ATHENS GA CHILD CUSTODY LAWYER

ATHENS GA CHILD CUSTODY LAWYER

To most parents, the most important issue in a divorce case, or modification of a divorce decree, involves who will have custody of the children. Neither parent is automatically entitled to custody. The court must determine the best interests of the children when deciding custody and determine what will best promote the children’s welfare and happiness.

The judge considers many factors when deciding custody, including but not limited to: the love, affection, bonding and emotional ties existing between each parent and the child, the child and his or her siblings, half-siblings, and step-siblings and the residence of such other children; the willingness and ability of each of the parents to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship between the child and the other parent, consistent with the best interest of the child; each parent’s knowledge and familiarity of the child and the child’s needs; the home environment of each parent considering the promotion of nurturance and safety of the child rather than superficial or material factors; each parent’s involvement, or lack thereof, in the child’s educational, social and extracurricular activities; and each parent’s past performance and relative abilities for future performance of parenting responsibilities.

• Joint legal and physical custody
• Primary physical custody
• Sole legal and physical custody
• Abuse of children and protective orders
• Either parent moving out of state or far away
• Remarriage of either spouse
• Custody and parenting/visitation time with children more than 14 years of age
• Parenting/visitation time
• Parenting plans
• Modification of custody
• Modification of parenting/visitation time