Nothing matters more than your children. When a family dynamic changes, whether through separation, divorce, or the joyful addition of a stepchild, the legal system plays a massive role in shaping your child’s daily life. At Anthony M. Zezima, P.C., we approach every case involving children with a mix of compassion for the emotional toll it takes and aggressive advocacy to protect the child’s best interests.
Navigating Child Custody and Visitation
The best interests of the child is the gold standard in Georgia family law. When determining Child Custody, the court looks at the bond between parent and child, the stability of the home environment, and each parent’s ability to care for the child’s needs.
There are two types of custody to consider: legal and physical. Legal custody involves decision-making power regarding education, healthcare, and religious upbringing. Physical custody determines where the child sleeps. While joint legal custody is common, physical custody arrangements can vary wildly.
Closely tied to custody is Visitation. Even if one parent is granted primary physical custody, the non-custodial parent generally has rights to scheduled parenting time. We help families craft parenting plans that work in the real world, not just on paper. This includes accounting for school holidays, summer breaks, and transportation logistics to minimize friction and maximize quality time.
Ensuring Fair Child Support
Raising a child is expensive, and Georgia law ensures that both parents contribute to that cost. Child Support is calculated using a specific worksheet that considers the gross income of both parents, the cost of health insurance, and work-related childcare costs.
However, the formula allows for deviations. If you are paying for private school tuition, extraordinary medical expenses, or travel costs for visitation, these should be factored in. We ensure that the income numbers used are accurate—watching out for hidden income or underemployment—so that the final support amount is fair to the payor and sufficient for the child.
Legitimation: A Crucial Step for Fathers
For fathers of children born out of wedlock, Georgia law presents a specific hurdle. Simply being on the birth certificate or paying child support does not grant you legal rights to custody or visitation. You must go through a process called Legitimation.
We guide fathers through this essential legal action. Legitimation establishes the legal relationship between father and child, granting the child inheritance rights and allowing the father to petition for custody and visitation. Without this step, a father has no legal standing to prevent the mother from moving away or withholding the child.
Modifications and Enforcement
Court orders are snapshots in time, but life is a movie that keeps playing. As children grow and parents’ careers change, the original decree may no longer work. We assist clients with Modifications of custody and support. To succeed, we must prove a material change in circumstances. This could be a teenager wishing to live with the other parent, a parent relocating for a job, or a significant change in income.
Conversely, sometimes the issue isn’t that the order needs changing, but that it is being ignored. If an ex-spouse is refusing to pay court-ordered support or is denying you your visitation time, we utilize Enforcement actions, such as filing for contempt of court. We believe that court orders must be respected to maintain stability for the children.
Grandparents’ Rights and Step-Parent Adoption
Family law isn’t just about parents. We recognize the deep bonds children form with extended family. In situations where parents are unable to care for a child due to addiction, incarceration, or other issues, we advocate for Grandparents’ Rights, helping grandparents step in to provide custody or secure visitation.
On the brighter side of our practice, we love assisting with Step-Parent Adoption. This process allows a stepparent to become the legal parent of their spouse’s child, often following the termination of the biological parent’s rights or with their consent. It provides the child with permanent security and full legal equality within the family.
Your children are your legacy. Whether you are fighting for time with them, ensuring they are financially supported, or legally solidifying your bond through adoption, Anthony M. Zezima, P.C. is here to guide you with friendly, professional advice every step of the way.