DIVORCE ATTORNEYS ATLANTA GA
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How Kitchens, New & Cleghorn Views Our Clients

5-Star-Attorney-Reviews
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Thank you Jon and all of KNC for standing by me during these unpleasant times. Your knowledge, experience and advice was exactly what I needed. I will not hesitate to call on you again. Sincerely, Randy

Thank you all. It has been a pleasure working with you during what has been an otherwise unpleasurable situation. Transferring my case to your firm was without a doubt a good decision. Regards, Brian

Wanda, You and Jeff were the voices of calm and peace for such a crazy time in my life and I'll always appreciate that. I received amazing service, and best of all I have no regrets that so many people feel after the emotions have died down. You have an amazing team there and I've already recommended the firm to others. Maria.

Thank you, Kitchens New Cleghorn for helping me to gain custody of my two boys from my ex Wife. You helped me give my kids a fair shot at a normal childhood.” Robert H.

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Georgia Child Custody Law

Experienced Child Custody Attorneys — Offices in Atlanta, Alpharetta & Athens GA

Divorce is never an easy experience, and one of the most challenging aspects is deciding who will have custody of your children. When it comes to Georgia child custody law, there is one consideration which a judge will take into account above all others — “the best interests of the child.” Of course, what truly is in “the best interests of the child” is often the subject of considerable dispute.

When a family law court tries to determine what “the best interest of the child” is, the judge 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 and child custody lawyer on your side to protect your parental interests and the interests of your children is essential. With offices in Atlanta, Alpharetta and Athens, our child custody attorneys have the experience and professionalism to make sure your interests are well-represented.

Types Of Child Custody Under Georgia Law

As the child custody and family law attorneys in our Atlanta, Alpharetta and Athens offices 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 is important that you and your child custody attorney discuss whether you will petition the court for joint physical custody, joint legal custody, or sole legal or physical custody. Note that your child support payment schedule will rely heavily on your child custody schedule.

Typical Georgia Child Custody Schedules

Georgia child custody and visitation schedules vary widely from case to case, and may take into account the wishes of your children (depending on their age), as well as you and your spouse’s work schedules and a number of other factors. A 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, should you wish. Furthermore, a child’s birthday may alternate years, as can important holidays such as Thanksgiving or Christmas. Considering the wide variety of considerations and options available to each particular family, it is important that you sit down with a knowledgeable and experienced child custody lawyer to make sure nothing is missed and all scenarios are discussed so that 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 petition the court for a modification of your child custody schedule. Our attorneys can often petition the court for a change in your child custody schedule 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, please consult with one of our family law attorneys in Atlanta, Alpharetta or Athens so that we can help ensure that the time you spend with your children is not hindered in any way.

Contact Our Child Custody Attorneys

If you are dealing with a GA divorce and have children, we advise you to speak with one of our 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 contested divorce or child custody issue, our law firm retainer begins at $5,000.00. 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, Athens, GA or Alpharetta, GA, please visit our Contact Page. Thank you and we look forward to working with you.