Athens GA Child Visitation Lawyer | Georgia Modification Attorney

Athens Georgia Visitation Modification Lawyer

If you are involved in a child visitation matter in the Athens Georgia area, then call the Athens-Clarke County Georgia visitation lawyers at Davidson & Affiliates by calling (706) 549-6689 or by filling out our feedback form.

What is visitation?

Visitation is when you have the right to have specified, periodic custody of your child or children. It doesn’t affect legal custody, and if you have legal custody of your child, the other parent can’t change in any way the long-term decisions you’ve made for that child. As an example, the parent without legal custody can’t register your children for school.

My spouse has been awarded supervised visitation. What does that mean?
This type of visitation is generally granted in cases where the parent has abused the child or other children. The court will uphold the abusive parent’s right to have some form of contact with the child or children as long as there is no chance for further abuse.

In a supervised visitation arrangement, a relative or trusted friend will act as a chaperone to watch the child and protect the child’s safety and wellbeing during visitation.

Can I obtain visitation rights to see my grandchildren?

The courts in Georgia have granted visitation rights to grandparents and step-grandparents even if the parents of their grandchildren were never married, and in some cases, where the parents are married. You will have to show the court that being granted visitation rights is in the best interest of the child or children. Brothers and sisters may also petition the court to have visitation rights to see their other siblings.

Are there reasons visitation could be denied?

If one of the parents does not do something the court ordered them to do, such as pay child support, visitation could be suspended temporarily. While the parent who has custody of the minor children can’t deny court-ordered visitations, they can file a motion to have the visitation agreement changed in some way. If the custodial parent is denying you visitation, you can petition the court to enforce your visitation rights. Don’t stop paying child support if you’re denied your visitation, even if the other parent isn’t obeying the court’s order. Failure on your part to not pay court ordered child support is a crime and you could be arrested. The judge could send you to jail until you pay the child support you owe.