Winning Child Custody in Athens Georgia

The ugliest part of a divorce is definitely child custody. Mental agony and trauma that the parents and children involved are subjected to is immense. To top all this, most of the judges seem to be inclined towards granting custody to mothers due to the reasoning that mothers would be more apt in providing a nurturing environment to the children. This trend is fast changing with mothers having full time jobs as well.

Times have changed and it has been proven that a father is also equally capable of providing a loving atmosphere for a child to grow and develop. Fathers also play an important part in the personality development of a child and his importance cannot be overemphasized. Thus both parents have a right to contest child custody in Georgia.

Child custody cases are always ruled in best interests of the child in Georgia, just like in all other states. The court hands over custody to one or both parents. Legal custody gives the parent right to make major decision concerning the child like which school to attend, which religion to practice, matters related to psychological counseling, academic tutoring, visit to doctors etc. Generally, courts prefer that both parents participate in these decisions and hence shared legal custody is granted.

Sole custody is awarded for a number of reasons. These include:

• Parents are not in good terms with each other and hence do not wish to be in communication even over issues related to children.
• One of the parent lives far away.
• One of the parents is not at all involved or aware of the child’s daily life and has not spent much time with the child.
• The child has been abused and neglected by one of the parents.

Even when joint legal custody is awarded one parent retains rights to make important decisions concerning the child.

Custody in Georgia can be:

• Physical custody – the child lives with the parent.
• Legal custody – the right to make decisions concerning the child.

The child lives with custodial parent while other parent has visitation rights and is non custodial parent. The granting of custody takes into consideration many factors including parenting abilities, needs of child, wishes of child, residential location of parents, agreements reached between parents etc.

Parents should consult their attorneys and try to reach an agreement prior to filing. This would be much easier on the child. A competent attorney would be able to win you child custody but it is vital that every parent is aware of their rights and is also abreast with child custody guidelines and laws. This would help them in accepting a court decision with ease and maturity. The trick is to know the system and make it work for you.