Law Firm Overview

Joseph E. Cheeley, III, brings over 27 years of legal experience to his general civil practice serving the Metropolitan Atlanta area.  A native of Buford, Gwinnett County, Georgia, Joseph represents individuals and small businesses in the areas of Family, Contract, Tort, Business, and Estates.

Family practice includes divorce, child custody and visitation, alimony and child support, property division, separate maintenance, domestic violence, paternity, legitimation, prenuptial agreements, adoption, post-judgment relief and appeals.

Contract practice includes negotiation, preparataion, review, dispute resolution, enforcement and litigation.

Tort practice includes personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, premises liability, fraud and workers' compensation.

Business practice includes legal entity formation, dissolution and litigation.

Estate practice includes wills, trusts, probate and administration of estates, year's support, guardianship and conservatorship, living wills and powers of attorney.

Joseph practiced law with his father and brothers until 1999, when he opened his solo practice.  Joseph and his firm served as Gwinnett County attorney in the mid-1980's.  The Georgia Supreme Court appointed Joseph to serve as judge or Special Master in State Bar of Georgia attorney disciplinary matters.  He served as Special Assistant Attorney General prepresenting the Gwinnett County Department of Family and Children Services in child custody cases from 1983 until 1999.  Joseph has been involved in more than 30 reported cases at the appellate level in the Georgia Supreme Court and Georgia Court of Appeals.

While attending college Joseph was a leader in student government and several campus organizations.  He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, scholastic honorary, and Omicron Delta Kappa, leadership honorary, and received other leadership and scholastic honors from the University of Georgia.

Joseph and his wife, Margaret, have two children and are active in church and civic organizations in Gwinnett County.

Areas of Practice

• Family Law
• Contracts
• Personal Injury
• Workers' Compensation
• Products Liability
• Business and Corporate
• Probate and Estate Planning
• Litigation and Appeals
• Insurance Claims

Published Works

• Domestic Relations, 32 Mercer Law Review 51, 1980
• Domestic Relations, 33 Mercer Law Review 109, 1981

Representative Cases

• Crane v. Cheeley, 270 Ga. App. 126, 605 S.E.2d 824 (2004)
• Southerland v. Southerland, 278 Ga. 188, 598 S.E.2d 442 (2004)
• Barnett v. Platz, 261 Ga. App. 51, 581 S.E.2d 682 (2003)
• In the Interest of B. G., 242 Ga. App. 546, 530 S.E.2d 473 (2000)
• In the Interest of B. G., 238 Ga. App. 227, 518 S.E.2d 451 (1999)
• In the Interest of S.S., 232 Ga. App. 287, 501 S.E.2d 618 (1998)
• In the Interest of B.G., 225 Ga. App. 492, 484 S.E.2d 293 (1997)
• In the Interest of M.R., 213 Ga. App. 460, 444 S.E.2d 866 (1994)
• Brandon v. Mayfield, 215 Ga. App. 735, 452 S.E.2d 181 (1994)
• In the Interest of M.C.A.B., 207 Ga. App. 325, 427 S.E.2d 824 (1993)
• Storey v. State, 205 Ga. App. 610, 422 S.E.2d 879 (1992)
• Howard v. Howard, 262 Ga. 144, 414 S.E.2d 203 (1992)
• In the Interest of D.R.C., 198 Ga. App. 348, 401 S.E. 2d 754 (1991)
• Garner v. Harrison, 260 Ga. 866, 400 S.E.2d 925 (1991)
• Chandler v. Chandler, 261 Ga. 598, 409 S.E.2d 203 (1991) (1991)
• Kehayes v. Petch, 197 Ga. App. 45, 397 S.E.2d 458 (1990)
• Greene v. State, 191 Ga. App. 149, 381 S.E.2d 310 (1989)
• Crecelius v. Brooks, 258 Ga. 372, 369 S.E.2d 743 (1988)
• Sofet v. Roberts, 185 Ga. App. 451, 364 S.E.2d 595 (1988)
• Bowen & Bowen, Inc. v. McCoy-Gibbons, Inc., 185 Ga. App. 298, 363 S.E.2d 827 (1987)
• Ewing v. Johnston, 175 Ga. App. 760, 334 S.E.2d 703 (1985)
• Rice v. Mansour, 176 Ga. App. 617, 337 S.E.2d 25 (1985)
• Brooks v. Department of Transportation, 254 Ga. 60, 327 S.E.2d 175 (1985)
• Capps v. Mullen, 172 Ga. App. 297, 322 S.E.2d 297 (1984)
• In Interest of E. R. D., 172 Ga. App. 590, 323 S.E.2d 723 (1984)
• Braselton v. Robinson, 166 Ga. App. 889, 305 S.E.2d 591 (1983)
• Leiphart Chevrolet v. Ewing, 163 Ga. App. 416, 295 S.E.2d 128 (1982)
• Frick Forest Products v. International Hardwoods, 161 Ga. App. 359, 288 S.E.2d 625 (1982)
• Henderson v. Mitchell Engineering Co., 158 Ga. App. 306, 280 S.E.2d 438 (1981)
• Lewis v. Lewis, 158 Ga. App. 322, 280 S.E.2d 157 (1981)
• American Erectors v. Hanie, 157 Ga. App. 687, 278 S.E.2d 195 (1981)
• Carvalho v. Lewis, 247 Ga. 94, 274 S.E.2d 471 (1981)
• Brown v. Higgins, 247 Ga. 64, 274 S.E.2d 324 (1981)
• Wages v. Wages, 246 Ga. 317, 271 S.E.2d 635 (1980)

West Practice Categories

Bad Faith Insurance, Garnishment, Business & Commercial Law, Consumer Protection, Contracts, Debtor/Creditor, Transactions, Business Organizations, Business Successions, Closely Held Businesses, Directors' & Officers' Liability, Dissolution, Formation & Business Planning, Limited Liability Companies, Non-profit & Tax-exempt Organizations, Partnerships, Collections, Construction Law, Construction Contracts, Construction Liens, Housing & Construction Defects, Employment Law -- Employee, Employee Rights -- Employee, Employment Contracts -- Employee, Estate Planning, Elder Law, Guardianships & Conservatorships, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney and Appointment, Trusts, Wills, Ethics & Professional Responsibility, Ethics, Professional Responsibility, Family Law, Adoption, Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Childrens' Rights, Collaborative Law, Custody & Visitation, Divorce, Domestic Violence & Neglect, Juvenile Law, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements, Insurance Law, Bad Faith, Insurance Subrogation, Life & Health, Motor Vehicle, Property & Casualty, Litigation & Appeals, State Appellate Practice, State Trial Practice, Personal Injury -- Plaintiff, Animal Bites -- Plaintiff, Assault & Battery -- Plaintiff, Defamation & Privacy -- Plaintiff, Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff, Premises Liability -- Plaintiff, Property Damage -- Plaintiff, Slip and Fall -- Plaintiff, Wrongful Death -- Plaintiff, Probate & Estate Administration, Estate Administration, Products Liability Law, Machinery & Tools, Recreational Products, Landlord/Tenant, Workers' Compensation Law, Workers' Compensation Appeals