DeKalb County Child Custody Lawyers

Resolving Child Custody Disputes

While child custody disputes are typically associated with divorce proceedings, unmarried parents may also need assistance in resolving child custody issues. Regardless of your situation, it takes a skilled child custody attorney to listen to your concerns and help you find the best solution.

Backed by her extensive experience and certification in collaborative law, Attorney E. Noreen Banks-Ware is keenly aware that children can benefit from seeing their parents work together. She encourages families to find solutions through a negotiated settlement or mediation. By working closely with you and understanding your family dynamics, she can help craft a parenting agreement that works best for your family and meet the court’s approval.

Avoiding Parental Alienation

Custody battles are often contentious, and negative feelings between parents can carry over after the case is concluded. Sometimes, this leads to parental alienation, where one parent criticizes the other parent to negatively influence a child. 

This adverse behavior can consist of a parent belittling or lying about the other parent to the child. Its purpose is to distance the child from the targeted parent. This can result in the child showing unjustified hostility or distrust of the targeted parent and not wanting to spend time with them. Parental alienators may also withhold a child from the other parent. This can cause serious emotional harm to children, as they can feel conflicted, depressed, guilty, or scared.

Stopping parental alienation is not easy, but for the child’s sake, it must be done. 

To avoid parental alienation from the start, parents can practice modeling good behavior, such as:

• Not criticizing the other parent to the child
• Not withholding affection from the child
• Not keeping the child from spending time with the other parent
• Keeping negative thoughts about the other parent to yourself
• Ensuring other family members do not express negative thoughts about the other parent
• Planning ways to spend time as a family and making it a positive experience

If you think your child is a victim of parental alienation, we recommend that you speak with one of our attorneys to discuss your options.

Can Family Violence Charges Affect Custody?

Family violence charges can significantly impact child custody determinations. Courts prioritize the safety and well-being of the child, and any history of domestic violence is considered when deciding custody arrangements. 

If a parent is found to have a history of abusive behavior, the court may limit or revoke their custody and visitation rights to protect the child. Our firm provides robust legal representation for the safety of children, which is paramount in these decisions.

Benefits of Crafting a Parenting Plan

A well-crafted parenting plan can be crucial in ensuring the child's best interests are met while minimizing conflict between parents. 

Benefits include:

• Clarity and structure: A detailed plan outlines parenting time, decision-making responsibilities, and conflict resolution strategies, providing a clear framework that reduces misunderstandings.
• Consistency and stability: Children thrive on routine, and a parenting plan gives them a consistent schedule, whether it relates to school, extracurricular activities, or holidays.
• Reduced conflict: Parents can reduce disputes and focus on cooperative co-parenting with a predefined plan.
• Flexibility: A parenting plan can be customized to accommodate the family's unique needs and can be adjusted as circumstances change.

Grandparents’ Rights in Georgia

Georgia law recognizes the importance of the relationship between a grandparent and a child. Grandparents can play an integral role in a child's life, and under certain conditions, they may have legal rights to visitation or even custody. 

Courts will consider several factors in grandparents’ rights cases, including the child's best interests, the previous relationship between the grandparent and the child, and the parents' wishes. Our attorneys are well-versed in advocating for grandparents' rights when it prioritizes the child's well-being.