Child Custody Options and Arrangements in Lawrenceville, GA
Have questions about child custody options and arrangements in Lawrenceville, GA? Crystal Wright Law, LLC is here to help. Custody affects where your child lives, who makes major decisions, and how parents share time. The process can feel scary, but you don’t have to face it alone.
Our Lawrenceville child custody lawyer explains Georgia law in plain language and works to keep your child’s daily life stable. Ready to build a plan that fits your family? Call Crystal Wright Law, LLC today at 404-594-2143 for a free consultation and clear next steps.
How Can Crystal Wright Law, LLC Help With Child Custody in Lawrenceville?
At Crystal Wright Law, LLC, we take pride in helping families in Lawrenceville, Georgia, create safe, child-focused plans. We listen first, identify your goals, and map out a strategy that reduces stress while protecting your rights and your child’s routines.
When you work with our team, our Lawrenceville child custody attorney can:
- Draft or review customized parenting plans
- Gather and present helpful records and witness statements
- Prepare you for mediation and negotiate fair schedules
- Seek temporary orders to stabilize routines
- Litigate firmly when settlement isn’t possible
These services keep the focus on your child and help move your case forward with confidence. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
Legal vs. Physical Custody in Georgia
Georgia law separates “legal custody” from “physical custody.” Legal custody covers major decisions about education, health care, religion, and activities. Physical custody is about where the child lives and the day-to-day schedule.
Parents can share both types (joint custody), or one parent can be primary with the other having parenting time. Courts can assign final say to one parent on certain topics, which reduces conflict and gives everyone a clear path when parents disagree.
How Courts Decide: Best Interests Factors
Judges use the “best interests of the child” standard under O.C.G.A. § 19-9-3 and consider many parts of a child’s life, including:
- Each parent’s bond with the child and caregiving history
- The stability of each home, including routines and safety
- School and community ties that support learning and friendships
- Each parent’s physical and mental health
- The ability to co-parent and encourage a healthy relationship with the other parent
- Any history of family violence, substance abuse, or unsafe behavior
- Each parent’s honesty, reliability, and follow-through with court orders
- The child’s needs based on age, health, and daily schedule
No single fact decides the case—the court looks at the whole picture to choose the plan that best supports safety, stability, and healthy growth.
Parenting Plans and Schedules
Georgia requires a written parenting plan in every custody case. A good plan sets the weekly schedule, exchange locations, holidays and school breaks, decision-making rules, and how parents will resolve disputes or request changes.
Common, child-friendly patterns include every-other-weekend with a mid-week visit, a 2-2-5-5 rotation for frequent contact, or week-on/week-off for older children. The “right” schedule depends on your child’s age, school needs, activities, and each parent’s work hours.
Modifying Orders and Relocation
You can request a modification when there’s a material change affecting your child, such as a new school schedule, a major move, or safety issues. Keep records—messages, school notes, medical updates—to show what changed and why a new plan is needed.
Georgia does not ban relocation, but distance, travel time, and school impact matter. Offer updated time-sharing, travel plans, and virtual contact to show you are child-focused and committed to keeping strong bonds with both parents.
Safety Concerns and Protective Tools
When safety is a concern, the court can use tools to protect children while keeping healthy parent-child contact:
- Supervised parenting time at an approved center or with a trusted adult
- Counseling or classes, including parenting, anger management, or substance use treatment
- Drug or alcohol testing on a set schedule
- Safe-exchange locations, such as a police station or monitored site
- Limits on communication, like using a co-parenting app or restricting direct contact
- Temporary limits on decision-making or travel if needed
These measures help your child stay safe while contact grows in a careful, structured way.
If there is family violence, a protective order may be appropriate. Document incidents, seek medical care, save messages or photos, and follow all court instructions so the judge has clear evidence to act quickly.
Unmarried Parents and Legitimation
At birth, an unmarried mother has custody. An unmarried father must file for legitimation to obtain custodial rights and request parenting time. Establishing paternity alone is not enough under Georgia law.
Once legitimation is granted, the court may enter orders on legal custody, physical custody, and parenting time. A detailed parenting plan then sets clear routines and reduces future conflict.
Grandparents and Extended Family
Grandparents may seek visitation if it serves the child’s best interests. Courts consider the prior relationship, the child’s needs, and whether the time supports stability, health, and school progress.
These petitions are fact-specific. Evidence of a meaningful bond—and possible harm from cutting off contact—can make a big difference.
Mediation in Gwinnett County
Mediation is common in Gwinnett County custody cases. A trained neutral helps parents discuss schedules, holidays, decision-making, and communication. Agreements reached in mediation can be made into court orders, giving you more control than a trial.
Mediation is private and often faster and less expensive. It can also lower conflict, which helps children feel secure while the adults work through tough issues.
Contact Our Lawrenceville Child Custody Attorney Today for a Free Consultation
Every family is different. If you need help with child custody in Lawrenceville, GA, Crystal Wright Law, LLC will listen, explain your options, and build a plan that fits your life. We guide you through Georgia law, protect your child’s routine, and work toward a stable, fair outcome.
Call today for a free consultation. Our Lawrenceville child custody lawyer is ready to help you move forward in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
