In Georgia, the court considers the best interests of the child as the primary factor in custody decisions. This includes assessing each parent's relationship with the child, the child's emotional, educational, and physical needs, each parent's ability to provide for those needs, the stability of each home environment, and any history of family violence or substance abuse. A full listing of the statutory factors is available at O.C.G.A. § 19-9-3(a)(3).

Legal custody in Georgia refers to the right to make significant decisions about the child's life, including education, health care, and religious upbringing. Physical custody determines where the child will primarily reside. Both legal and physical custody can be sole (awarded to one parent) or joint (shared between parents).

In Georgia, a child aged 14 or older can choose which parent to live with, and the court will generally honor this choice unless it's deemed not in the child's best interests. For children between 11 and 14, their preference is considered but doesn't have the same legal weight.

If one parent is awarded sole custody in Georgia, the non-custodial parent typically receives visitation rights. The court will establish a visitation schedule that serves the best interest of the child, considering factors like the child's schedule, geographical distance between parents, and the child’s relationship with each parent. Depending on the reasons for the award of sole custody, the court may also impose restrictions or conditions on the non-custodial parent’s visitation, such as supervision, drug or alcohol testing, or location limits.

Yes, custody arrangements can be modified in Georgia if there is a significant change in circumstances affecting the child's well-being. This includes changes in a parent's living situation, employment status, health, or other factors that may impact their ability to provide an optimal environment for the child. It may also include changes in the child’s life, such as their desire to primarily reside with one parent or the other.

Joint custody in Georgia means both parents share in the decision-making responsibilities and/or physical care of the child. Joint legal custody requires parents to collaborate on major decisions, while joint physical custody involves an arrangement where the child spends significant (or even equal) time with both parents.

In Georgia, grandparents can seek visitation rights, especially if they have a strong existing relationship with the child. The court will consider such requests in the context of the child's best interests, particularly if maintaining this relationship benefits the child's emotional well-being. However, Georgia law carries a strong presumption in favor of the parents’ decisions, which can make grandparent visitation claims difficult in cases where the relationship between the parents and grandparents have soured.

If a parent violates a custody order in Georgia, the other parent can file a motion with the court to enforce the order. Consequences for violating a custody order can include legal penalties, modifications to the custody arrangement, and, in severe cases, criminal charges.

A Guardian ad Litem (GAL) in Georgia is a court-appointed official, often an attorney, tasked with representing the best interests of the child in a custody case. The GAL conducts an independent investigation, which may include home visits, interviews with the child, parents, teachers, and other relevant parties, and then presents their findings and recommendations to the court. Their role is to provide an objective viewpoint to assist the court in making informed decisions regarding custody and visitation that best serve the child's needs and welfare.