Atlanta Child Custody Lawyers
Experienced Child Custody Attorneys in Atlanta and Surrounding Areas
Expert Atlanta Child Custody Legal Knowledge
The divorce attorneys at Kitchens New Cleghorn, LLC are sensitive to how important child custody can be, and offer decades of experience keeping families intact. We bring expert knowledge of Atlanta family law to the table, and the experience of how to best represent your interests to the court. Importantly, child custody laws in Georgia are designed to keep “the best interests of the child” in mind, but that term is subjective and dependent upon the facts presented. Let the lawyers at Kitchens New Cleghorn, LLC work to ensure that what the court defines as your child’s “best interest” is what you seek as well.
What Are “The Best Interests of the Child” as Defined by GA Family Law?
When determining what is in the best interest of a child during your divorce, Georgia custody law allows a court a large degree of discretion, and a judge can consider many different factors. Some of those factors include:
- A child’s age and desires
- Parental stability
- Parental criminal history
- Ability of the parent to care for the child
A court will use these factors and more to decide where your children should spend most of their time.
What Types Of Custody Exist Under Georgia Law?
Custody laws in Georgia provide for a variety of options including:
- Joint Custody: This falls into two subcategories:
- Joint legal custody, in which both parents have the right to contribute to major decisions regarding their children
- Joint physical custody, in which the child or children split time living with both parents
- Sole Custody: This also falls into two subcategories:
- Sole legal custody, in which one parent has the authority to make major decisions regarding their children
- Sole physical custody, in which the child or children lives with one parent
Our child custody Attorney in Atlanta will work closely with you to review all the details of your case in determining whether petitioning for joint physical, joint legal, or sole legal/physical custody is right for you and your children.
*Note that your child support payment schedule will rely heavily on your custody schedule.
Georgia Parenting Plans as Explained by our Child Custody Attorneys
A parenting plan in Georgia can be as simple or as complex as needed to fit your particular circumstances. Parenting plans can involve mid-week visits, alternating weekends, and more. Questions such as who will have the children for holidays and birthdays will also have to be resolved. Because your parenting plan will determine how you and your spouse will split time spent with your children for years to come, it’s important that it is crafted with care and expertise. Without proper legal guidance, one can quickly miss out on valuable time spent with your child. Look to Kitchens New Cleghorn, LLC’s experienced lawyers to help you create a comprehensive custody and visitation schedule that meets the requirements of Georgia law and preserves your precious family ties.
Changes to Georgia Child Custody Parenting Plans
Life circumstances don’t always stay the same and neither should your parenting plan. If you move, get a new job, or experience any other lifestyle changes, your previous parenting plan may no longer be convenient or practical for you or your children. Thankfully, Georgia law allows for the modification of parenting plans, and our Atlanta child custody lawyers can petition the court to modify your schedule in a way that matches your life needs. If a career change, a move, or some other major change means your old parenting plan is no longer a good fit, give us a call right away.
