Does an Acknowledgement of Paternity Mean a Child is Legitimated?
No, the acknowledgement of paternity form does not mean a child is legitimated under Georgia law. Unwed parents often mistakenly believe that the father gains custodial rights to the child by signing the acknowledgement of paternity and having the father’s name included on the birth certificate. By itself, an acknowledgement of paternity does not entitle […]
LawCall: The Difference Between Child Custody and Adoption
What is the difference between child custody and adoption? Custody does not sever either parent’s parental rights to the child. If a father filed to seek custody, primary or physical custody, of the child, the mother or other parent would still have custody rights to the child such as visitation, etc. Adoption actually severs the […]
Types of Child Custody: Legal and Physical
“Me and my ex share custody. We live close. So, it’s been easy. But, I’m looking at a job in Atlanta. He says moving would violate our arrangement and I can’t take the job. Is that true?” To answer that question, I really need a little more information. But, in general it would depend on […]
Can Visitation be Modified Without Finding a Material Change in Circumstances Has Occurred
The Georgia Court of Appeals affirmed a trial court’s order finding the mother in contempt and modifying the father’s visitation rights. In 2009, the trial court established paternity, awarded the parties joint legal custody, and granted the father visitation rights of their minor child. In September 2015, the parties entered into a consent order which […]
CASE LAW UPDATE: Sheffield v. Sheffield
Child Custody and Grandparents Rights Can a parent share joint custody of their minor child with the child’s grandparent? The short answer is no. The Georgia Court of Appeals reversed a juvenile court’s order awarding joint legal custody of a child to the child’s mother and to the child’s grandmother. In Georgia, there is a […]
The Basics of Child Custody in Georgia
Child custody is a confusing topic for many people. This is often the case because most people don’t fully understand what child custody is and the different types of child custody. Two examples of how people can be confused: Mistakenly believe child custody only refers to one type of custody: physical custody. Many people don’t realize there are two […]
LAW CALL RECALL: Child Custody Modifications
Attorney Ashley M. Brodie recently appeared as a guest host on the popular Macon television show, Law Call. Airing every Sunday evening at 11:35 p.m. on channel 13WMAZ, Law Call is a live television program where callers call in to have their legal questions answered. Ashley has appeared several times as a guest host, answering […]
LAW CALL RECALL: Legitimation and Custody
Attorney Ashley M. Brodie recently appeared as a guest host on the popular Macon television show, Law Call. Airing every Sunday evening at 11:35 p.m. on channel 13WMAZ, Law Call is a live television program where callers call in to have their legal questions answered. Ashley has appeared several times as a guest host, answering […]
Georgia Child Custody Questions and Answers
How do courts determine who will get custody of my child? In Georgia, child custody is a complex matter where many factors are taken into consideration before a determination is made as to which parent will receive custody. Courts in Georgia use what is called the best interests of the child standard when determining child […]