Listen to Your Child : Encourage your child to express their feelings about not wanting to see the other parent. Understand the Reasons : Try to understand the underlying reasons for their reluctance. Communicate with the Other Parent : If appropriate, discuss your child's feelings with the other parent.
Visit the Clerk's Office of the Superior Court to begin child custody proceedings. File a petition to begin child custody proceedings. You can file a petition for child custody in your county's Superior Court. If you are divorcing, the petition will be included in your divorce papers.
In Georgia, if the child is over the age of 14, they may have the right not to visit the non-custodial parent, but the motive behind the refusal remains subject to review, and the court ultimately still decides what is in the child's best interest.
Factors in custody decisions The judge considers each parent's: Bond with the children. Ability and desire to provide the children with affection and guidance. Familiarity with the children's needs, plus capacity to provide for those needs.
Timeline: Child custody cases can vary widely but often take several months to resolve. Process: The court prioritizes the child's best interests, which may involve evaluations, hearings, and mediation. Factors: High-conflict situations or disputes over parenting plans can lengthen the process.
To petition for emergency custody, draft a Motion for an Emergency Hearing explaining the urgent issue, and file it with the court. You should hire an attorney to write this, as it influences how soon the court hears your case. Typically, you'll have a hearing within 24 hours of filing the motion.
Sole custody is rare in modern family law cases Of course, there are always those outlier situations that deviate from the standard. In a handful of circumstances with compelling reasons, one parent can secure sole custody in Georgia. Those reasons may include: domestic violence.
Visit the Clerk's Office of the Superior Court to begin child custody proceedings. File a petition to begin child custody proceedings. You can file a petition for child custody in your county's Superior Court. If you are divorcing, the petition will be included in your divorce papers.
If both parties are seeking primary physical custody, the Court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem (“GAL”) to investigate the best interests of the children. In most cases, both parties will be required to share in the legal fees of the GAL.