Child Custody Lawyer for Atlanta, GA Fathers
If you are a dad considering divorce or living apart from your children, you may be concerned about maintaining a role in their lives. Many fathers worry that courts favor mothers in custody matters.
Work with a child custody lawyer for Atlanta, GA fathers at Atlanta Divorce Law Group. Our team of family law professionals recognizes the crucial role fathers play in their children’s lives. We will defend your right to continue to be an active and involved parent.
How Do You Establish Parental Rights as an Unmarried Father?
When a couple is married, when the wife gives birth, the husband automatically has parental rights over the child. If the parents are unmarried, the child’s mother is the only legal parent.
If you are an unmarried father, you can acknowledge your paternity by signing a form in the hospital or at any time after the birth. This acknowledgment obligates you to pay child support but does not convey full parental rights, such as the right to parenting time or decision-making authority. To obtain those rights, you must legitimize your child.
Legitimation requires bringing a court petition asking the judge to declare you the child’s legal father. Our Atlanta family law team can guide you through the process and prepare all the necessary paperwork to ensure a smooth and efficient outcome. Once you have legitimized your child, you gain the right to pursue physical and legal custody.
The Law Does Not Discriminate
The Official Code of Georgia §19-9-3 is clear that the parent’s gender is not a factor in custody determinations. All decisions related to children are made based on the children’s best interests.
Everyone benefits when parents work out a custody and visitation plan together. Arrangements where the children stay with one parent during the school week and the other parent on weekends, or every other weekend, are common. However, parents can agree to any schedule that works for them and provides their children with stability and structure.
If there is a custody dispute, our child custody attorneys for fathers in Atlanta, Georgia will present evidence showing that you have been actively involved in your children’s lives. Your familiarity with and participation in your children’s interests and activities can persuade a judge that you should continue to have substantial time with your children.
How Do Judges Resolve Custody Disputes?
When parents cannot agree on a custody arrangement, a Georgia family court judge must make the decision. They will evaluate the evidence presented by each side, but often seek an objective opinion from a third party.
A family court judge may appoint a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) for your children. Their job is to safeguard the children’s rights and present an opinion about the custody arrangement that serves the children’s best interests. The judge might also order a custody evaluation, which requires both parents and the children to speak with a mental health professional. The evaluator also offers an opinion about the best custody arrangement for the children.
The judge does not need to accept these recommendations, but their opinions are usually influential. Our Atlanta attorneys can help fathers prepare for their interactions with these professionals and address any issues they raise that might impact their custody recommendations.
Work With an Atlanta GA Attorney If You Are a Dad Seeking Custody
The perception that a mother has a better chance of custody persists, but it is not necessarily true. Fathers have equal custody rights, and a child custody lawyer for Atlanta, GA fathers can present a compelling case for generous parenting time for an involved dad.
Schedule a free consultation at the Atlanta Divorce Law Group if you are a father seeking custody. Contact our intake team to discuss your custody matter today.
