Legal Question in Family Law in Georgia
Does she have to provide emergency contacts?
We have custody of my step daughters.In the year and a half we have had girls,the mother was supposed to be staying with her sister.The girls tell us they don't stay there and have stayed in 4 different locations in the last 5 visits. She has told us she moved to a double wide trailer in another county,but refuses to give an address or phone number.She says ''She don't need nobody checking up on her buisness.'', and her,''emergency contact is 911''. We really don't care where she lives,but she is a known drug user and takes dangerous chances with the girls. The point is, if the girls needed us,we have no way of getting to them, because she won't tell us where she is with them.Does Georgia code 19-9-1 require her to provide us with an address and phone number? The judge has already refused to cite her of contempt even though she has not adhered to a single judgement he made. Is there anything we can do before she seriously hurts these kids? The judges in Coweta County are very biased and lean toward the mother no matter what she does. We have tried every avenue, and have been told leave it alone. This woman has already killed one child and gotten away with it. We're afraid if we leave it alone, it might be one of the girls next.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Does she have to provide emergency contacts?
To my knowledge, there's not a specific law about emergency contacts, generally the settlement agreement will require each party to let the other know where they're at and a violation would result in one party bringing a contempt charge against the other. You didn't mention how old the girls were or what their attitude is toward the situation. I find it hard to believe that the Judges would be that biased in this day and time, especially if you have proven drug use. But, be aware that drug use in contested domestic cases is alleged often, but hardly ever proven. It's generally on the hearsay of both parties. I would recommend that you get some creditable witnesses to her drug use (not your relatives) and some hard evidence of her stability then file another contempt or preferably a modification so that her visitation is supervised. Get supporting affidavits and testimony to attach to the petition. If the judge denies it, consider appealling it. You will have to get a very good lawyer who is familiar with the appeals process and you will have to pay for a transcription of the hearing to perfect the record. If money is an issue, contact Georgia Legal Services to see if they can hook you up with someone in that area. Your priority should be to protect those girls.
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