Addressing Legal Issues That Will Affect Your Children
Issues involving the care and support of children are among the most crucial matters dealt with by the Georgia family courts. Whether you are going through a divorce or otherwise involved in a child custody or support case, it is important to have a lawyer who understands the system.
At the law firm of Andrews & Sanders Law Offices in Savannah, we regularly guide clients through the process of pursuing fair and appropriate child custody and support resolutions. Contact us for a free phone consultation to discuss your case and your options.
Pursuing Your Child Custody and Visitation Goals
Anytime a couple with children gets divorced, the family court will issue a child custody order that is binding on both of the parents. These orders are meant to reflect the best interests of the child or children involved. The family courts can also issue child custody orders to unmarried parents. Child custody decisions have two main components:
- Physical custody: This term is used for the division of parenting time with the child. Often, one parent gets primary physical custody and the other parent gets the right to have the child for certain specific periods. However, the court can approve a plan that divides parenting time equally.
- Legal custody: This term is used for the allocation of decision-making authority over health care, education, religious upbringing, extracurricular activities and similar issues. Parents are often granted joint legal custody, even when one parent gets primary physical custody.
We will evaluate your individual circumstances in light of your child custody goals and recommend an appropriate strategy for seeking a resolution that achieves those goals.
Evaluating Your Child Support Circumstances
In an effort to avoid arbitrary child support awards, the Georgia legislature has adopted a formula for calculating child support that is largely based on the supporting parent's income and the number of children being supported. However, under certain circumstances deviations from the formula are appropriate and acceptable.
Our attorneys are familiar with all aspects of the state child support guidelines, as well as military regulations that may require different support payments when a service member is involved in a divorce. We also assist clients with child support modification.
Don't hesitate to contact us to learn more about your legal rights and responsibilities with regard to child custody and support.
