BIO:

I have been practicing family law for over 20 years now, and have extensive knowledge and experience with high asset and complex family law litigation, including with high conflict child custody disputes.  I have also been an active member of my community, in addition to being active in our local bar associations and related legal organizations.  I earned my B.A. from Binghamton University (S.U.N.Y.) in 1997, and my J.D. from Emory University School of Law in 2000.  I am proud to be a Partner with Warner Bates, where I have been focused exclusively on family law litigation since 2005. 

PHILOSOPHY

Several years ago, I decided to expand my practice into serving as a Guardian ad Litem because I believe it is important to have someone who really wants to help and can focus their attention on the best interests of the child(ren), while their parents/parental figures are navigating emotional and challenging custody disputes from their own perspectives.  While judges want to do what is best for the child(ren), that is often very difficult to determine just based on what each side is able to present during a limited time in a courtroom.  I feel like being a GAL gives me the opportunity to dig deeper, get to know the family, talk with witnesses, review necessary materials, and even help with child-related disputes as they arise during the litigation process, in addition to explaining my recommendations in a way that tries to help parties find a way to resolve their custody issues by agreement if at all possible.  Where a trial is ultimately necessary, I do my best to assist the Court in getting as clear a picture of the custody-related issues as I can, and to offer a detailed recommendation, so the Court can be in the best position possible to decide such disputes.  As a mother of three, and having lived under custody orders myself, I understand how emotional and complicated it can be finding a custody arrangement that is workable for each particular family and also best for the child(ren) involved.  In my service as a GAL, I try to provide the care for the child(ren) involved that I would hope someone in the same position would provide if serving on behalf of my own children.

Office of Traci A. Weiss is located at:  

5555 Glenridge Connector, Suite 200-30, Atlanta, GA 30342