When searching for help with child custody cases, it’s important to have a trusted ally on your side at all times.

In many instances, the parents might be able to come to an agreement regarding custody on their own; however, it’s still important to consult with a family law attorney to get their valuable insight into the situation.

Typically, child custody cases will still be presented to a judge, who will then award one of two types of custody:

Within these two types of custody in the State of Georgia are two other types of custody: sole custody and joint custody. In amicable divorce cases where both parents are in agreement that what’s right for the child is the most important thing, it’s likely that they will pursue a joint custody decision.

That’s where the Atlanta family law attorneys at The Fairell Firm can help.

Keep in mind that not all custody cases are the same, and that the following tips for parents seeking joint custody are purely informational and not specific to any particular case. If you are a parent in Atlanta who is in need of legal help during a child custody proceeding, then contact the Fairell Firm to book your initial consultation.

Joint custody is a variation of either (or both) physical and legal custody in which both parents split the parental duties equally. That means the child splits equal time with both parents (joint physical custody) and also that each parent has the ability to provide input and make legal decisions regarding the child’s schooling, health care, extracurricular activities, and even religion (joint legal custody).

This blog (and accompanying video) will mostly consider joint physical custody for the purposes of providing information and tips to parents who are willing to split equal time for the best interests of their child.

The benefits of having both parents involved in a child’s life can be far-reaching and have a lasting impact on their upbringing, and it’s becoming increasingly obvious that more parents around the United States are beginning to realize the importance of joint physical custody when going through a divorce or other family law-related dispute.

With that, here are some tips for parents who are seeking joint physical custody in Georgia.

Parents who are seeking joint physical custody should be on the same page and have pure intentions and their child’s best interests at heart.

It’s not wise to seek joint physical custody for your own selfish or malicious intentions, such as avoiding child support payments. In fact, in many instances joint physical custody does still require child support stipulations.

That’s why this decision should be sincere and come with a desire to provide for your child on more than a part-time basis. If you don’t truly want joint physical custody, it’s best to not waste anyone’s time with the process.

The most successful parents in a joint custody case are those who are fully involved in their child’s life. That includes everything from making your child’s lunch and picking them up from school, to the bigger things like staying home with them while they’re sick and taking them to the doctor.

If one parent is the only one who is doing everything for the child, the chances of earning joint physical custody won’t be nearly as high as if the parents are truly splitting their duties.

One other quick bit of advice: don’t pretend to be someone that you aren’t on social media. A family law attorney, and ultimately the judge, will be able to decide whether you are who you say you are as a parent or if it is just for show on Facebook.

No matter what your relationship is like with the other parent in this situation, it’s going to be imperative that you two are able to effectively and courteously communicate with one another.

This goes for more than just during the court proceedings, too; having good communication is going to be key throughout the rest of your child’s life so that they can be raised in a hospitable, loving environment no matter with which parent they are spending their time.

Good communication is going to be important when it comes to decision-making, transportation, and other co-parenting factors.

Joint physical custody is not going to be feasible if one of the parents is living across the state (or elsewhere, for that matter). It’s important that both parents be in close proximity of one another, if not the child’s school at a bare minimum.

That way, it’s clear for your family law attorney and the judge to see that joint physical custody is feasible and in your child’s best interest.

Another aspect to consider is where your child is going to stay when they are spending time with each parent. During instances of divorce, chances are one (or both) of the parents is going to move out of the home in which they previously lived with the rest of the family.

In order to demonstrate that joint physical custody is the best option for the child, each parent needs to prove that they have a habitable and adequate living space and plan to care for the child when under their supervision.

In other words, the child should always have everything that they need when going from one parent’s home to the next.

During joint physical custody disputes, it’s important that you are able to demonstrate your availability and that you have reasonable working hours. This proves that you will be there to care for your child when they are out of school, have the ability to get them where they need to be, and won’t be leaving them unsupervised during long periods of time.

Not being able to prove that your schedule is suitable for raising a child will not bode well for your joint custody pursuit.

This means getting into (or maintaining) a routine which can be easily demonstrated to the court as a reliable pattern which is good for the child’s well-being.

This means spending time with them on certain days, being available when it’s “your turn,” and showing that you have your child’s best interests at heart with this joint custody pursuit.

So there you have it. The above are just a few general tips which take into consideration the current guidelines for joint physical custody as laid out by Georgia law. For a more specific, in-depth conversation about your joint physical custody or other child custody endeavors, simply contact the Atlanta family law experts at The Fairell Firm.

Our team specializes in family law, including child custody, child support, divorce, legitimation, and more. Book your consultation today.