Need Child Support and Child Custody Help in North Georgia?
Child custody and child support payment arrangements are stressful subjects for any parent. That is especially true since those topics generally come up when the parents are already under the stress of a divorce. If you find yourself a parent in that situation, here’s what you need to know about determining a child custody and child support payment plan.
Who Gets Physical Custody in a Georgia Divorce?
The first question is who gets physical custody of the children? In other words, where will they live? It’s best if both parents can agree on this point. Usually it is based on what would be best for the child. For example, if one parent lives closest to the child’s current school, they may want to let the child at least finish out the school year in that same school. However, there are cases where parents can’t agree on a physical custody plan on their own, and that’s when the courts step in.
It is entirely possible for both parents to share physical custody. In other words, the child might stay with one parent one week and the other the next, or perhaps one parent will have the child stay with them only on weekends. It all depends on what can be determined between the court and the parents to be in the child’s best interest.
There may be situations where the parents themselves or the court system decide that one parent should have sole physical custody. If one parent is deemed to be dangerous or unfit, that could happen. It could also happen if one parent lives far away from the other and they decide that the child deserves a stable environment, rather than traveling back and forth all the time.
Legal Custody in Georgia
Legal custody is whole other matter and needs to be determined separately from physical custody. Legal custody determines which parent is allowed to make decisions regarding how the child is raised, their physical well being, and other important matters. It is entirely possible for both parents to be given joint legal custody, just as joint physical custody is possible. However, it is also possible for one parent to have sole legal custody, especially if the other parent is deemed to be unfit to make such decisions by the court.
Unmarried Fathers Who Want Custody in Georgia
Unmarried fathers who want custody of their children must first prove paternity by filing a Petition for Legitimation. This tells the court that the father is legitimate and has a legal right to ask for custody of the child in question, even if the two parents were never married.
Working Out Child Support Payments
Another big part of child custody is working out child support payments. The court will typically decide what the child support payments should be. They will base that decision on the incomes and assets of both parents. However, incomes and assets can change over time. So, you might find yourself needing to petition the court to change that ruling at a later date.
As you can see, the issue of child custody is a complicated and ongoing one as situations change. Let us help you to make it less complicated. Call us at 706-692-7226 and we will help you get through the process and hopefully come up with an arrangement that suits all parties involved.