Family Law Section – One Year Old and Growing Strong

The DeKalb County Bar Association Family Law Section is officially a year old — and 73 members strong! In the spring of 2009, a core group of family law attorneys met to address the need for a family law section in DeKalb County, based in part on increased domestic court filings: In 2009, of the approximate 14,000 superior court civil cases filed, almost 10,000 were domestic. Under the leadership of Denise VanLanduyt, of Denise VanLanduyt, Attorney at Law, LLC, and with the assistance of the immediate past president of the DeKalb Bar, Denise M. Warner, the family law section became a reality.

Starting in August 2009, we began holding breakfast meetings the first Thursday of each month. The DeKalb Superior Court judges readily agreed to lend their support by speaking at these meetings. We quickly outgrew our original meeting space at Badda Bing and relocated to the old DeKalb County Courthouse. We believe this positive response from both the Bar and Bench in forming and supporting FLS represents an example of their working together to serve the DeKalb community, especially as to the increased demands of family law litigation.

The Family Law Section looks forward to continued successes in the 2010-2011 year. Denise VanLanduyt has agreed to serve one more year as chair, with officers Becca Crumrine, chair-elect; Louis Tesser, secretary; Debra M. Gold, treasurer; and members-at-large Dawn de Klerk, Lois Shingler, Rebecca Hoelting, and Katherine Adams-Carter.

Special thanks goes to our 2009-2010 sponsors: Atlanta Psychological Services, Atlantic Investigations Service, Diversified Legal Services, Investigative Accounting Group, Frazier and Deeter, Bill Shoemaker of Keller Williams Realty, and Professional Document Services. Please contact Debra M. Gold if you, or someone you know, are interested in sponsorship opportunities for the coming year.

We look forward to seeing you all on Thursday, Sept. 2, for the monthly breakfast meeting in the Harrison Room at the historic Old Courthouse in downtown Decatur. Please remember to bring school supplies with you for donation to the Women’s Resource Center.