(770) 504-4024
Experienced Child Custody Attorney in Atlanta
A custody battle is one of the most serious and potentially costly cases you can get into. If anything isn’t handled appropriately, you can lose custody of your child.
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In any custody situation, you need proper legal representation, such as a child custody attorney in Atlanta, that is going to understand your rights and be able to advocate for you. This ensures fair custody agreements and keeps you in your child’s life.
Why You Need a Custody Attorney in Atlanta
Custody battles are some of the most stressful and unfortunate cases, but they are necessary. However, you can’t do it alone. Even in optimal circumstances, you might lose crucial rights to your child.
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At Saint Owens Law, our experienced child custody attorneys have helped countless parents by doing just that. We’ll represent you in court and ensure that your legal rights are upheld to the fullest degree.
Types of Child Custody Arrangements in Georgia
Child custody, same as child support, isn’t handled like a one-size-fits-all solution. In Georgia, there are 3 primary types of custody arrangements designed to do what’s right for the child and uphold legal rights for both parents depending on a number of factors.
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These are:
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Physical: Who physically has the child in their care.
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Legal: Who makes legal decisions.
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Visitation: A parent without custody maintains an active role in the child’s life.
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Physical Custody
Physical custody refers to which parent the child lives with. This can go a couple of ways:
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First, there’s joint custody. This is when the child is on a schedule to move between each parent’s house.
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Sole custody is when one parent has physical custody over the child, and the child solely lives with that parent.
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A custody attorney helps you ensure physical custody is handled in the best interests of the child.
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Legal Custody
Legal custody determines who gets to make major decisions for the child such as healthcare, education, and religious decisions.
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This can be joint custody, or one parent might get the sole right to this.
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We will fight for you to help you continue to be a part of such major decisions.
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Visitation Rights
Visitation rights are called into question when one parent has sole custody. This is the right to continue to be a meaningful part of your child’s life.
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Unfortunately, scheduling can be difficult. The court will look at a variety of factors and design a schedule that best suits the child’s needs.
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We aim to help you gain reasonable and fair visitation rights when this is necessary.​
Factors that Influence Child Custody
Decisions in Georgia
You must realize that the court prioritizes what’s best for the child. You have rights, but the court will make decisions that don’t interfere with schooling, cause undue stress, prevent them from accessing resources, etc.
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Here are some more factors:
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The child’s age and health.
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The emotional bond between each parent and child.
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Each parent’s ability to provide for the child’s physical and emotional needs.
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The child’s preference if they’re old enough to express it.
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Any history of domestic violence or substance abuse.
How a Child Custody Attorney Can Help You
A child custody attorney’s primary goal is to ensure your rights are upheld throughout the custody case. Whether that means getting you joint custody, sole custody, or visitation depending on the circumstances.
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We’ll get to know you and your case, understand the best interests of the child, and develop a comprehensive plan to represent you in court.
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Mediation and Negotiation
Sometimes, the court isn’t necessary. Many custody agreements are made in mediation without a judge.
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We’ll help guide the negotiations and represent you to achieve a fair custody agreement.
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Representation in Court
In the event that mediation fails, you’re not alone. Saint Owens Law will transition to a court-based focus and represent you for a fair custody agreement.
Modifying a Child Custody Agreement
Custody agreements aren’t set in stone. If circumstances change, we can petition the court for modification of support order, custody, or visitation to better suit your new situation. This will require going back to court.
The Importance of Legal Representation
for Custody Cases
Due to their nature, custody cases are usually very emotional with either party unwittingly putting their own desires before the child’s needs or doing more than is necessary.
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We represent you to ensure it’s handled professionally and in respect to the child’s best interests.