When you are seeking legal advice or counsel, Kevin Cauley has legal knowledge, Southwest Georgia expertise, decisive confidence and extensive resources to help navigate through your Georgia legal issues. The Law Office of Kevin S. Cauley, LLC can assist you in the following areas:

Residential and Commercial Real Property Law
Public Entity and Government Law
Probate, Wills and Estate Law
Finance and Collection Law
Divorce, Child Custody, Support and Adoption
Civil Actions and Civil Litigation
Business and Corporate Law

Assertive and committed in protecting our clients' best interests, Mr. Cauley is licensed in all State and Federal courts throughout Georgia, and bases the firm's legal representation on sound and rational advice.

Please contact us regarding your legal concerns or needs.

RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL REAL PROPERTY LAW

Over the last ten years, Mr. Cauley has handled thousands of real estate closings ranging from small vacant residential lots to multimillion dollar commercial properties. Our firm is committed to the tedious attention to detail required in these matters and has invested in the resources to insure that your transaction is closed accurately and on time. We understand whether you are the buyer, seller, real estate agent or lender that the accuracy and professionalism with which the transaction is handled is a reflection on all of us.

I am about to purchase real estate. Should I sign the contract the seller has provided?
Before you sign any contract you do not fully understand, you should consult with an attorney experienced in the fields of law covered in the contract. This is especially true with real estate matters as the law scutinizes these contracts closely. Terms that may seem vague or without consequence to the inexperienced may have serious consequences to your property rights. It is common for certain trade practices of an area to be assumed if not specifically spelled out in a real estate contract and not understanding the terms you have agreed to can cause unnecessary expense and delay in the close of your purchase. It is best to consult with your lawyer during the formation of a contract to avoid possible problems and disputes down the road.

Can your firm handle all of my commercial real estate needs?
The Law Office of Kevin S. Cauley has extensive experience dealing with real estate investment opportunities, acquisition and sales, real estate construction and development, farm and ranch acquisition and sales, leasing, landlord/tenant matters, land use, zoning, eminent domain, financing, refinancing, mortgages, and foreclosures.

Why do I need title insurance?
Title insurance can serve as the catalyst for the integrity of a real estate transaction. For a good discussion on the value of title insurance, follow this link http://www.oldrepublictitle.com/newnational/Resources/Primer/faq.asp.

In addition to serving as an agency for one of the most respected title insurance companies in the nation, Old Republic National Title Insurance Company, our firm also serves as approved agents for all local financial institutions including Ameris Bank, Capital City Bank, Citizens Bank, Commercial Bank, Park Avenue Bank, Thomas County Federal Savings and Loan, Thomasville National Bank, and United National Bank. We are also available to work with any other regional or local banks throughout Southwest Georgia.
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PUBLIC ENTITIY AND GOVERNMENTAL LAW

For many years now, Mr. Cauley has served as the County Attorney for Grady County, Georgia as well as the City Attorney for the small municipality known as the City of Whigham, Georgia. This experience has allowed him the unique opportunity to develop an expertise in zoning and land use issues, business licensing, condemnation and other areas of governmental law that often serve as a valuable resource to our clients.
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PROBATE, WILLS AND ESTATE LAW

In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. - Benjamin Franklin
Issues of probate, wills, trusts and estate planning affect us all sooner or later. This holds true whether you are a parent planning for the future needs of your newborn child, considering the effects of the recent growth or decline in the value of your asset portfolio, or someone who has accumulated a lifetime of wealth. In addition to the changes in our estate needs we all experience as we age, each year the federal and state laws affecting the legal and tax consequences of passing on your property and protecting your loved ones continue to evolve. We are committed to providing you up to date legal resources to help you navigate this ever changing complex field of law. Whether your needs require a will, trust, guardianship, or comprehensive estate plan, we have the experiences and legal tools you need to protect your family, loved ones, and assets.
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FINANCE AND COLLECTION LAW

Our firm is experienced in representing clients from national lenders to individuals in processing secured transactions and collecting when debts go bad. There are many federal and state laws that affect what practices must be followed to insure liens are perfected and collection efforts are proper. The failure to follow these rules and guidelines can result in severe penalties and losses. It is imperative a creditor act timely and with proper legal advice when securing a loan or pursuing the collection of a bad debt. We have years of experience in these matters including foreclosure, writs, materialmans liens and the prosecution of law suits to recover debts owed.
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DIVORCE, CHILD CUSTODY, SUPPORT AND ADOPTION

What are the residency requirements to file for divorce in Georgia?
To file for divorce in Georgia, at least one spouse needs to be a resident of the state for six months prior to filing a petition for divorce.

How is child custody determined?
The State of Georgia requires custody and visitation decisions be made in light of "the best interests of the child." This can vary greatly from case to case and can involve sole custody or shared custody arrangements. Custody determinations are two fold in that a determination is made as to legal custody and as to physical custody. This provides flexibility in that decision making authority may be shared among parents even though the physical time a child is with one parent varies greatly over the other parent. Joint legal custody means that both parents have equal rights and responsibilities for major decisions concerning the child, including the child's education, healthcare, extracurricular activities, and religious training. However the court usually gives the final decision making authority in one or more of these areas to one of the parents.

How is child support determined?
Georgia has State Guidelines and Child Support Worksheets that determine who pays child support and how much. The guidelines and worksheets consider the income of both the parties, expenses associated with each child such as daycare, medical insurance, shared custody arrangements and educational expenses to name a few.

What is legitimation?
A legitimation is the only way besides marrying the child's mother for a father of a child born in Georgia to establish legal rights for his child. An order legitimating the child establishes a legal relationship between the father and the child and allows the child to inherit from his/her father. Even if you are listed on the child's birth certificate as the father, if you and the child's mother were not married to each other, you must still file a petition with the court to legitimate your child and become the legal father.

What is adoption?
Adoption is a legal process that results in a court order declaring one person (generally a minor) to be the legal child of the adoptive parent or parents. When an adoption is finalized, the birth parents have no legal rights to the child, are no longer responsible for the child and no longer have an obligation to support the child. The adoptive parents become the legal parents and care givers. We have the experience and knowledge to help you navigate the complexities of this legal process.
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CIVIL ACTION AND CIVIL LITIGATION

Civil litigation is a term that covers a broad spectrum of court actions. Just about any court proceeding other than criminal cases comes under this title including disputes of business matters, construction issues, contracts, divorce, estates, and real property. These civil cases are litigated through civil action commonly referred to as a lawsuit. Litigation often involves complicated procedures that require knowledge and understanding to protect your best interests. There are many choices in strategy and timelines that must be adhered to in order to adequately prosecute or defend a claim in court, and the need for a skilled attorney to protect your interests in this arena is imperative.

What is mediation?
Mediation is a process by which people in conflict seek mutually acceptable solutions through the help of a trained mediator. Mediation is a very popular method for resolving all types of litigation from divorces to business disputes. Many judges require certain lawsuits go through the mediation process before they will schedule a trial. You are not required to settle your case in mediation, you are only required to attend and make a good faith effort to resolve your case.
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BUSINESS AND CORPORATE LAW

Should I incorporate?
This question is not answered easily. One primary reason why people create a corporation is to separate the liabilities and risks of the company from other assets they own. In order to sustain the protections of the entity, you must maintain all corporate formalities and procedures. Therefore, it is best to consult an attorney about planning an entity such as a corporation and whether it is best for your needs.

Are a corporation and an LLC the same?
No. An LLC is a relatively new entity. The letters stand for Limited Liability Company. It is in some ways the same as a corporation, but in other ways, it is more like a partnership. For smaller businesses, this is often the right choice as it can often provide the liability protection of a corporation with the simplified management structure of a partnership. Again, it is best to consult with a lawyer in deciding what business entity best meets your needs.
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AN ADDITIONAL RESOURCE YOU MAY FIND HELPFUL IN UNDERSTANDING YOUR LEGAL NEEDS CAN BE FOUND THROUGH THE FOLLOWING LINK TO THE GEORGIA STATE BAR'S WEB PAGE
http://www.gabar.org/communications/consumer_pamphlet_series/