Gainesville Family Law Attorney
If you live in Gainesville or elsewhere in Hall County and are facing a divorce, custody case, or child support issue, your case will be heard at the Hall County Courthouse on Green Street. Samuel Thomas Law is based in Athens and represents Hall County clients. Attorney Samuel E. Thomas handles each case personally, from the first consultation through the final order.
Family Law in the Northeastern Judicial Circuit
Gainesville is the county seat of Hall County. Family law cases for Hall County residents are filed in the Superior Court of Hall County, part of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, which covers Hall and Dawson counties. The courthouse is at 225 Green Street SE, Gainesville, GA 30501, and the Clerk of Superior and State Court’s office is on the ground floor (phone 770-531-7025).
The Hall County Domestic Standing Order
A Domestic Relations Standing Order applies to every domestic case filed in Hall or Dawson County on or after March 1, 2025. It is served with or included in the petition, and it binds both parties and their attorneys and agents while the case is pending. If you have been served, read the standing order carefully and talk with a lawyer before making changes involving money, property, or the children. Our article on the Georgia divorce standing order explains how these orders work.
Family Law Matters We Handle
- Divorce, contested and uncontested
- Child custody and visitation, including relocation
- Child support, including how support is calculated and modifications
- Spousal support and alimony
- Property and asset division, including family businesses and retirement accounts
- Paternity and legitimation and fathers’ rights
- Grandparent rights
- Contempt actions to enforce existing orders
- Prenuptial agreements
- Adoption
Parenting Seminar and Mediation Requirements
Divorcing parents in Hall County must complete the Seminar for Divorcing Parents, offered through the Ninth Judicial Administrative District’s dispute resolution office as an online video program. Skipping it can get your hearing postponed.
If there is no signed settlement agreement, the case must go to mediation before the court will hear it; the parties submit a mediation referral form through the Ninth District ADR program. We prepare you for mediation, attend with you, and review any proposed agreement before you sign.
Communities We Serve in Hall County
Besides Gainesville, we represent clients from Flowery Branch, Oakwood, Clermont, Lula, Gillsville, Rest Haven, and the Hall County portions of Buford and Braselton.
About Attorney Samuel E. Thomas
Samuel E. Thomas is a fourth-generation Athens business owner, a University of Georgia graduate, and a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law. He is admitted to practice in all Georgia Superior Courts, including the court that hears Gainesville cases. Read more about our firm.
Gainesville Family Law FAQ
What happens if we skip the parenting seminar?
The circuit’s divorce instructions treat the seminar as required, and the hearing can be postponed until it is completed. Because the seminar is online, it is easiest to finish it early.
Do we still need mediation if we already agree?
Mediation is required when there is no signed settlement agreement. If you and your spouse have already signed one, an uncontested divorce may be the faster path.
Can an Athens attorney handle a Hall County case?
Yes. Attorney Samuel E. Thomas is admitted to practice in all Superior Courts in Georgia and represents clients in Hall County.
Talk With a Gainesville Family Law Attorney
Call us at 706-546-0999 or book a consultation online. You can also send us a message using the form below.
Our Office
Samuel Thomas Law, LLC
585 Research Drive, Suite A
Athens, GA 30605
Phone: 706-546-0999
Email: customerservice@samuelthomaslaw.com