Child Custody & Visitation Disputes

Atlanta Child Custody & Visitation Dispute Attorneys

Fighting for Parents in Sensitive Legal Matters

Discussions over thorny issues like property division and alimony can become heated during a divorce, but parents can usually put their personal differences aside when it comes to the welfare of their children. Studies show that about 90% of child custody disputes are resolved amicably, so the bitter court battles often portrayed in movies and television shows are actually quite rare.

With that being said, we do not advise going at it alone. There are many aspects to child custody cases that can be overlooked. An Atlanta child custody lawyer can help you reach the outcome you’re looking for in your child custody case.

With an Atlanta child custody attorney on your side, you have much better chances of reaching an agreement that is not only favorable for you but is in your child’s best interests. A skilled child custody attorney can also protect you by helping you navigate the legal process so you experience as little cost and stress as possible.

When parents are unable to reach an agreement at the negotiating table, and these issues are left up to judges to decide, they make their decisions based on what they believe to be in the best interests of the child. In a courtroom child custody dispute, having an experienced Atlanta child custody attorney on your side is even more crucial to present the best case. Call our law firm immediately at 404-809-2394 to get started with the Georgia child custody process in your divorce.

Do Georgia Courts Favor the Mother Over the Father in a Divorce Involving Children?

There was a time when divorcing mothers were often awarded sole custody of their children, but joint custody arrangements are now the preferred solution in most cases. That’s because researchers have found that children cope much better and develop far fewer emotional and behavioral problems when they spend time with both of their parents after a divorce. In modern divorce cases, judges tend to order joint custody unless the facts suggest that doing so would harm the child or place them in danger.

Factors family law judges consider when determining the best interests of the child include:

  • The psychological and physical health of the parents
  • The involvement each parent has in the child’s education and social life
  • The emotional ties the child has with each parent
  • Records of domestic violence or substance abuse
  • The lifestyles of each parent
  • The ability of each parent to provide the child with a safe and nurturing environment
  • The wishes of children aged 11 or older

If you need help with your child support case in Georgia, our Atlanta child custody lawyers are here to help.

Why Are Parenting Plans Important in an Atlanta Divorce?

Custody decisions impact a family’s future and are crucial to a Georgia divorce. The couple may have the opportunity to arrive at a decision through mediation with the help of their Atlanta divorce lawyers. Joint parenting plans are preferred, but parents can submit separate plans if they are unable to agree. If you need help drafting a parenting plan, the Atlanta child custody lawyers at Washington Legal Group can assist you.

Before the judge issues child custody rulings, they study the parenting plan or plans submitted by the parties involved. These documents let judges know how the child’s time will be spent and which parent will make the final decision on important matters like health care and education.

When you hire our child custody law firm, we’ll fight for a favorable outcome in your custody arrangement or visitation rights plan. We understand how important it is for both parents to be involved in their child’s life, and we will not rest until we’ve done everything possible to get a favorable custody agreement on your behalf.

What Types of Parenting Plans Can I Choose From?

In Georgia, child custody is divided into physical and legal custody in a divorce. Physical custody refers to taking responsibility for physically providing for the children, such as housing them and caring for their daily needs. Legal custody has to do with decision-making authority on your child’s behalf, such as determining how to handle medical care, religious upbringing, and the child’s education. Both legal and physical custody in Georgia may be divided between both parents or awarded to one parent.

Temporary Child Custody

Temporary child custody begins when divorce is filed and is where a temporary decision is made about where children will spend most of their time.

During this time, the court usually orders that the child live with one parent and regularly visit the other. However, temporary custody is typically awarded to the parent who is living in the existing marital home most of the time.

This arrangement allows both parents to show the court that they can care for their child while still allowing the child to maintain strong relationships with both parents.

Joint Custody

Most Georgia child custody orders recognize that it is in the child’s best interest to have both parents involved in their lives. In the majority of cases, a judge will award each parent a share of the responsibility through a joint legal custody arrangement. Joint physical custody may also be awarded, even if one parent still has primary custody.

Sole Custody Arrangement

In some cases, the child’s well-being requires that one parent retain sole custody. This might occur if the other parent is not physically or mentally able to care for the children or in cases of substance abuse or domestic violence. When one parent has sole custody, the other parent may still seek to protect their parental rights through pursuing a parenting plan that includes visitation rights.

Contact our legal team immediately to ensure that your parenting plan protects your child’s welfare and your parental rights.

What Options Do I Have When Seeking to Modify a Child Custody Order?

Child custody orders can be modified if the arrangements in place are no longer in the child’s best interests. This sometimes happens when one of the parents develops a substance abuse problem or enters into a romantic relationship with a person who could be a bad influence on the child or even harm them.

Either parent can petition the court for a child custody modification, but their requests are unlikely to be granted unless they can show that the situation has changed significantly and no longer serves the child’s best interests.

If you need help modifying a child custody arrangement, our team of Atlanta child custody lawyers is ready to help. We’ll gather evidence to prove that extraordinary circumstances require modification of your custody agreement. We will argue your case in negotiations or before a judge whenever necessary. Call our family law office immediately for more information on enforcing or modifying a custody agreement in Atlanta, GA.

Why Are Your Atlanta Child Custody and Visitation Dispute Lawyers the Right Choice for My Family?

If you are going through a divorce and are worried about losing access to your children, it’s best to speak with an experienced Atlanta child custody lawyer before doing anything that could have a negative impact on your case. The family law attorneys at Washington Legal Group have more than five decades of experience in this area, and we can use this experience to help you find common ground with your ex-husband or wife and avoid a protracted and bitter custody dispute.

Custody issues can be extremely complicated and emotional. Having a third party navigate your child custody dispute can give you much better chances of a positive outcome. Whether you are the noncustodial parent or are another individual concerned about the child’s safety, or if you are concerned that your rights are being overlooked, you deserve counsel and legal representation from an experienced family law attorney. Call us at 404-809-2394 or use our contact form to arrange a free consultation.

What Other Practice Areas Do Your Attorneys Handle?

With our deep understanding of Georgia child custody laws, we are your ideal law firm as you seek physical or legal custody, need help modifying a child custody arrangement, or are facing another dispute regarding family law. However, we have legal experience in various other fields.

Some cases we are able to handle include:

  • Fathers Law
  • Government Affairs
  • Wrongful Death
  • Contested divorce
  • Division of marital assets
  • Child support
  • Spousal support (alimony)
  • Uncontested divorce
  • High asset divorce
  • Car Accidents
  • Child Custody and Visitation Disputes
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Head-on collisions
  • Rear-end car wrecks

Whether you are facing a child custody case or are experiencing an issue with any of the above, we can help. We’ll dedicate our time, energy, honesty, and determination to seek the best possible outcome on your behalf. Our legal team is ready to listen compassionately to your concerns and offer excellent legal counsel and legal representation in your case.

Call Washington Legal Group today to schedule your no-cost consultation and learn how our Atlanta child custody attorneys can help with your unique situation.

Should You Hire Our Atlanta Child Custody & Visitation Dispute Attorneys?

Child custody in Georgia can be confusing and overwhelming. However, these matters are critical because they affect your family relationships for years to come. When you are looking for custody lawyers, it is imperative that you hire a law office with the experience and knowledge necessary to protect your parenting time and other rights.

With 50 years of combined experience, we have the knowledge and skills to get the results you deserve. We will use every ounce of skill, knowledge, and honesty to tackle your case and seek positive solutions, including enforcing or modifying an existing custody order. We’ll leave no stone unturned as we seek evidence that backs up your claim and shows that you deserve a favorable outcome in your child custody issue.

Legal experience matters, and Quinton G. Washington brings over 20 years of it — including service as a judge in Fulton County. His clients trust him not just for what he knows, but for how he puts it to work for them.

Please don’t go it alone or go with an inexperienced legal team that can’t get results in your child custody matter. Call Washington Legal Group at 404-809-2394 for Atlanta child custody attorneys who will fight aggressively for you. Complete the form below if you have any questions or concerns or want to speak with one of our legal advisors. We are here to serve you.