The Complete QDRO Handbook, Fourth Edition

Patricia “Patty” D. Shewmaker, a native of Nebraska, attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in political science and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in Military Intelligence. Patty served seven years on active duty in the U.S. Army and three years in the Georgia Army National Guard. She deployed as a Company Commander of a Counterintelligence Company in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. Patty received the Bronze Star Medal for her service in a combat theater of operations. With her extensive military background and understanding of the unique issues that confront military families, Patty represents many military service members in family law issues. Patty earned her law degree from the Georgia State University College of Law, where she graduated with honors. She has an active practice in all areas of family law, including divorce litigation, modification of custody, alimony and child support, contempt actions and legitimations, and paternity suits. Patty also specializes in dividing qualified retirement plans incident to divorce and legal separation, including pensions under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), military pensions, private pensions, 401(k)s, Thrift Savings Plans (TSPs), and other qualified retirement plans. Patty also has extensive experience with cross-jurisdictional family law litigation. She represents clients whose cases span across multiple states and foreign countries, be it a divorce, custody action, or modification. Patty is well versed in the special jurisdictional requirements of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) and the Uniform Family Support Act (UFSA). Patty is admitted to practice with the State Bar of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals, the Georgia Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. James “Jimmy” Lewis was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended Auburn University and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in political science focusing on pre-law and conflict resolution. Jimmy received his law degree from John Marshall Law School in 2014, where he began to learn litigation skills under two Cobb County district attorneys. Jimmy joined Shewmaker & Shewmaker in February 2015 and practices in all areas of family law, including divorce litigation, modification of custody, alimony and child support, contempt actions, and military-related family law issues. He has a focused practice on preparing Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs) and is routinely hired to advise family law attorneys on the division of retirement plans and the preparation of QDROs. Jimmy is a member of the State of Georgia Bar Association, Georgia Family Law Section, Georgia Young Lawyers Division, DeKalb County Bar Association, and the Family Law section of the DeKalb Bar.