How Are Custody Decisions Made in Georgia?

Fighting for custody of your own child is never easy, and if the child’s other parent is using your child to hurt you or making false claims about you, things can become especially hard. Get an experienced Atlanta, GA custody attorney on your side as soon as you can.

From an Atlanta, GA Custody Attorney: How Custody Decisions Are Made

The first and most important thing to know is that the court always makes decisions based on the standard of what’s in the best interests of the child. The courts are not permitted to put the parents’ needs before the child’s, nor are they allowed to favor one parent over the other. This means you and your lawyer will have to work together to present evidence to show why the custody arrangement you are asking for is in your child’s best interest.

What the Courts Look At

Parenting Skill

One thing the court will be very interested in is how involved both parents are in their child’s life. This will include not just involvement in the fun stuff but also involvement in the difficult things, such as getting the child to medical appointments or working with them in therapy. The courts also want to see that a parent is willing to put their own needs aside whenever necessary to do what’s best for their child.

The courts are fully aware that some parents try to buy the affection of their children in these situations by being excessively permissive. While the courts will certainly take any abuse very seriously, they are looking for parents who know how to discipline consistently and create a stable environment for the child that promotes the child’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being and growth.

Home Environment

The courts will also want to see stable homes where routines can be established. If one parent lives with other relatives that the child is close to, such as cousins or grandparents, the court will consider whether it will be in the child’s best interest to be close to those connections.

It also matters how far a parent lives from the most important places that their child needs to be, such as school. Obviously, the courts are very concerned that the home be safe, as well. This means they will look carefully for any abuse or neglect, even if the abuse is not directed at the child.

Parental Health and Relationship

Finally, the court will want to be sure that the parents are physically and mentally fit to provide the kind of care the child needs. This doesn’t mean that a sick parent can’t have custody of their child; it just means the courts will look for an arrangement where the child’s best interests can be promoted at the same time as the parent gets the care they need.

It matters also that the parents be willing to work with each other to do what’s best for their child. If one parent is unwilling to do this, that will weigh against them in custody decisions.

For help with your custody situation, contact us today at South Atlanta Family Law in Stockbridge, GA. 

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