In Georgia, divorcing parents must consider the best interests of their children when determining child custody. This is especially when parents are deciding on parenting schedules for the holidays. Recently, a Georgia man described how child custody decisions have affected the time he spends with his son over the holidays and in general.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, a man from Georgia explained how a child custody arrangement has affected his relationship with his son. The man's ex-wife has primary custody of their son, who was two years old when the couple divorced. The man found a job and has been working for the University of Georgia for last six years, which has caused the man and his son to live several hundred miles away from each other.
The child custody agreement allows the man to see his son on certain holidays and for certain periods of time during the summer. The man explains that while this arrangement has changed their relationship, it also has given them an opportunity to build a strong relationship through non-traditional means, such as the phone calls and text messages.
In Georgia, child custody determinations are made based on the best interests of the child. Child custody arrangements may be based on an agreement between the parents. If the parents are unable to come to an agreement, a court may order joint custody or another arrangement based on numerous factors related to the best interests of the child. In Georgia, if the child is 14 years of age or older, the child may have a voice in the decision as to which parent he or she would like to live with and this decision will be affected by the child's voice unless the court determines the parent is unfit.
Determining child custody may be challenging for divorcing parents. This may be especially true over the holiday season. However, it is always in the best interests of the child for their parents to come an agreement on child custody.