Legal Question in Family Law in Georgia

Re: Custody

If you are concerned for their safety, you can call the local DFCS (Department of Family and Children Services) office so they can go and check things out for your sisters. But be aware that even if DFCS removes your sisters from the abusive home, that does not mean that they will automatically be placed with you in your home; they may get placed in a foster home if DFCS does not think your home is appropriate. You can also petition the juvenile court for a change of custody directly but they can only give you temporary custody, sometimes up to two years. Then you would need to go to the Superior Court to ask for permanent custody (see below).

If it is a custody issue you are trying to raise, you can bring an action in Superior Court to request custody of the girls. You will have the burden to prove 1) that custody with the current parents would harm your sisters and that 2) it would be in their best interests for custody of them to be with you. You have to prove the first before the second element above.