Fortson Family Lawyers

Carolyn completed her B.A. and M.A. in Sociology from Emory University. In 2001, Carolyn received her law degree from Emory School of Law. Immediately after law school, Carolyn practiced criminal law for six years. During this time, she was able to polish her courtroom talents and approach. In 2007, Carolyn made the transition to family law. She has extensive experience handling a variety of family law matters, such as child custody, divorce, annulment, and more.

I am a versatile family law attorney attorney who is skilled in bringing resolution to complex and simple family law matters. I combine my education and professional experience with personal experience to guide clients with strategic legal advice, compassionate support and solution-focused advocacy. As a family law attorney and former social worker, I am experienced in helping clients with domestic, family law and divorce issues including paternity, legitimation, child custody modification, child support modification, grandparent visitation, enforcement of court orders, family violence and pre- and post-nuptial agreements. I also act as a Guardian ad Litem in contested custody cases and...

Shawna M. Woods is dedicated to assisting her clients through what can be a difficult time. She understands that Family Law requires both empathy and advocacy. Shawna has extensive experience in resolving complex asset cases and well as difficult custody cases.

Shawna M. Woods is an Of-Counsel Attorney at Kitchens New Cleghorn. Prior to coming to Kitchens New Clegorn, Shawna was Partner at Law Firm in Forsyth County specializing exclusively in Family Law. She also had successful solo Family Law practice in Fulton County and had worked several years with the Special Assistant to the Attorney General...

David Venable worked in law enforcement and the computer industry prior to earning his law degree from Georgia State University College of Law in 1987. He was a vice-president of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association from 1993 to 2006 and formerly President of the Hawkinsville/Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce and Club Secretary of the Hawkinsville Rotary Club. He is a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church of Kathleen, Georgia. David 25 years of trial experience. Only 10% of lawyers ever step foot in an actual courtroom. He has argued thousands of cases in courtrooms throughout Georgia. As a former...

Kourtney Bernard-Rance was born and raised in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Although originally intending to study child psychology, Kourtney ultimately received her B.A. in family and child Studies from Montclair State University. Between her newly-recognized passion for working with families and children, and an internship with a nonprofit child advocacy organization as an assistant policy analyst, Kourtney decided her true career aspirations resided in the practice of law. Kourtney attended the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. Believing that family law was destined to be her specialty, Kourtney took advantage of...

Pamela Bradford has been an advocate for others for 20+ years as an attorney with practice areas of civil, contracts, employment, family, health care and surrogacy law. She is licensed in both Georgia and California. She has a passion for helping others and positioning clients for success. Her 85% case settlement rate was due to her masterful negotiation skills and her wide range of research methods. She has been consistently recognized for her ability to work well with individuals at all levels and communicate effectively with decision makers to move programs/initiatives forward.

She has litigated and mediated high asset and...

Anthony Overton Van Johnson has personally represented clients in over forty (40) courts throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area, as well as, the State of Georgia. Prior to law school, Anthony served as an Infantry Squad Leader in the 4th Infantry Division (4th ID) where he received the Expert Infantryman's Badge, graduated from Combat Leader's School (Camp Red Devil)as well as, served in the U.S. Army Mounted Color Guard & Drill Team. He was also a martial arts competitor/instructor, professional musician, pilot and scuba diver. Additionally, he was a Senior Health Physics Technician in the nuclear industry before...

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Allen Bodiford has practiced as a trial attorney for over 25 years, and has tried a wide variety of civil and criminal cases. Since 1987, Allen has had the pleasure and honor of representing clients in hundreds of bench trials and more than 25 jury trials, in cases of divorce and domestic relations, wrongful death, automobile accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, products liability, and medical malpractice, along with felony and misdemeanor criminal cases. Allen brings his years of litigation experience to bear in evaluating, preparing, and trying cases, as well as, settling cases when appropriate. Allen has obtained favorable...

Angela Landgaard joined Slepian, Schwartz & Landgaard in 2009. She is currently the head of the Firm’s Domestic litigation and Probate departments, focusing primarily in the areas of Family Law and Probte. In addition to her work as a litigator, appointed by Judge Ann Jackson in 2013, Angela currently serves as the Fayette County Probate Court Co-Conservator and frequently serves as a court appointed attorney or Guardian Ad Litem for the Fayette County Probate Court. Angela was elected by the attorney members to serve as the 2014 President of the Fayette County Bar Association.

Atlanta Attorney Jeffery Cleghorn is a Named Partner with the law firm of Kitchens New Cleghorn, LLC. Mr. Cleghorn heads the firm’s family law practice. His expertise is in Family Law, including Contested & Uncontested Divorces, Custody Custody Disputes, Modifications, Child Support, Alimony Payments, Adoptions, and Domestic Partnership Agreements and Disputes. Mr. Cleghorn also has extensive experience with Mediation, Arbitration and other forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution. Mr. Cleghorn is a 1984 distinguished military graduate of North Georgia College in Dahlonega, where he received a B.A. in Political Science. After graduation, he received a commission in the United States Army...

Luke attended The George Washington University, School of Business in Washington D.C. Here he received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Sports Management, Hospitality and Marketing. Luke graduated Magna Cum Laude and earned a Presidential Scholarship. Luke continued his education with a move to New Orleans' Tulane University to earn his Master of Biomedical Sciences in Pharmacology. A few years later, Luke entered the University of Florida Levin College of Law in Gainesville, Florida. He graduated Law School Cum Laude, in the top 11% of his class, earning a spot on the Dean's List. During this time, Luke also proudly won...

Melissa, “Missy” Strickland is the founder and principal attorney at Buckhead Family Law, serving clients throughout Atlanta and surrounding communities in divorce and other important family law matters. After years of practicing family law as an attorney with larger law firms, Missy decided to open her own firm to be able to provide more customized representation to her clients. She has practiced family law at some of Atlanta’s top firms since 2006, and handles a full range of domestic relations matters including divorce in Atlanta, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, child custody, child support, alimony, contempt actions, paternity and legitimation. After graduating...

Founding Partners, Adam Slipakoff and Howard “Howie” Slomka have both worked in large and small law firms and with high-end clients as well as small. Quickly, they both came to realize that working with smaller clients gave them a sense of connected purpose and satisfaction that goes with helping people on a personal level. Using their experience to simplify needlessly complex processes, they found a love for guarding clients, from further trepidation and strife.
There will always be a place in the world for traditional “by the book”, black and white, logic-driven law firms. Adam and Howie simply believe their clients...

At The Carson Law Group, we are proud to offer our exceptional legal services to a wide range of individuals. If you are facing a complex family law matter, such as a divorce, custody, or child support – we are here for you when you need us most. For almost 15 years, we have represented individuals with compassion and tenacity. Our main goal is to satisfy the needs of each and every client that places their case in our hands. We will work tirelessly in order to resolve your case in the most efficient and effective manner possible. Do not...

Maggie Heim represents clients in complex litigation matters in both the Federal and State court systems. She has earned a reputation as a skilled advocate who is unwilling to accept less than the best result for her clients. Maggie has been recognized for excellence in the practice of law by numerous independent attorney rating services, including Super Lawyers, the Daily Report, Martindale-Hubbell, Legal Elite, and Avvo.

Experience: Family Law litigator, Domestic Violence & Landlord Tenant, Public Interest (Legal Aid), Asst. Public Defender, law enforcement & military.

Interests: Golf, motorcycling

Since starting Rachel Kaufman Law in June of 2015, Rachel has provided top-notch legal representation to hundreds of clients throughout the State of Georgia. In that short time, Rachel has gained a reputation for being a highly passionate and highly effective courtroom advocate. Amongst her colleagues, judges and courtroom personnel, Rachel is known for being a smart fighter, who can see through the tumbleweeds and intuitively zero-in on which strategic routes need to be taken to get to the best outcome possible. No matter the charge (DUI, Murder, Drug Offense, etc.), Rachel approaches each client’s situation with family-like loyalty and...

Attorney Akil Kenneth Secret is a licensed attorney in the States of Georgia and Nebraska. His practice focuses on Serious Personal Injury Litigation, Wrongful Death Litigation and Major Criminal Defense. Mr. Secret has represented defendants in numerous high profile state and federal cases. He has tried hundreds of cases with extraordinary success. Mr. Secret has represented Lawyers, Doctors, Accountants, Real Estate Brokers and Agents and Corporate Executives. Attorney Akil Secret attended University of Nebraska and transferred to attend Morehouse College where he pursued his undergraduate studies until 1973 with a major in Political Science. He attended Atlanta Law School and earned...

I joined SM&P in the summer of 2019, bringing 24 years of experience in family law. She possesses a keen ability to cut to the chase regarding issues pertaining to contested divorce and divorce mediations and settlements, modifications, legitimization, and custody disputes. Her passion for adoption cases, including foreign, contested, same-sex couple, agency, relative and step-parent, third party independent, DFCS, and interstate (ICPC) has had a hugh impact on your legal career. She has finalized over 700 adoptions in her career as part of her family law focus. Because of her deep and broad knowledge of adoption, she was part of...

Justin Allen Chin founded his first company at the age of 15. Through his success, his law firm is the leading and most specialized family law firm in Georgia, having litigated hundreds of cases and achieving the goals of his clients. Specifically, he helps clients establish custody of child(ren), increased parenting time with child(ren), and child support for child(ren). He has authored the book “Custody and Divorce in Georgia: First Edition”, graduated from Charlotte Christian School as Valedictorian of the Class of 2001 and Student Body President of the High School, graduated from Georgia Tech in Engineering on a full-ride...

Attorney Vincent Faucette is a managing partner at The Faucette Law Firm LLC. Vincent is a native of Atlanta and a product of Atlanta Public Schools (Frederick Douglass). He is graduate of the Georgia State School of Business (BBA Finance). He received his law degree from the University of Kentucky. Vincent has spent his entire 16-year career focusing on trial advocacy. He began his career as a prosecutor in the Coweta Judicial Circuit before moving on to a specialized homicide unit in Fulton County District Attorney's Office and the Crimes Against Children unit in the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office. Vincent...

A graduate of Howard University, Boston College and Emory Law School, Karen began her law career in 1990 as Clerk to Justice Carol Hunstein where she served for more than two years before becoming a Public Defender for Dekalb County and then moving on to the Atlanta Solicitors Office. Karen founded her law practice in 1994 while a Cobb County Magistrate, where she served for five years. Karen brings broad experience and depth of understanding to her client’s cause. She is a frequent speaker on family law issues within the legal community, guiding other family law attorneys to becoming more...

Adam S. Jaffe founded ATL Family Lawyers. His goal was to incorporate the aggressive and intense team environment of large law firms with the specific focus and customer service of smaller legal practices. Today, ATL Family Lawyers is one of the most successful and experienced boutique law firms in Atlanta and Georgia, and encompasses all of these things and more. Adam serves as ATL Family Law's Senior Partner and is one of the best trial and litigation lawyers in Atlanta and the State of Georgia. Over the past 16 years, Adam has become the elite of Atlanta and Georgia...

Family law matters can be difficult to deal with in the best of times, as they go to the heart of our most complex and intimate personal relationships. Amy Kaye has been helping individuals and families in the Atlanta metro area as a family law attorney for well over 20 years and practiced as a business and corporate lawyer for several years before that. As a family law attorney, Amy knows that clients often come to her in a time of crisis or stress and that they rely on their lawyer to counsel them and guide them through the legal...

Judge Tom Cauthorn is the founder of Cauthorn Nohr & Owen, a boutique law firm that provides general civil, probate and criminal legal services. He is an experienced trial lawyer and judge, and has participated in hundreds of jury and non-jury trials in his more than 45 years practicing law.

Judge Cauthorn’s professional experience includes Court America as a principal in mediation, arbitration and case evaluation; Georgia Supreme Court Special Master; Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution as a registered mediator, arbitrator, and case evaluator for general civil and domestic relations matters; and, Cobb County Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution as an...

Kaitie grew up as a Navy brat thanks to her Mother. She spent the first half of her childhood living on reservations and in predominately native villages, spending nearly seven years at Point Barrow, Alaska before moving to the lower 48 here in Georgia. She got her undergraduate degree in English Literature from the University of Georgia before going on to get her law degree at Mercer University. While in law school, Kaitie was an active member of the Association for Women Law Students, the Student Bar Association, the International Law Students Association, and Project Equality (now called Mercer OutLaw),...

After six years in large multinational law firms engaged in the most sophisticated litigation in state and federal courts nationwide, and internationally, Mr. Pendleton continues to focus his practice on aviation, insurance and general civil litigation matters. Licensed both in Georgia and Florida, and admitted to the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Georgia and the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, Mr. Pendleton provides top tier legal representation and counseling delivering advocacy, solutions and results.

Having practiced more than 50 years, I now principally serve as an arbitrator through IACPR and AAA and provide services as an expert witness. I retired from Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan and later from King & Spalding.

Kellie comes from a background in law enforcement and working with at-risk youth at a maximum level treatment facility. Kellie has learned first hand the impact litigation can have on your well-being. It is important to have a zealous advocate in your corner. Kellie brings hard work, dedication, integrity and grit to each of her cases. Kellie’s parents divorced when she was seven years old giving her perspective and understanding of the many complexities in dealing with family law, divorce, and custody situations. With this understanding, Kellie is prepared to work with you towards a resolution that serves your...

.D., Mercer University, Walter F. Georgia School of Law, 2002 B.A, Psychology, State University of West Georgia, 1998 Personal Injury, Workers Compensation, Medical Malpractice, Social Security Disability, Family Law (Divorce, Child Custody, Child Support, Adoptions), Criminal Defense (DUI, Traffic Tickets, Felonies, Misdemeanors) On August 30, 1974, Dwayne Singleton was born in a small town east of Atlanta. Shortly thereafter, his father bought a small farm in Oxford, Georgia where Dwayne spent the rest of his childhood. It was on this small farm where he learned the values of hard work and the benefits of doing things right the...

Although well known by all for his extremely calm, collected, and friendly demeanor, Walter Zankov is always ready to go to war in the courtroom and stays prepared for any situation. Whenever working for his clients, Walter is tenacious and represents his clients with zeal. Thinking through every aspect and angle of his client’s case, he truly leaves no option unexplored and no stone unturned, to arrive at the optimal strategy for any situation. With a smile on his face and a handy sense of humor, he confidently delivers brilliant results.

When not refining his craft, Walter keeps his...

Ravelle was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 2002, and has been practicing exclusively in the area of litigation since that time. Following his admission to the bar, Ravelle expanded his experience to encompass many areas of litigation, including divorces, child support modifications, adoptions, custody changes, domestic violence, breach of contracts. Since 2005, Ravelle has concentrated his practice exclusively in the area of family law, helping individuals persevere through often the most trying times in their lives.

Clients can rest assured that Ravelle has the necessary skills, experience, and passion to assist in the resolution of their matter whether by amicable...

I represent individuals and businesses in various civil litigation matters, including select domestic relations and personal injury cases, as well as do a general practice. I also have been active in Henry County in public service activities and have served on multiple Boards including the General Practice and Trial Section of the State Bar of Georgia, Haven House (Henry County's domestic violence shelter), Leadership Henry, the Henry County Chamber of Commerce and am currently the President of Hands of Hope, which provides indigent medical services to residents of Henry County.