Macon Child Support And Child Custody Lawyer
Custody disputes are always the most difficult area of family law. It is an emotional, stressful and complex area of the law. If you are going through a custody dispute, call G. Morris Carr, LLC, today. As an experienced Macon child custody and child support lawyer, I will guide you through this legally and emotionally complicated area of the law and help you make decisions that are in your children’s best interests.
To speak with me, schedule an initial consultation by sending an email to G. Morris Carr, LLC.
What Are My Child’s Best Interests?
In determining child custody issues, the court looks at a number of different factors to determine what custody arrangement is in the child’s best interests, including:
- Relationship between parent and child
- Relationship with siblings
- Knowledge of the child’s school and educational and medical needs
- Parents’ capability to cooperate
- History of family violence
- Mental health issues
If you are going through a custody battle, you need someone who has done extensive litigation in this area, knows how to use the factors effectively and understands what evidence is persuasive.
Understanding Legal Custody And Physical Custody
Georgia courts separate legal custody from physical custody. Legal custody gives you the power to make major decisions about your child’s education, medical care and religious upbringing. Physical custody decides where your child lives each day. The court can grant sole custody to one parent or split custody between both parents.
Joint legal custody means you share decision-making with the other parent. Joint physical custody means your child divides time between both homes. Primary physical custody gives one parent most of the time with your child while the other parent gets visitation. When you understand these differences, you know what to request and what the court might order.
Building A Parenting Plan That Works
A strong parenting plan cuts down on conflict and gives everyone clear expectations. Your plan needs a timesharing schedule that shows exactly which days and times your child stays with each parent. Add holiday schedules, summer breaks and school vacation rotations. Spell out who handles transportation, who picks up your child, who drops off and where you make exchanges. Decide together how you’ll handle medical appointments, school events, and sports or activities. Include travel notices when either parent takes your child out of state. Include how you’ll communicate and settle disagreements without going back to court. A detailed plan protects your child’s routine and stops future fights before they start.
Protecting Visitation Rights And Enforcing Orders
When one parent has primary physical custody, the other parent usually gets visitation time. Georgia courts want children to spend meaningful time with both parents unless safety issues exist. If the other parent blocks your visitation, you can file a contempt motion to enforce the court order. If your situation changes and you need different visitation terms, I will help you ask the court for modifications. Enforcement actions protect your time with your child and hold the other parent responsible.
How Custody And Support Work For Unmarried Parents
Unmarried parents need to take extra legal steps. Fathers must prove paternity before they can seek custody or visitation. Once you establish paternity, unmarried fathers get the same custody rights as married fathers. Unmarried mothers automatically have legal and physical custody until a court changes it. Both parents owe child support, no matter whether they were married. I walk unmarried parents through paternity cases, custody filings and support hearings to protect their parental rights.
How Is Child Support Determined?
Child support is determined by specific statutory guidelines that consider both parents’ gross incomes. At G. Morris Carr, LLC, I will guide you through the process of establishing child support. As a Georgia attorney, I will also help you modify child support orders if there has been a substantial change in circumstances that makes the current order unfair.
Child Support Covers More Than Monthly Payments
Georgia child support includes medical expenses, health insurance and sometimes extracurricular costs like sports or music lessons. Parents also decide who claims the child on taxes each year. When payments fall behind, the debt grows with interest. I can help you collect overdue support or fight unfair claims.
Contact My Firm To Learn More
Contact my firm to schedule a consultation with me. I provide experienced and cost-effective legal services. Call me at. I look forward to hearing from you.
