Susan Hurst - Attorney at Law

Welcome

Susan Hurst has grown her family law practice in the Atlanta area for over 17 years. While very experienced as a litigator, she is highly skilled in mediation and collaborative practice, preferring the outcome when achieved through negotiation and consent. In addition, she often serves as a guardian ad litem for children entangled in custody disputes. She is a published author and a frequent lecturer in family law, mediation and collaborative practice. She is married and has two children.

Collaborative Practice is process of resolving family disputes that does not include adversarial techniques or tactics. Using a cooperative model of negotiation an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving is undertaken by the attorneys and their clients. Both parties and their attorneys agree not to use the court to resolve disputes during the Collaborative Process. Instead, skilled counsel, like Ms. Hurst, assist the client in achieving resolution of their conflict in a manner that supports the family as whole and the client in their interests.

Mediation is a process where the parties, and their lawyers if they choose, meet with Ms. Hurst, who as a neutral person who assists them in the negotiation of their differences. Mediation leaves the decision power totally and strictly with the parties. While using her skills as a family lawyer, Ms. Hurst acts as a catalyst between the differing positions, helping define and identify interests and seeking resolution of the conflicts. The mediator does not decide what is "fair" or "right". Instead, the mediator guides the process to avoid confrontation and ill will.

Ms. Hurst also frequently serves as a Guardian ad Litem, representing children in custody disputes. She is frequently appointed by the Superior Courts of Fulton, Dekalb and Cobb counties, either by the judge on his or her own accord, or by agreement of the attorney’s representing the parents. Acting as a Guardian, she conducts an independent investigation and then makes a recommendation in accordance with the best interests of the child.