate in dealing with debts.  

List of Documents And Belongings To Have Ready In Case Of Emergency In The Time Of Coronavirus

Here is a good list of important legal and health documents to keep in a file or folder.  Tell family members the location of the file so it can be available in an emergency.

The current pandemic causes us to include some other items as well, in case you or a loved one requires hospitalization.

Remember that visitors are NOT allowed in hospitals. It will become difficult, if not impossible, to get these items to your loved one and if they do not bring them with them when admitted to a hospital.

1. Clearly written and UPDATED accurate list of medications: name, dose, frequency and name, and phone number of the prescribing doctor.
2. The name of your primary treating physician, their office number, emergency number, office address.
3. Legal documents including Health Care Proxy, Advance Directive, and/or POLST (Physicians Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, printed on a single sheet and in a bright or neon color).
4. A complete and updated written list of emergency contacts and phone numbers, including the password for your phone. Remember, you may be unconscious; your phone may be locked. There will be no way for medical staffers to contact your next of kin.
5. If you have a pacemaker or defibrillator: a copy of the pocket information card that states the brand, model number, MRI compatibility. The same goes for any medical device, like a port or pump.
6. If you use inhalers, bring them.
7. Extra batteries for hearing aid or other medical devices.
8. Prescription eye drops.
9. Bring a cell phone charger. Bring a spare if you can, and if you have extra batteries, bring those too.
10. Inexpensive headset.
11. Pack up a toothbrush, toothpaste, underwear in a plastic bag, and any hair items you need.
12. Include a book or two, magazines, and a tablet or Kindle if you can.

Source - Steven J. Silverberg,  https://eldercarematters.com/important-items-to-have-during-this-coronavirus/

Mediation Has Moved Online For Businesses and For Families

We are open for business online.  Mediations and new client consultations can be scheduled now online on account of the COVID-19 crisis.  We are using Zoom for all business.

Please feel free to contact us at 404-890-0044 with questions or requests.  How can we help?

Overcoming The Fear of Public Speaking - Michael Shane Welsh - Medium

via medium.com