Legal Services

Child Custody in Georgia

What you Should Know

Divorce and separation are never easy situations. When children are a part of the family dynamic, the stakes get even higher. Custody concerns can create heated emotions a host of additional considerations during the settlement process.

Types of Child Custody in Georgia

Georgia law on child custody does not make any presumption in favor or the mother or the father or for granting any particular form of custody to either parent. When deciding custody matters, the court will consider both physical custody and legal custody. Physical custody refers to the actual physical possession of the child, i.e. how much time the child spends with each parent.

Custody concerns can create heated emotions and is best handled by a legal professional who specializes in this type of family law. Contact our firm today for an initial consultation.

Legal custody, on the other hand, refers to the right and responsibility to make decisions regarding the child’s upbringing in areas such as healthcare, education, religion, extracurricular and social activities.

Here are a few terms to be familiar with before your hearing.

Custody decision: The judge will hear input from both parents and then will make a final custody decision based on what he or she feels is in the best interest of the child. Once the judge makes a ruling, it cannot be changed unless there is some mitigating circumstance in the family dynamic.

Sole custody: In this type of custody, the judge approves visitation terms for the non-custodial parent, however this parent will have no legal authority to speak on behalf of the child.

Joint custody: This means that both parents both have legal authority over the child and make decisions together on their behalf. Additionally, they both have equal parenting time.

In addition to understanding your rights in a child custody case, it is crucial to have experienced and trusted legal representation to help you through these sensitive proceedings. For more information on custody hearings, contact attorney Matthew Midgett today at 912-421-1553 or reach us through our online form.