| Determining the custody of your children in the | | | | child's religion, health, extracurricular activities, |
| state of Georgia just became a little more | | | | education, and emergencies will be made along |
| cumbersome for divorcing parents. As of January | | | | with how disagreements pertaining to these |
| 2008, children age 14 or older of divorcing parents | | | | decisions should be resolved, as well as what limits |
| can no longer determine which parent they want | | | | each parent will have to information regarding the |
| to live with. In further attempt by the court to | | | | child's school and medical records. The parenting |
| foster a cooperative relationship between the | | | | plan also mandates whether a parent's visitation |
| parents after divorce, it is now mandated by | | | | with the child is to be unsupervised - if supervised, |
| Georgia state divorce law that parents of minor | | | | the details of supervision must be included in the |
| children in every divorce case must submit a | | | | plan to satisfy the Georgia child custody mediator |
| detailed parenting plan to the Georgia family court | | | | during the divorce. The plan must also include |
| for approval. | | | | specifics regarding limits of access to the children |
| There are specific requirements to the content of | | | | by phone or otherwise by one parent during the |
| the child custody parenting plan in Georgia which | | | | other parents time with the children. |
| include which of the parents will retain physical | | | | Another notable change that went into effect as |
| custody of the child(ren), where the child(ren) will | | | | of January 1st that will affect parents filing for |
| be every day during the year, how transportation | | | | divorce in Georgia is that the judge is now allowed |
| will be handled including how the children will be | | | | to award attorney's fees to one parent or the |
| exchanged between parents, where exchanges | | | | other. In most cases, this issue does not come |
| are to take place and which parent will pay for | | | | up, but the legislation is designed to prevent a |
| the cost of transportation. While many Georgia | | | | wealthy parent from using repeated stall tactics |
| Family Law judges already required many of | | | | to lengthen the legal process. It is obviously in the |
| these stipulations be placed in a Settlement | | | | best interest of both parties to retain attorneys in |
| Agreement, this new procedures now make the | | | | Georgia who are well versed in the application of |
| process more uniform throughout the state. | | | | the new Georgia state laws regarding child |
| Additionally, by forcing a Settlement Agreement | | | | custody. |
| to contain so many specific requirements, | | | | If unable to retain a divorce attorney through a |
| proponents argue that there will be considerably | | | | personal referral from a friend or relative, an |
| less room for future dispute as to agreements | | | | advocacy website is a fine place to begin your |
| being unclear or vague. | | | | search. Finding a divorce attorney who is on your |
| In line with these changes, also required in the | | | | side is important and can be done with a little |
| parenting plan are how major decisions about the | | | | research or a referral. |
