Specialized Expertise

Georgia Child Custody Attorneys Serving Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cumming & Macon

Child custody is often one of the most important and emotionally difficult issues parents face during a divorce, separation, legitimation, or custody dispute. The outcome can affect where your child lives, how major decisions are made, and how much time each parent spends with the child.

Our child custody attorneys take a direct, practical, and honest approach. We explain how Georgia custody law applies to your circumstances, help you understand the options available, and develop a strategy focused on protecting your relationship with your child and promoting the child’s best interests.

We represent parents in Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cumming, Macon, North Fulton, Forsyth County, and surrounding Georgia communities in contested and uncontested custody matters.

Legal Custody

Legal custody concerns the authority to make major decisions affecting a child’s life.

In Georgia, parents may share joint legal custody, meaning both parents have rights and responsibilities regarding important decisions involving the child. These decisions commonly include:

• Education
• Non-emergency medical care
• Extracurricular activities
• Religious upbringing

A parenting plan will generally identify how these decisions are made and may assign one parent final decision-making authority in one or more areas if the parents are unable to reach an agreement.

The details matter. Our attorneys help clients understand what joint legal custody actually means in practice and advocate for decision-making arrangements that are workable for the family and appropriate for the child.

Physical Custody and Parenting Time

Physical custody concerns where a child lives and how parenting time is divided between the parents.

Depending on the circumstances, one parent may be designated as the primary physical custodian, or the parents may exercise a more evenly divided parenting schedule. Parenting arrangements can vary substantially from one family to another.

A parenting plan may address:

• Regular weekday and weekend parenting time
• School-year schedules
• Summer parenting time
• Holidays and school breaks
• Transportation and exchanges
• Vacation schedules
• Communication with the child
• Travel
• Other issues affecting the child’s day-to-day routine

There is no single parenting schedule that is appropriate for every family. The right arrangement depends on the child’s needs, the parents’ schedules, the distance between their homes, school considerations, the history of each parent’s involvement, and many other factors.

Our attorneys work with clients to develop parenting plans that are practical, detailed, and focused on the child’s best interests.

The Best Interests of the Child

Georgia courts make custody decisions based on the best interests of the child.

The court may consider numerous factors, including each parent’s relationship with the child, involvement in the child’s education and medical care, ability to provide a stable home environment, willingness to support the child’s relationship with the other parent, and the child’s individual needs.

Because custody cases are highly fact specific, careful preparation is essential. We help clients identify the facts and evidence that demonstrate their involvement in their child’s life and their ability to provide a stable, supportive environment.

Guardian ad Litem and Other Professionals

Some custody cases involve complicated allegations, high levels of parental conflict, or concerns regarding a child’s emotional, developmental, educational, or medical needs. When appropriate, a court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem to investigate the circumstances of the case and make recommendations concerning the child’s best interests.

In other cases, testimony or evaluation from a mental health professional or another qualified expert may provide valuable information.

Our attorneys understand how to work with Guardians ad Litem and other professionals when their involvement becomes part of a custody case.

Contested Child Custody Cases

When parents cannot agree on custody or parenting time, the court may ultimately be required to decide those issues. Contested custody litigation can involve testimony from the parents, teachers, medical providers, family members, experts, Guardians ad Litem, or other witnesses. Documents, communications, school records, medical records, parenting histories, and other evidence may also become important.

Our attorneys prepare custody cases with the possibility of trial in mind while continuing to evaluate opportunities for a reasonable resolution through negotiation or mediation. When an agreement is not possible, we are prepared to present the evidence and advocate for our client’s position in court.

Child Custody Representation in Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cumming & Macon

Custody decisions can have long-term consequences for both parents and children. Whether you are dealing with custody as part of a divorce, seeking to establish an initial parenting arrangement, or facing a contested custody dispute, experienced legal guidance can help you understand your rights and your options.

Our Georgia child custody attorneys represent parents throughout Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cumming, Macon, North Fulton, Forsyth County, and surrounding areas.

Contact Our Georgia Child Custody Attorneys

If you are facing a child custody dispute or have questions about legal custody, physical custody, parenting time, or a proposed parenting plan, contact our office to discuss your situation with an experienced Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cumming, or Macon child custody attorney.