GEORGIA

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NPO AFFILIATE | GA

STATE CHAIR: Justin Sosebee
VICE-CHAIR: David James

NEGATIVES: 

  • Georgia is one of only 9 states lacking a presumptive parenting time adjustment formula; instead it relies on unnecessarily costly and lengthy court deviation procedures generally inaccessible to lower income parents. The lack of a presumptive PTA as an integral component of mandated presumptive child support guidelines arguably violates federal regulatory requirements.

2019 NPO Shared Parenting Report Card

WHY DID GEORGIA RECEIVE A C?

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POSITIVES:

  • Georgia statutes explicitly define “joint physical custody” as “substantially equal time and contact with both parents.” GA. CODE ANN. § 19-9-6

  • Georgia expressly encourages that minor children have “continuing contact with parents and grandparents who have shown the ability to act in the best interest of the child” and “parents to share in the rights and responsibilities of raising their children after such parents have separated or dissolved their marriage.” GA. CODE ANN. § 19-9-3

NEGATIVES: 

  • Georgia has no statutory preference for, or presumption of, shared parenting (joint legal custody and shared physical custody) for temporary or final orders. Georgia statutes do not require courts to consider “friendly parent” factors in awarding custody.

Poll conducted in partnership with Georgia United Families

Highlights:

In instances of divorce or separation:

  • 92% of those in Georgia believe it is in the child’s best interest to have as much time as possible with each parent.

  • 94% in Georgia expressed a commitment to vote their beliefs in being “more likely to vote for a candidate who supports children spending equal or nearly equal time with each parent following separation or divorce when both parents are fit and willing to be parents.

  • 87% of those in Georgia indicated they would support a change in Georgia law that awards children as much time as possible with each parent.

  • 80% believe that when there is conflict between parents, awarding sole custody to one parent increases conflict.

  • 92% believe that Georgia should promote shared parenting for all children with separated parents.

  • 83% believe that both parents should have equal rights and responsibilities following divorce or separation.