I'm not a fan of all the pomp and circumstance that you find in most attorney bios. If you want to read about the stuff that attorneys like to brag about, you can find that below where I have listed “Just the Facts.”

Personally, I think you can learn a lot more about a person by delving deeper into how they view their role as advisors and what their approach is to litigation. You may have heard about lawyers who think they are the smartest people in a room who like to tell you about all of the wonderful things they have done to help the poor, the starving and the needy. I'm not one of those attorneys. I try to demystify the law and make it easy to grasp the process and pitfalls from the beginning to the end of your divorce, custody, modification, adoption or other family law case.

My goal is not to make you look or feel dumb or less worthy than me merely because you are not trained in the law. I know that most of my clients are smarter, faster, more intelligent and better looking than me so I don't try to outwit them. I simply work hard to make the law understandable to lay persons. I find that once clients understand what we do and how we do it, they are empowered to take control of their own cases and not only become better, more informed clients, but often become better parents and partners in the process.

When you take your case to court, you shouldn't think of yourself as a Roman gladiator out to slay your opponent. You will find that a kinder, softer and gentler approach works far better than the gladiator thing. When you hire me, I spend lots and lots of time getting to know you and your case so I understand where you are coming from and where you want to go.

I explain what you need to look out for and where you are vulnerable. I won't promise you the moon, pretend I have an “in” with the Judge or guarantee a particular outcome. I give you the cold hard facts and explain how you can present your case in the best light possible. I encourage you to deal with reality and explain the pros and cons of different strategies as well as identify ways you can save money in the course of representation. From there, it's up to you. You decide how you want to conduct yourself, what your goals are and how flexible you are in terms of the final result.

I don't have a “one size fits all” approach to my cases. To me, every case is different from the last one and I dig deep to try and find exactly what makes you tick. I admire and respect lawyers who approach cases with a more formal approach but I do things differently. I tailor my strategies and recommendations to the needs of my clients rather than try to fit every client into my pre-set formula for success. There are a lot of lawyers in Georgia who utilize the same formula in every one of their cases but that's not how I do things.

There are some constants in all of my cases. In every case, I want my clients to be open, transparent and forthright. If you are looking for a lawyer who will help you hide assets, conceal information or destroy your spouse's standing in the community or workplace, please don't call me. I'm not going to help you with any of those things. Find someone else for that.

I will work closely with you and will live, breathe and work through each and every concern that you have but I won't set out to ruin your spouse or do your dirty work for you. I will educate you on what you need to know and work with you to obtain your desired outcome but I won't hit below the belt.

My father, mother, sister and two brothers are lawyers. I grew up in a family of Philadelphia lawyers and we all learned that there are no shortcuts or compromises when it comes to integrity and candor.

So why is a nice Philadelphia lawyer like me practicing family law in Georgia? Because I love it. Not as much as golf, but it's a close second. I love getting to know clients through my work, encouraging them to put their best foot forward when they find themselves involved in the legal process and helping them to work toward a fresh start in life.

There is nothing better than seeing clients make the transition from depressed and dejected to confident and self-assured and committed to creating a better, brighter future. That makes it all worthwhile and that's what makes me tick.

If you think we would make a good team, by all means call me; I would love to work with you.

Education:

Temple University School of Law (1988; Juris Doctor Degree)

New York University (1983; Bachelor of Arts Degree)

Admissions:

Georgia State and Superior Courts (1992)

United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia (1979)

States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (1986)

Professional Associations/Memberships/Affiliations:

Cobb County Bar Association

Georgia Bar Association, (Family Law and Criminal Law Sections)

Certified Guardian Ad Litem

Certified Special Master

National Women's Law Center, Volunteer Lawyer

Cobb County Family Law Workshop, Volunteer Instructor

Cobb Library Foundation, Board of Directors & Past President (2008-2014)

Georgia Alzheimer's and Dementia Foundation, Board of Directors (2013-2014)

Center For Family Resources, Board of Directors (2014)

Cobb Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Cobb (2013)

Synopsis:

I have represented hundreds of clients in federal and state courts and administrative hearing cases throughout the State of Georgia.

I regularly represent clients at hearings involving child custody and visitation, divorce, child move-aways, modification of custody or support, alimony or spousal support, child support, property division, legal separation, validity of premarital and post-marital agreements, and domestic violence.

With thirty years of litigation experience and a thorough knowledge of federal and state procedures, practices and judges, I will give you quality advice as to your legal issues and make a substantial and positive impact in your case.

Located in Marietta and Kennesaw, Georgia, The Cherry Law Firm, P.C., serves Cobb County, Cherokee County, Paulding County and Bartow County, Georgia.

Direct Contact:

I can be reached by phone at 770-444-3399 or via email at diane@cherrylawoffice.com