Family Law Seminar

Mr. Alex Matthew Brown Related Seminars and Products

Alex M. Brown Law LLC

Alex M. Brown is a solo practitioner specializing in family law in the Augusta and Columbia judicial circuits. I am the immediate past chair of the Augusta Family Law Bar. I attended Mercer University and Vermont Law School. I have called Augusta home for the past 16 years and live in Evans with my beautiful family.

Mr. John Robert Taylor Related Seminars and Products

Office of the Staff Judge Advocate

Graduated from Augusta State University, and thereafter taught high school literature. Later graduated from Georgia State University College of Law, and entered the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. After military service, worked for the Georgia Attorney General's Office, then an insurance defense firm, and then opened a solo practice focusing on family law and small business law. In 2016, returned to public service as a Department of Defense civilian attorney, working for the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate at Fort Eisenhower, Georgia.

Capt. Carolyn Dreer Related Seminars and Products

Office of the Staff Judge Advocate

Graduated from Millersville University of Pennsylvania with a BS in Accounting, then worked in an accounting department before attending law school. Graduated summa cum laude from Widener University Commonwealth Law School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. After passing the Pennsylvania Bar Exam, I commissioned into the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, where I am currently stationed at Fort Eisenhower, Georgia as a Legal Assistance Attorney.

Mr. Marvin L. Solomiany Related Seminars and Products

Kessler & Solomiany LLC

Biographical Overview

Mr. Solomiany, a former chair of the State Bar of Georgia Family Law Section, has worked as a trial attorney exclusively in the area of family law for over 25 years. Mr. Solomiany provides representation in all Domestic Relations legal areas, with an emphasis on high-income divorce cases, cases involving corporate entities, prenuptial agreements, and interstate child support and custody matters.

Mr. Solomiany has been repeatedly recognized as a Top 100 Super Lawyer in Georgia and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is frequently hired by other family law attorneys to serve as co-counsel in complex family law cases.

Over the years, Mr. Solomiany’s clients have included nationally known athletes and entertainers, professionals, and high ranking executives from Fortune 500 Companies. Mr. Solomiany has appeared in television, radio and internet programs to discuss family law issues and is a frequent lecturer in both state and national family law seminars.

As an IFR rated private pilot, Mr. Solomiany is able to travel throughout Georgia to represent clients outside the Greater Atlanta Metropolitan area. He also uses his piloting skills to volunteer for charitable organizations such as Angel Flight, Veterans Air Lift Command and Pilots N Paws. Mr. Solomiany has been married to Kerry Solomiany for over 25 years and has two adult children.

Dr. Michael Vitacco Related Seminars and Products

Augusta University Medical College of Georgia

Dr. Vitacco is a professor at Augusta University in the School of Public Health and in the Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior. He earned his doctorate degree from the University of North Texas and completed an internship in forensic psychology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in conjunction with the United States Department of Justice. He completed a fellowship in forensic psychology at the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine. He currently completes forensic evaluations for the Forensic Institute located at Augusta University and has a private practice that specializes in complex criminal and civil evaluations. Dr. Vitacco is an active researcher with over 120 publications in the field of forensic psychology.

Anne Watts Related Seminars and Products

New Encounters Counseling

Anne has a Master of Psychology from Augusta College (now AU) and has been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 1992. She is also a Nationally Certified Counselor and a Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor. With over 30 years of clinical experience. Anne has experience helping children, individuals and families improve their quality of life and create healthy relationships. 

Since 2001, Anne has managed and co-facilitated the court ordered Parents of Children in Divorce Program. The program is based on extensive research, which has developed highly effective methods to reduce the stress of divorce for children and their parents. Anne is a Certified Co-parent Coordinator who collaborates with the courts in Richmond and Columbia Counties regarding custody of children in high conflict divorce cases. Anne has experience with many areas of counseling including Martial Issues, Adoption Issues, Effects of Divorce on all family members, Depression, Anxiety Issues, Grief/Loss, Blended Family issues.

Hon. Amanda Nichole Heath Related Seminars and Products

Augusta Circuit Superior Court

The Honorable Amanda N. Heath is a Superior Court Judge in the Augusta Judicial Circuit. Her jurisdiction covers Burke and Richmond counties and she presides over civil, domestic and felony criminal cases.  Judge Heath was appointed by Governor Brian P. Kemp on October 13, 2021, and elected by her community in 2022 to continue her service on the Superior Court bench.  At the time of her election, Judge Heath was the first African American woman to be elected as a Superior Court Judge in the Augusta Circuit’s 152 year history.  Judge Heath is currently the only African American Superior Court Judge and is the youngest judge in the Augusta Judicial Circuit.  Prior to elevating to the Superior Court bench, Judge Heath served as a Juvenile Court Judge for five years and was the first African American woman to serve in that position for Burke, Columbia and Richmond counties.

Judge Heath was previously a solo practitioner with a focus on civil, criminal and family law. Prior to opening her law practice, Judge Heath prosecuted violent felonies as an Assistant District Attorney and argued successfully before the Georgia Supreme Court. She also served as the lead prosecutor for Drug Court, Mental Health Court and Veterans Court. Her family taught her “to whom much is given, much will be required” and to take every opportunity to give back to the community through service.

Judge Heath is a graduate of Hampton University and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, summa cum laude in 2007.  She is also a graduate of Hampton’s Freddye T. Davy Honors College and is an alumna of the Concert Choir.  In 2017, Judge Heath was inducted into Hampton’s Top Forty Under Forty Society.

Judge Heath went on to attend law school at Mercer University and received her Juris Doctor degree in 2010 with a Certificate in Advanced Legal Writing, Research and Drafting.  In addition, she received the Dean’s Award for Distinguished Service.  She participated in Mercer’s Habeas Clinic and was inducted into the Order of Barristers.  Judge Heath volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and with the Georgia Supreme Court Committee on Access and Fairness in the Courts.  Further, she is a previous Mercer Public Interest Fellow, Georgia Legal Services Dan Bradley Fellow, Gate City Bar Scholar and Otis Redding Scholar.

Judge Heath serves on the Georgia Supreme Court Committee for Justice for Children and is a graduate of Leadership Georgia. Judge Heath was elected as the first woman and first African American to represent Augusta on the Board of Governors for the State Bar of Georgia.  In 2023, she was elected by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges to serve on the Board of Directors in the position of Treasurer.  Also, Judge Heath serves on the National Bar Association Judicial Council Executive Committee and the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Guardian ad Litem Association for Children Judicial Leadership Council.  Judge Heath is a past recipient of the Georgia CASA Champion Award.  

Further, Judge Heath serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Advocacy Office, Family YMCA of Greater Augusta, Heritage Academy, Harrisburg Family Healthcare, Golden Harvest Food Bank, Augusta Technical College Adult Education Advisory Board and Turner Theological Seminary Board of Trustees. She is an active member of the Zeta Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the Augusta (GA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and serves at her church as a teacher in the Children’s Ministry.

Hon. Sheryl B. Jolly Related Seminars and Products

Columbia County Justice Center

Judge Sheryl B Jolly  serves as the Presiding Judge of Superior Court, Columbia Judicial Circuit. Judge Jolly was elected Superior Court Judge for the Augusta Judicial Circuit in 2004 and served in that capacity until the Columbia Judicial Circuit was created in 2021. 

In 2023, Judge Jolly was appointed  Administrative Judge for the 10th Judicial District of the State of  Georgia and  Member of the Judicial Council for the State of Georgia. 

Judge Jolly's public service began in 1986 in the Office of the District Attorney, Augusta Judicial Circuit where she served as  Assistant District Attorney until 1989. She continued her public service as a prosecutor in the State Court of Richmond County, Georgia as Assistant Solicitor General (1989-2003) and subsequently as Chief Assistant Solicitor General (2003-2004).  In 2004, Judge Jolly was elected to the Office of Solicitor General of the State Court of Richmond County, Georgia. She served two terms as Solicitor General before seeking election as Superior Court Judge.  In addition to her public service as a prosecutor, she served an an Adjunct Faculty Member for Brenau Professional College for over 20 years and taught courses in Criminal Justice, Constitutional Law, and Public Administration for both undergraduate and graduate level courses.  She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the Augusta Bar Association.  Judge Jolly has been actively involved in community activities and service boards to include leadership positions in Leadership Augusta, the Greater Augusta Arts Council, Augusta Junior Woman's Club, Columbia Judicial Circuit Domestic Violence Task Force,  Augusta Child Advocacy Center, Rape Crisis/Sexual Assault Services, The Augusta Partnership for Children and many other local boards.  

Judge Jolly has been a frequent lecturer at judicial conferences for Pre-Trial Issues in Death Penalty cases and presentations in the area of family law.

She is married to Edward B. Turner Jr. , and has 3 grown children with 3 grand-dogs and 1 grand-cat.  

Ms. Rebecca Ashley Wright Related Seminars and Products

Augusta Circuit Superior Court

Honorable Ashley Wright grew up in Augusta, GA, and graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, VA with a B.A. in English and from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University with a J.D.  After working as a local prosecutor, she was appointed District Attorney by Governor Sonny Perdue in 2008.  In 2017, Governor Nathan Deal appointed her to the Superior Court bench of the Augusta Judicial CIrcuit.  

Ms. Mercedes Gabrielle Ball Related Seminars and Products

State Bar of Georgia

Mercedes G. Ball, Esq. is an Assistant General Counsel and the Director of the Client Assistance Program at the State Bar of Georgia. In this capacity, she leads the resolution of all informal complaints and certain formal grievances lodged against Georgia attorneys. Prior to her time with the State Bar, Mercedes served as a Child Advocate Attorney at the DeKalb County Child Advocacy Center where she holistically represented the interests of dependent children in civil court proceedings, mediations, and panels. Before her work with DeKalb, she was a Lead Trial Attorney at a Metro-Atlanta law firm.

Mercedes is driven by a commitment to improve and empower her community through service. From 2013-2020, she volunteered as the Executive Director of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA) Foundation’s Sister2Sister Mentoring Program®, a juvenile court diversion program for court-involved teen girls. In this capacity, she increased the program’s volunteer base and expanded the program’s reach by creating a DeKalb County chapter. Under Mercedes’ leadership, the program served more than two hundred metro-Atlanta teen girls. Additionally, Mercedes also served as the first Director of the GABWA Foundation’s Women’s Health Initiative, an effort to bring needed medical services and health education to underserved communities through free community health fairs. During Mercedes’ tenure, the GABWA Foundation’s Women’s Health Initiative served more than one thousand individuals.

Mercedes is also a Sustainer member of the Junior League of DeKalb County where she served as the 2021-2022 President and Chief Operating Officer. In 2018, Mercedes created the DeKalb Saturday Scholars Initiative (DSSI), a literacy focused Saturday school, through a partnership with the Junior League of DeKalb and Oak View Elementary. DSSI served approximately one hundred children and received grant awards from Macy’s, Inc. Corporate Giving and the Forever Pink Foundation. During Mercedes’ tenure as President of the Junior League of DeKalb, she successfully lobbied the membership to rename and rebrand the organization’s event rental facility and headquarters; thereby, creating a space that better reflects the organization’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Mercedes is the Vice Chair of the DeKalb County Department of Family and Children Services Advisory Board, a member of the DeKalb Pro Bono Board of Directors, and a proud member of the Decatur Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She is a 2017 graduate of Emerging Leaders of DeKalb and a 2018 New Leaders Council Atlanta Fellow. She is the recipient of the 2019 University of Georgia School of Law Young Alumni/Alumna of Excellence Award, the 2019 Junior League of DeKalb County President’s Award, and the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys’ 2020 Bensonetta Tipton Lane Award for Commitment to the Family. Mercedes is also a 2022 Outstanding Atlanta Honoree, the recipient of the 2024 Committee to Promote Inclusion in the Profession’s Commitment to Equality Award, and she was named a 2024 Civic Diversity Champion Honoree by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Mercedes earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science, cum laude, from Spelman College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law. She resides in Decatur where, in her spare time, you can find her baking, reading, and spending time with loved ones.

Ms. Helen Waifong Yu Related Seminars and Products

Flanagan Law and Mediation LLC

Helen Yu Flanagan has been practicing law in Augusta, Georgia for over thirty years. She began her legal career as an Assistant District Attorney for Augusta Judicial Circuit in 1990. For the past thirty years, Helen has engaged in private practice with primary focus on Family Law issues.

In 2018, the firm begin to offer Mediation services to clients and local attorneys.  Currently Helen is a full time mediator, having mediated over 400 cases, both in domestic and civil matters.

Born in Hong Kong, Helen immigrated to New York City in 1978. In 1987, Helen obtained her B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from Columbia University School of Engineering in New York City. She obtained her law degree in 1990 from Georgia State University, School of Law. Helen is admitted to practice law in the State and Superior Court of Georgia, Court of Appeals of Georgia, Supreme Court of Georgia, District Court of the Southern District of Georgia, and to the Court of Military Appeal. Helen has served and continued to serve on the Executive Board of the Augusta Family Law Bar since 2009. Helen was the Chair of the Augusta Family Bar Association 2017- 2018 and was a past President of the Augusta Federal Bar Association.