Child Custody Lawyer for Children With Special Needs in Alpharetta
Ending a relationship with a co-parent can be a stressful experience. When you share a child with special needs, their condition may significantly impact your custody and financial arrangements.
These situations raise complex issues, so working with a child custody lawyer for children with special needs in Alpharetta is essential. The family law attorneys at Atlanta Divorce Law Group can help you design a custody agreement that supports your special-needs child and all the other members of the family.
Developing a Parenting Plan When a Child Has Special Needs
Parents of minor children who live apart must submit a parenting plan to the family court, describing how they will divide time and responsibility for their children. When one or more of the children have special needs, parents must explain and address them in the parenting plan.
Most parents choose shared custody, but these arrangements can be problematic when a child has significant disabilities. Parents who want to share parenting time must ensure that both homes are accessible and safe for the child with special needs and that both parents are capable of managing the child’s condition.
Sometimes it is clearly best for the child to remain under the care of one parent in that parent’s home. In such cases, our Alpharetta attorneys can work with you and your co-parent to construct an arrangement that ensures both parents have quality time with the child and can maintain a supportive relationship with them.
Managing the Child’s Financial Needs
Supporting a child with special needs can be expensive and may prevent a custodial parent from working. These issues must be considered when developing the child support section of the parenting plan. The parent receiving child support may request a deviation from the standard child support amount to cover the co-parent’s share of the child’s extraordinary medical or educational expenses.
Child support may extend into adulthood if the child is unable to live independently or support themselves. The Official Code of Georgia §19-6-15.2 allows a court to order a parent to pay indefinite child support to an adult child in these circumstances. When a child’s disability entitles them to public benefits, parents might create and fund a special needs trust to ensure the child’s quality of life without endangering their eligibility for public support or services.
Our Alpharetta custody attorneys are familiar with the financial challenges facing families who have children with special needs. We can develop a financial arrangement that works for you and your co-parent while protecting your child and promoting their best interests.
How Do Courts Resolve a Custody Dispute?
The entire family benefits when parents can work cooperatively to develop a custody plan. However, sometimes disputes arise, and a family court judge must decide which parent will have custody.
Judges must decide custody based on the children’s best interests. When a family includes a child with special needs, the court may order an independent evaluation to obtain an objective assessment of the child’s needs. The judge may also appoint a custody evaluator to assess which parent can provide the most supportive home.
Our Alpharetta attorneys will work diligently to demonstrate that you are best-equipped for custody of your special needs child. We will ensure you understand the role of the various third parties who might be involved in the case and how to interact with them to achieve your custody goals.
Consult an Alpharetta Attorney on Custody Issues Concerning a Child With Special Needs
A child’s special needs complicate custody decisions. When you work with a child custody lawyer for children with special needs in Alpharetta, we will help you meet your objectives while protecting your child’s best interests. Contact an intake specialist at Atlanta Divorce Law Group today to learn more.
