Practice Areas

Criminal Defense

Facing criminal charges is frightening. A conviction could mean imprisonment, fines, probation, and community service, plus many long-term consequences such as hindering your ability to get a job or find decent housing.

Lavigno Law Firm is dedicated to representing clients through all stages of criminal charges, beginning at the warrant stage through indictment, motions, plea negotiations and trial. Lavigno Law Firm has the unique experience necessary to take a client-centered approach, meaning each client and each case are different and all require a dedicated, experienced attorney that will listen to the client. Listening to the client is of upmost importance but so is knowing the law, procedures, and analyzing the different approaches to each case. Furthermore, the State’s allegations have to be investigated. Lavigno Law Firm has the dedication, experience, and resources available to handle any criminal case, including misdemeanors such as shoplifting, criminal trespass, battery, family violence, and DUI to felony charges including drug possession, theft, aggravated assault, sex crimes, and murder. A Lavigno has been practicing criminal law for over forty years!

Lavigno Law is a premier criminal defense firm serving clients throughout Metro Atlanta counties such as Rockdale, Walton, Newton, Morgan, Oconee, Clarke, Jasper, Dekalb, Gwinnett, Barrow, Oglethorpe, Green, Butts, and Henry counties. Our Criminal Defense Group is led by attorney Bethany Lavigno.  Lavigno Law handles DUI, theft, drug, record expungement cases, and more.

Our criminal defense team takes every case seriously and recommends that you give your legal matter the attention it deserves. Contact our office today to discuss your options.

Personal Injury

Injury law pertains to civil claims against private individuals or companies for illnesses or physical injuries suffered due to negligence. Many possible situations can lead to injuries, but it requires proving an at-fault party’s negligence or intentional tort and then establishing a link between those actions and the plaintiff’s damages.

When you are injured to your ability to work is affected, we know it can be a frustrating and difficult time. Couple those feelings with having to deal with an employer and/or insurance company and fighting with them so you receive just compensation and can test anyone’s patience. Lavigno Law Firm understands those frustrations, understands that clients don’t like to have a potential lawsuit pending for a lengthy amount of time ad meticulously works your case while still obtaining the best payment to clients for lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. In the event that we cannot reach a settlement in your case, Lavigno Law Firm has litigated personal injury actions in State Court, Superior Court and even Federal Court.

Lavigno Law can help gather the necessary evidence to support a personal injury claim, contact experts who can testify as expert witnesses in support of a plaintiff, and negotiate with insurance companies on the client’s behalf. We provide compassionate assistance and help you to understand your options.

Our law firm will stand up for your rights in court to get you the compensation you deserve and reimbursement of your medical bills and wage loss. Call now to get help and to put our experience to work for you.

Estate Planning

Lavigno Law provides comprehensive estate planning services to clients located in counties throughout Georgia such as Rockdale, Walton, Newton, Morgan, Oconee, Clarke, Jasper, Dekalb, Gwinnett, Fulton, Barrow, Oglethorpe, Green, Butts and Henry.

Our attorneys provide individually tailored estate planning documents, including wills, revocable living trusts, Guardianships, Durable Powers of Attorney, Guardian ad Litem, health and financial powers of attorney and other advance directives. We also provide a wealth of ancillary legal services attendant to estate planning and probate matters, including an analysis of the use of probate avoidance techniques, proper titling and funding of assets into revocable trusts, and carefully crafting estate, gift, and income-tax saving strategies.

Clients often need our firm’s attorneys’ advice after experiencing a lifestyle change. For example, our attorneys are often consulted after the birth of a child to provide advice on trust creation, the naming of a guardian, and to discuss life insurance as a possible component of their overall estate plan. Our estate planning attorneys provide guidance on how to execute a sale or transfer of a business or property while minimizing the potential tax implications of such a sale or transfer.

Divorce

Most people do not get married knowing their relationship will end in divorce. As such, if you are going through a divorce or family law matter, you may feel overwhelmed, or even a bit angry and lost. You need a legal team dedicated to helping you look beyond these emotions toward an equitable resolution of your issues. For effective representation that meets your needs, call Lavigno Law to schedule your consultation with an experienced and dedicated Georgia divorce lawyer.

Divorces can be complex or straightforward cases, depending on the parties and the marital assets. If you are contemplating divorce, it is best to get legal advice early so you understand exactly what your marital assets are and how those might be divided.

Georgia divorce law provides 13 legal grounds for divorce. Anyone involved in a divorce must identify at least one of the legal grounds, but they may claim multiple grounds. Each of the legal grounds for divorce requires certain conditions to exist in order to formally assert any particular reason for getting a divorce in Georgia. Georgia is not a fault-based state, meaning getting a divorce in Georgia does not require determining fault. However, of the 13 grounds for divorce, there are grounds that may be cited which do create a condition of fault. To learn which grounds would be best for your situation, contact Lavigno Law, one of Georgia’s most experienced divorce attorneys.

Child Custody

A child custody action can be one of the most emotionally taxing legal processes one can face. While your goals must be taken into consideration, we understand that your child’s well-being and future are the most important aspects of your case. Our compassionate attorneys at Lavigno Law keep you and your child in mind as we help you proceed through a child custody action.

Lavigno Law Firm is uniquely qualified to handle child custody matters, as Bethany Lavigno is frequently appointed by Judges as a Guardian ad Litem (GAL). As the GAL, Bethany Lavigno represents the best interest of that child and conducts a full investigation surrounding that child and ultimately makes a recommendation to the Judge regarding custody and visitation schedule that is in the best interest of the child, or children.

We will work hard to protect your rights and maintain your child’s welfare. We are well-versed in the different factors at play in custody decisions and we dedicate significant time to helping you understand what your options are through every step.

Child Support

It takes an incredible investment of time, money and energy to raise a child. The attorneys at Lavigno Law carefully evaluate the expected educational and medical expenses of each child.

A variety of factors are considered when determining child support, including parental income and children’s expenses, including health insurance, educational expenses and child care costs. Our attorneys have the combination of experience and expertise to help you advocate on behalf of your children for the best possible child support award.

Condemnation and Property Dispute

Lavigno Law Firm is uniquely specialized in this area, largely due to Bill Lavigno’s condemnation experience that he was able to pass along to his daughter. Also, Bethany Lavigno’s employment history as a City Planner makes her specialized in this area of the law because she worked in zoning, code enforcement, and comprehensive planning.

Condemnation cases arise, most frequently, when roads are being widen or when a roundabout is being added at an intersection. Typically, GDOT makes a property owner an initial offer and typically that offer is too low. Lavigno Law Firm can represent you through this process of negotiating a fair price for the amount of land being taken or for the amount of land being needed for easements for utilities. What people don’t realize, if that if dirt is being moved, your land is changing and you are entitled to just compensation.

Property disputes arise over property lines or nuisances. Nuisances can include water draining from your neighbor’s property over your property affecting the use of your property. Lavigno Law Firm is here to determine whether you have a valid property claim and which avenue is best suited to resolve that claim or issue.