Determining which parent will receive primary physical custody of a child (or children) at the conclusion of the divorce process is a large part of any divorce involving children. Though many parents are able to reach an agreement as to custody and parenting time with the assistance of their attorneys, every divorce is different and in some cases determining custody of a child can be complicated. If the parties simply cannot agree, it becomes the responsibility of the court to make a decision based on the best interests of the child. Below our family law experts at Oxendine Law experts highlight some of the relevant factors that the court takes into account when determining child custody during a divorce.

The factors that the court considers when determining child custody in Georgia, may include:

– The physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing of the child
– The child’s preference of which parent to live with (as long as they are 11 or older)
– Any special medical or emotional needs of the child
– The specific relationship between the child and parents in question
– The mental and physical health of both parents
– Each parent’s lifestyle and ability to provide basic necessities and stability for the child
– Any history of domestic violence from either parent
– Any history of substance abuse from either parent
– The potential impact of disturbing the child’s current living situation and routine, including school and extracurricular activities

Regardless of the specific circumstances, our experts know that navigating child custody and divorce can be frustrating and difficult. That’s why we work so hard to help our clients in any way we can during all family law matters. If you have any family law needs of your own, contact Oxendine Law at (770) 497-8688 today to schedule a legal consultation in-person, over the phone, or by video conference. Don’t forget to follow along with us on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram for additional family law tips, news, radio segments, and more.