top of page

Children

Custody - Custody is the right of a parent to make important decisions about how to care for and raise a child. It includes the right to make decisions about the child’s health, education, and religion. Custody is not about which parent the child lives with or how much time a child spends with each parent.

There are two (2) different types of custody. Sole custody means only one parent has the right to make these decisions. Joint custody means both parents have the right to make these decisions. Other people, for example, grandparents, can also apply to the court for custody.

Parenting Time (Visitation) – Parenting/Visitation time is the time a parent spends with a child they usually don’t live with. Visitation can be on a strict schedule, such as every other weekend, or on a flexible schedule, such as whenever the parents agree. In some cases, a parent might have supervised visitation where someone else watches the visit.

Other people, for example, grandparents, can also apply to the court for visitation.

Child Support - Child support is the amount of money that one parent pays to the other parent to support their child financially. The money is paid to the parent who has the child living with them most of the time. The person who pays child support is called the payor parent. The amount of child support that the payor parent pays is usually based on the Georgia Child Support Guidelines.

bottom of page