Divorce, a custody fight, or a criminal charge rarely arrives at a convenient moment. When it does, you want a family law attorney in Columbus, GA who has spent a career making hard calls under pressure. Scot Sikes served more than 21 years in the U.S. Army — over a decade as a JAG officer, prosecutor, and Senior Defense Counsel — before founding his Columbus practice in 2006, minutes from the gates of Fort Benning.
Call 706-494-6900 for a free consultation. We serve families and service members throughout Columbus, Muscogee County, and the surrounding Chattahoochee Valley.
Family Law Help from a Columbus, GA Attorney Who Listens First
Most people walk into our office anxious, angry, or simply exhausted. Our first job is not to file paperwork — it is to listen, lay out your options in plain English, and explain what each one is likely to cost you in time, money, and stress. Only then do we build a strategy.
The family law practice at the Law Offices of Scot Sikes covers the full range of domestic matters in Georgia:
- Contested and uncontested divorce, including high-conflict and high-asset cases
- Child custody, visitation, and parenting plans
- Child support orders, modifications, and enforcement
- Alimony and division of marital property under Georgia’s equitable distribution rules
- Adoptions, paternity, premarital agreements, and post-divorce modifications
Because Georgia courts decide custody on the best interests of the child — not on whether you are the mother or the father — preparation and credibility matter enormously. We know the local judges, the local courtrooms, and how family cases actually move through the Superior Courts in this circuit.
Military Divorce Lawyer Serving Fort Benning
A military divorce is not just a civilian divorce in uniform. Deployments, PCS moves, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, military retired pay, and housing allowances all change the analysis — and a lawyer who has never worn the uniform can miss issues that follow you for decades.
Scot Sikes commanded a Military Police company, deployed to Iraq and Kuwait as an Army lawyer, and defended soldiers on installations around the world. If you are stationed at Fort Benning (formerly Fort Moore) and facing divorce, custody, or support issues, our military divorce practice was built for exactly your situation — whether you are the service member or the military spouse.
Criminal Defense Rooted in Real Trial Experience
Family crises and criminal allegations often travel together — a domestic dispute becomes an arrest, or a DUI threatens a career and a custody case at the same time. Scot Sikes has prosecuted and defended cases for the Army and has handled charges from DUI to serious felonies in Georgia courts. Several of his cases drew coverage from CNN, Fox News, The New York Times, ABC, NBC, and CBS. If you or a family member has been charged, our criminal defense practice can step in immediately.
Why Clients Choose the Law Offices of Scot Sikes
- Battle-tested judgment. Two decades-plus of Army service, including courtroom work as both prosecutor and Senior Defense Counsel.
- Local knowledge. A Columbus firm since 2006, with deep familiarity with area courts and judges.
- Military fluency. We speak the language of Fort Benning — LES statements, SCRA protections, deployment schedules, retired pay.
- Straight answers. You get realistic expectations, not sales talk, and you stay informed at every stage.
- One advocate, start to finish. Your case is not handed down the hall; Scot Sikes stays personally involved.
About Scot Sikes
Scot Sikes is an Army veteran and Georgia trial lawyer. Over more than 21 years in uniform he served as a Military Police officer and company commander, then as a Judge Advocate handling everything from tort claims to felony courts-martial, ultimately supervising other defense attorneys as Senior Defense Counsel. He opened the Law Offices of Scot Sikes near Fort Benning in September 2006 and has represented soldiers, families, and civilians across Georgia ever since. Read the full firm profile for his complete background.
Serving Columbus and the Chattahoochee Valley
From our office at 5 Bradley Park Court in Columbus, we represent clients in Muscogee County, Harris County, Chattahoochee County, and Marion County, as well as service members and families at Fort Benning and neighbors across the river in Phenix City. Free consultations are available by phone or in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can I get divorced in Georgia?
If you and your spouse agree on everything, an uncontested divorce can be granted in as little as 31 days after filing and service. Contested cases take longer — often several months, sometimes more — depending on what is in dispute.
Do I need grounds for a Georgia divorce?
Georgia recognizes 13 grounds for divorce, but most cases proceed on the no-fault ground that the marriage is irretrievably broken. No one has to prove wrongdoing, which usually makes the case faster and less expensive.
Can my spouse and I share one attorney?
No. One lawyer cannot ethically represent both sides of a divorce. Even in friendly cases, each spouse needs independent advice before signing a settlement agreement.
Does deployment affect my custody or divorce case?
It can. Federal law gives deployed service members certain protections against default judgments, and Georgia courts can structure parenting plans around military duty. Raise your status with your attorney at the very first meeting.
Ready to Talk? Put Battle-Tested Counsel on Your Side
Call the Law Offices of Scot Sikes at 706-494-6900 or request a free consultation. Located at 5 Bradley Park Court, Suite 101, Columbus, GA 31904 — minutes from the Muscogee County courthouse and the gates of Fort Benning.