Your Child Custody Lawyer in Alpharetta and Woodstock, GA
Custody decides how much of your child’s life you are actually present for. North Metro Litigators represents parents across north metro Atlanta in contested and uncontested cases, and you can speak with a lawyer today rather than in three weeks.
How Georgia Courts Decide Custody
Georgia child custody law starts both parents on equal footing, with no presumption favoring either one. A judge decides what serves the best interests of the child, and every order must address two separate things.
- Legal custody, meaning who decides on education, health care, religion, and activities
- Physical custody, meaning where the child actually lives and how parenting time is divided
- Joint legal custody with one parent holding final say in specific areas, a common Georgia outcome
The two are independent, so joint legal custody does not automatically mean equal time.
What Happens When Your Child Turns 14
Georgia is unusual here, and most parents do not learn it until it matters. A child who has reached 14 has the right to select which parent to live with, and that choice is presumptive unless the judge finds the selected parent is not in the child’s best interests.
A 14-year-old’s election can itself count as the change in circumstances needed to reopen custody, though it can only be made once every two years. Children between 11 and 13 have their wishes considered, but their preference does not carry the same weight.
Parenting Plans and Custody Modifications
Georgia requires a parenting plan in every custody case, covering the weekly schedule, holidays, school breaks, transportation, and decision-making. A vague plan becomes the source of the next dispute, so the detail is worth getting right the first time.
Changing an existing order later takes proof of a material change in circumstances, whether that is a relocation, a new work schedule, a safety concern, or a teenager’s election. We handle both sides of a modification.
Serving Alpharetta, Woodstock, and North Metro Atlanta
You can meet a child custody attorney in Alpharetta or a child custody lawyer in Woodstock without driving across the metro. Custody cases are heard in the county where they are filed, and we appear across the north metro often.
- Alpharetta office: 11545 Park Woods Circle, Suite C, Alpharetta, GA 30005
- Woodstock office: 408 Creekstone Ridge, Woodstock, GA 30188
- Serving Cherokee, Fulton, Cobb, and Forsyth counties, including Roswell, Milton, Canton, and Marietta
If your case sits in a neighboring county, we handle it from whichever office is closer to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Georgia Favor Mothers in Custody Cases?
No. The law gives neither parent a head start, and the standard is the best interests of the child.
Can We Agree on Custody Without Going to Court?
Yes, and many parents do. A judge still reviews and enters your parenting plan, so it must be built correctly even when nobody is fighting.
How Long Does a Custody Case Take?
An agreed case moves far faster than a contested one. We give you a realistic range once we know your county and what is in dispute.
Talk to a Child Custody Lawyer Today
You do not need your decisions made before you call. Reach North Metro Litigators at 770-517-0045 for a free phone or virtual consultation and find out where you stand.