Child Custody in Georgia

Experienced Georgia Divorce & Family Law Attorneys

Divorce is never an easy experience, and one of the most challenging aspects is deciding what will happen with your children once your divorce is complete. When it comes to Georgia child custody law, there is one consideration which hovers above all others: "the best interests of the child."  Of course, what is in "the best interest of the child" is often the subject of considerable dispute.

When a court tries to determine what "the best interest of the child" is, they will look at each situation on a case by case basis and take into account a wide variety of factors including but not limited to the age of the child, the ability of each parent to care for the child, and the compatibility of the child with each parent. Because of the myriad factors that go into each Georgia child custody decision, and because of the subjective nature of each of these factors, having an experienced Georgia divorce lawyer on your site to protect your parental interests and the interests of your children under Georgia law will be essential.

Different Types of Georgia Child Custody

As our Atlanta family law attorneys can explain to you, there are a number of different custody options under Georgia law.  The first possibility would be joint child custody. There are two types of joint custody: joint legal custody and joint physical custody.  Georgia law states that under joint legal custody, both parents have the right to contribute to major decisions regarding their children, and both parents share equal responsibility in carrying out those decisions. Joint physical custody, on the other hand, refers to the amount of time that a child is permitted to spend with each parent.  It will be important before your case that you and your child custody attorney discuss whether you choose to petition the court for joint physical custody, joint legal custody, or sole legal or physical custody.

Typical Georgia Child Custody Schedules

Georgia child custody and visitation schedules vary widely from case to case, and take into account the wishes of the children (depending on their age), as well as you and your spouse's work schedules and a number of other factors. Your child visitation schedule might consist of alternating weekends between parents, a mid-week visit, open telephone contact, and an even distribution of time during holidays and school vacations. Our divorce attorneys will also talk with you about petitioning the court to allow your children to be with their mother on Mother's Day and their father on Father's Day. Furthermore, a child's birthday may alternate years, as can important holidays such as Thanksgiving or Christmas. Considering the wide variety of consideration and options available to each particular family, our Georgia divorce and family law attorneys always make sure we take the time necessary to discuss all scenarios with our clients so that we can help you create a comprehensive child custody and visitation schedule that is compatible with Georgia law and that works well for you and your children.

Changes to Georgia Child Custody Schedules

When a change in your schedule or lifestyle takes place, you may need to speak with one of our Atlanta child custody lawyers about petitioning the court for a modification of your child custody schedule. We can often petition the court for a change if you have changed jobs or work schedules, if one parent is not providing a safe environment for the children, or if one parent decides to move out of state.  If there has been a significant change in your job or lifestyle, consult with one of our attorneys so that we can help ensure that the time you spend with your children is not hindered in any way.

  Getting Started

If you are dealing with a GA divorce or Georgia child custody issue, we advise you to speak with one of our Atlanta divorce and child custody lawyers sooner rather than later.  The process can be intense and sometimes intimidating, and the help of an experienced attorney will be invaluable in helping you protect your interests and the interests of your children.  For a typical divorce or child custody matter, our law firm retainer begins at $2,500.00.  To talk with one of our family law attorneys about representing you, either fill out the brief form to your left or give us a call.  For additional contact information and driving directions to our offices in Atlanta, GA and Athens, GA please visit our Contact Page.  Thank you and we look forward to working with you.