In moments of frustration since your divorce and subsequent custody battle, it is likely that you have been less than satisfied with your ex’s handling of the visitation schedule. Perhaps your ex has consistently dropped the kids off late to your house, or perhaps your ex canceled time with your children repeatedly, at a time when your kids were excited to spend time with their other parent.

To say the least, these situations can be frustrating. They can be hurtful, disrespectful, and make the visitation schedule hard to commit to. They are not, however, reasons to modify custody. According to family law and child custody laws in Georgia , only certain situations warrant modifying custody.

In today’s blog, we’re going to discuss how and why you could modify visitation or modify custody. Here at The Fairell Firm, our family law attorneys in Atlanta are committed to helping our clients work through Georgia child support laws , filing for custody, and even modifying custody. Read on to learn how family law can help, and contact our custody attorneys today to get started.

As much as you may want to change the visitation schedule as soon as your ex shows up late with your children the first time, it won’t be quite that simple. To be clear, visitation is the parenting time that you currently have. It is possible to change it to a schedule that works better for you or for your ex, but you must wait two years from the previous order to make a change. Whether you have never changed it or you have changed it multiple times doesn’t matter; you must wait two years regardless. A custody attorney can help.

Modifying custody is much different than only changing the visitation schedule. This can refer to legal custody, physical custody, or both.

The only way to modify custody is if there has been a material change that affects the child drastically. Some examples of this include a job change that impacts finances, time, or living arrangements; the physical relocation of a parent; or the death of a parent. All of these situations have varying levels of impact on the child, and a court is always most concerned with the child’s well-being. Work with a child custody lawyer in Georgia to determine the best route for you and to have representation.

Custody law may not be your area of expertise, but it is certainly ours. At The Fairell Firm, we have a team of family law attorneys who can help you through every aspect of physical or legal custody — including modifying visitation or custody. Next time you’re searching for “child custody lawyers near me” in a moment of frustration, we hope you find our family law firm and work with us. We’re trained, experienced, compassionate, and, best of all, committed to your success. Contact The Fairell Firm today with help with family law and more.