Divorcing or separating parents will generally have to come up with a parenting plan to address the issue of child custody. The parenting plan will specify which parent will have the child at any given time. The agreement will also discuss which parent is responsible for making decisions relating to the child’s upbringing.
Factors used to determine child custody
If parents are unable to come to an agreement, a judge will make these decisions. In Georgia, there are several factors that courts will consider when determining custody. These factors include:
- Age, health, and income of each parent.
- Needs of the child.
- Parental bond between each parent and the child.
- Capacity of each parent to provide for the child.
- Job schedule of each parent.
- Willingness of parents to cooperate with each other and encourage each other’s relationships with the child.
- Child’s preference (if child is at least 14 years old).
Above all else, the court will prioritize the best interests of the child when making these child custody decisions. In most cases, when a child has two healthy parents who can care for the child, the court will award joint custody. This is because children generally benefit from having both parents involved in their lives.
Once the court has decided on both physical and legal custody, the order will be finalized and both parents will be legally obligated to abide by the terms of the order. If either parent experiences a significant change in circumstances, such as an illness or job loss, they may file a petition to modify custody.