When parents in Georgia decide to separate or divorce, they need to come to an agreement regarding child custody, which can be quite stressful. This is especially true when ex-spouses do not get along well or have difficulty reaching an understanding about a parenting plan. In these cases, it may be up to the family court to decide how custody is managed. This is also true for people who have already been separated for some time but want to consider a change in the custody schedule. An increasing number of family court judges favor joint custody as it has been shown to lead to overall improved outcomes for children.
However, each family is different, so various child custody solutions might also be necessary in a variety of cases. Parents filing for custody can help their family law attorney present their case thoroughly by preparing certain documents. For example, phone call records can be an important part of a custody case. Whether the conversations took place over a traditional phone call or via an app like Skype or WhatsApp, these records can establish a consistent pattern of communication and closeness between a parent and his or her child.
In addition, visitation schedules are also an essential component of a custody case. A parent seeking more custody will want to show that he or she always exercised visitation rights and spends a lot of time with his or her child. A parent opposing this kind of application would want to show that his or her ex often skipped out on visitation with the children.
People who are getting ready for a child custody case might also want to prepare their children’s school and medical records as well. A family law attorney can provide advice and guidance on how to move forward to protect the parent-child relationship and make a positive change in a parenting plan.