Stewart Melvin & Frost partner Mark Alexander and his family recently took part in a Medical Mission Trip to Bolivia.

 One clear sign of the down economy in recent years has been the sharp rise in debt collection cases in which creditors, typically employing a lawyer or a collection agency, seek all or a portion of what they are owed by a debtor.

Losing a loved one is never easy. Emotional needs must be met. Immediate family matters must be attended to. Funeral or memorial service arrangements must be made. But at some point fairly soon after death certain practical steps need to be taken.

Today’s “modern family” has many looks – including more gray hair as grandparents increasingly take over the role of parenting (this time around for their grandchildren) due to such factors as the challenging economy and higher divorce rates. Consequently, we’re increasingly seeing another side of divorce: Grandparents going to court to secure visitation or custody rights for their estranged grandchildren.

Collaborative law, a more uncommon alternative to the “nasty divorce,” is relatively new to our community. But this highly specialized area of the law has spread rapidly through the United States since the 1980s and has been particularly positive for those seeking a healthier and more efficient divorce or separation.

In the aftermath of the high-profile Jerry Sandusky trial involving Penn State University, the nation has collectively experienced a heightened awareness of child abuse, physical and sexual, and the moral responsibility to report suspected abuse cases.

The tax that Georgians pay annually on their cars and trucks – often referred to as the “birthday tax” – is going away next year.  

 Underwater mortgages – or negative home equity – occur when a homeowner owes more on his house than it is worth. The Great Recession and collapse of the housing market nationwide certainly have impacted the number of underwater mortgages. A recent study shows that 31.4 percent of U.S. homeowners are under water with their mortgages.

With popularity of Facebook, Twitter and other social media, a disturbing trend known as cyberbullying, which particularly affects young people and sometimes involves damaging criminal acts, has come to the forefront.

Alyson Graham, an attorney with the North Georgia law firm of Stewart Melvin & Frost, has been selected to the 2012-2013 class of Leadership Hall County.

Social media has revolutionized communications and relationships over the Internet. But posting your opinions and feelings on social media tools such as Facebook does not come without legal risks.

Mark Alexander, an attorney and partner with Stewart Melvin & Frost, has been elected to the State Bar of Georgia’s Board of Governors.

Facebook should be treated like an asset of the deceased member’s estate and therefore managed by the executor and controlled by the deceased member’s Will.

Many people think of lawyers in adversarial roles, arguing one side or the other in a courtroom dispute. But there are times when a lawyer can play a more personal hand-holding role, simply helping someone get through a major crisis in their life.

I’m often involved in disputes over the contents of safe deposit boxes – usually when the boxes are jointly leased. A recent case in Forsyth County provides a helpful reminder of the rules involved.