Christie Ayotte (pronounced A ot) is an Attorney specializing in Adoptions and Family law (divorces and family dissolutions for married, unmarried and same-sex couples, custody disputes, alimony modifications, and child support enforcement) and Wills and Estate Planning. Christie has been a registered civil mediator with Georgia's Office of Dispute Resolution since 2008 and is a trained Guardian Ad Litem.
Christie received her J.D. from Emory University School of Law, and holds a B.A. in Sociology from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. Prior to forming her own firm, Christie worked with a small generalist firm in Buckhead.
While in law school, Christie worked as a legal technical editor for PensionLitigationData.com, translating the complex language of employee benefits law (ERISA) into plain English for accountants, human resource managers, and business people. In 2008, she was awarded second place in the 20th Annual American Judges' Association Law Student Writing Competition.
As a Civil Mediator in Fulton County and DeKalb County Magistrate Courts (dispossessory court), Christie has mediated more than 150 landlord-tenant cases, helping landlords and tenants come up with fair and reasonable agreements that benefit both parties. Ms. Ayotte's other pre-J.D. legal experience includes work with Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LP, and as a paralegal with Kitchens New Cleghorn LLC.
Law is Christie's second career. Prior to law school, she provided political, marketing, and operational services to a variety of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and non-profits, as the head of Signature Projects LLC, a company she created. Most notably, Christie served as a legislative aide to former state senator David Adelman (D-Atlanta) and as the business manager and interim executive director of Georgia Equality. Her op-ed pieces have been published in Georgia (Southern Voice) and nationally (The Advocate, The Washington Blade).
Christie Ayotte currently serves as a Guardian Ad Litem through Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, and the DeKalb Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. She is the President of the Hotlanta Squares, an LGBT square-dancing group. Her most recent volunteer work has been as an adoptions counselor with the Atlanta Humane Society, and as a board member of the Atlanta Pride Committee. She is a member of North Decatur Presbyterian Church and resides in Decatur.
Practice Areas:
- Family Law (Adoption, Second Parent Adoption, Divorce, Same-Sex Partner Dissolution, Custody Disputes, Child Support Modification, Alimony Modification)
- Domestic Partner Agreements
- Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning
- Small Business & Start-ups (Contracts, Incorporations, Trademark Registration, Negotiations, Litigation)
- Dispute Resolution/Mediation
Education:
J.D., Emory University School of Law
B.A., Smith College
