Attorney in Jasper, Georgia

Mission Statement

Marger Stuart, LLC, is a full-service law firm based in Jasper, Georgia. We are proud to provide knowledgeable and straightforward legal guidance to individuals who face family law issues and criminal charges. We also draft wills and handle probate administration and other estate law matters.

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Always Serving Our Clients' Best Interests
During an initial consultation, we will listen to the details of the case and the goals you have. Ms. Stuart, with your input, will then construct a strategy that we believe will best achieve those goals. Often it is in the client's best interests to negotiate or mediate outside of court. This approach is usually less expensive, less stressful, and it often resolves the matter more quickly. However, if the two sides cannot agree on a solution, we have extensive experience litigating in court.

Along with our main practice areas, we handle legal issues in the following:

Personal injury
Business administration and corporate law
Civil litigation
Municipal law
A Knowledgeable Litigator
Cortney M. Stuart is a proven trial lawyer. Her work with the firm often involves family law matters and criminal defense cases, but she handles other issues as well. She also works as a prosecutor for local municipalities here in northern Georgia. She is licensed to practice in Tennessee, Florida and Washington, D.C., as well as in the federal courts. While she is down to earth and straightforward with clients, she aggressively protects their rights in court, armed with a depth of knowledge and a willingness to always go the extra mile. Her ability to effectively work either side of a case makes her a formidable presence in the courtroom.Attorney Cortney M. Stuart continues a tradition of excellence instilled in her by Edwin Marger. At Marger Stuart, LLC, we understand that legal issues are important and will likely change your life. We work directly with our clients to provide them with the best possible legal guidance at a reasonable price. Many clients agree, and Ms. Stuart has received the Avvo Client's Choice award.

1) Family Matters Law

Family Law Guidance
Legal disputes involving family can be challenging. Not only are there various legal issues to resolve, but there also are the emotional complexities of dealing with a failing marriage, the fear of how these changes will affect the children and other issues. Moreover, it is quite likely that the litigation or resolution of these legal issues will not change the fact that parents still need to work together to raise their children.

Located in Jasper and serving Pickens County and the surrounding area, Marger Stuart, LLC, provides guidance on a variety of family law issues. An attorney who understands that each client faces different challenges, Cortney M. Stuart listens to all the details of your case as well as your goals and needs during the initial consultation. She then tailors a legal strategy that offers the best possible outcome for her clients.

Sometimes these matters can be worked through arbitration or mediation outside of court to keep costs down, reduce the stress levels of family and move the process forward in a timely fashion. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, which might leave court as the best option for protecting your individual and parental rights.

Typical Family Matters We Handle For Clients
Our legal team helps individuals and families facing the following challenges:

Divorce: We can help dissolve the marriage, divide assets and help structure child custody.
Child custody: Whether it be an initial action or a modification, we can help you achieve your custody goals with the best interests of the child in mind.
Grandparents' rights: Georgia is one of a few states that recognizes grandparent rights in custody and visitation.
Prenuptial agreements: These agreements are increasingly common and help couples determine financial obligation after the marriage.
Property division: Georgia is an equitable distribution state, which means the assets and debts will be divided fairly rather than strictly in half.
Annulments: Divorce ends a marriage, while an annulment makes it invalid.
Child support: This is based on an equation that includes gross income, the number of children and other unique factors.
Alimony: This can be either rehabilitative (short term) or permanent. The amount often considers age of spouse, education and their ability to work.
Adoption: This can be done domestically through a private arrangement or a state agency.
Legitimation: Fathers of children born out of wedlock do not automatically have rights.
Department of Family and Children's Services: If the state has custody of your child, we work with you to get them returned to you as quickly as possible.
Any other family issue

2) Estate Law And Probate Matters

Estate law addresses a wide range of matters that go well beyond the drafting of a will. Depending on the needs of the client, it can address guardianship issues for young families, dictate medical care in case of incapacity or put a retired parent's affairs in order.

Serving the people of Pickens County and northern Georgia, Marger Stuart, LLC, provides estate planning guidance and other legal help to its clients. Attorney Cortney M. Stuart works with clients to address all of the important issues in regards to your estate. The right estate plan can be a final gift to family members because it addresses all important and possibly contentious decisions, thereby ensuring that the probate process and dispersal of assets go as smooth as possible.

Common Services We Provide For Clients
Depending on the needs of the client, we can do these individually or as part of a package:

Draft a will: We can help create a thoughtfully drafted will that addresses all of your needs and is carefully constructed to minimize potential disputes.
Probate administration: We can provide steady guidance during the months it takes to organize assets, pay taxes and other bills, and even collect money owed to the decedent.
Trusts: These are a great way to pass a large amount of assets to loved ones, and they can be as unique as the individual who creates them.
Power of attorney: This enables an individual or attorney to oversee financial decisions if a client is unable do so themselves. The POA is appointed by the individual and then can be terminated by the individual.
Health care directives: We can address these matters in a living will in case you become incapacitated.
Determining a legal guardian or conservatorship: This is always a good idea for families with young children or that include adults unable to care for themselves. A guardian is in charge of the person's care, while the conservator is in charge of the property. It is generally best if these roles are handled by different people. Courts will appoint these if they have not been determined by the person in need.
Modifications: It is a good idea for individuals to update their estate plan every few years or as major shifts occur in your life, such as divorce or marriage.
Contesting a will: Sometimes the will does not take all the facts into account and mediation or litigation is needed.
It Is Always Best To Plan Ahead
A lawyer with a background in estate law can make this process relatively straightforward while also helping make smart choices in regards to finances and other administrative matters.

3) Facing Criminal Defense Charges

Facing Criminal Defense Charges
Everyone has the right to a strong legal defense. Whether the charges are a DUI, a felony or a misdemeanor, it is always wise to fight them by hiring a lawyer. Attorney Cortney M. Stuart has extensive experience working in the criminal courts, both as a defense lawyer and as a prosecutor for some of the local townships in northern Georgia. We feel that this experience increases her effectiveness as an attorney.

Based at the Marger Stuart, LLC, office in Jasper, Ms. Stuart is well-known and respected in the local courts, yet she has also worked at the appellate and federal levels and can practice in Tennessee, Florida and Washington, D.C. Her legal background means she knows arrest procedures inside and out. She sometimes is able to hone in on errors made by law enforcement and can then file a motion to have evidence dismissed.

Always available for a consultation, Ms. Stuart is extremely attentive to the needs and goals of her clients. From initial consultation to the final decision, she will walk you through the process, providing clear and informed information that enables you to make educated decisions. In court or through negotiation, she aggressively protects the rights of her clients.

The Experienced Defense You Can Trust
We work on a variety of criminal cases, including:

DUI: Driving under the influence of alcohol is commonplace, but we also handle charges of driving while under the influence of drugs.
Drug charges: Sentencing can vary depending upon the drug and the charge. Some charges go to federal court.
Assault and battery: This includes physical or emotional harm and actions committed against the will of the victim.
Probation violation: If you are on probation and violate the terms, you could face jail time.
Rape and sex crimes: Those convicted are labeled as sex offenders and are put on state and federal registries. It is always best to aggressively fight these charges.
Crimes against children: This can include physical, mental or sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor.
Cybercrimes, white collar crime or fraud: These federal charges often involve taking advantage of the victim, either in person or online.
Robbery and theft charges: From armed robbery to petty theft, we will defend you.
Any other criminal charge

4) Providing Effective Legal Defense For Dui

We all make mistakes. Sometimes these mistakes are accidental, and sometimes they are a lapse in judgment. A lapse can include a driver that chose to operate their vehicle after having too much to drink or using drugs. Other examples include public intoxication and underage drinking. If this is the case, law enforcement may turn your good night out into a nightmare. A person can exceed the legal blood alcohol level of .08 after just a few beers.

While law enforcement may make an educated guess based on your driving, you can help yourself out before you get a chance to speak with an attorney.

How To Help Yourself
The priority here is to avoid making matters worse:

Be polite: Speak when spoken to and provide your license and registration when the officer asks for it.
Do not say anything incriminating: Answer questions, but do not admit to anything that could be construed as incriminating.
Contact an attorney: Call our office as soon as possible, even before you are taken in.
How We Can Help You
An attorney experienced in DUI cases can be a tremendous asset. At Marger Stuart, LLC, we understand that officers can make mistakes. One common example is the improper use or maintenance of a Breathalyzer. It is also worth noting that each field sobriety test has its own protocols, and sometimes officers do not use the right one. Probable cause is another issue that a DUI defense attorney can explore.

Cortney M. Stuart has extensive criminal defense experience working in private practice and as a prosecutor for local municipalities in northern Georgia. This gives her a depth of knowledge many lawyers do not have. Whether it is your first time charged or your third, we understand the DUI process and will fight to protect your rights to the fullest extent of the law.

Service Locations

Attorney Jasper  -  Lawyer Jasper  -  Law Firm Jasper
Criminal Defense Jasper  -  Estate Law Jasper  -  Dui Attorney Jasper

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Updated as of 5/19/2024

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