Legal Question in Family Law in Georgia

You should file a modification of custody, seeking primary physical custody of your daughter. If she is 16, she can sign an affidavit of her intentions, and the Judge will have to consider her wishes so long as you are not proven to be unfit as a parent. This should be a fairly simple case, but can be made complicated if opposed vigorously, so make sure to sit down with an attorney to get your ducks in a row.

The answer to this questions is informational only, and it is not intended to be legal advise. Only an attorney who has met with you and gone over all of the specific facts of your case can give you legal advice upon which you should rely. Follow up questions are welcome via the email below, and our firm offers free consultations via phone or in person. We have convenient offices in Winder, Jefferson, and Gainesville Georgia, and you should feel free to contact our office at (770) 307-4899, via email at [email protected], or through our website: hicksmasseyandgardner.com.

To change custody you would have to file a case, and you should get a lawyer, to modify custody. A 16 year old can express her wishes in the case, which will help you. Still, a court has to decide visitation and support, and that may be easy or hard depending on the other parent agreeing or not.

Now some bad news - if you court order said you should have been paying child support for the past 13 years and you didn't because you had the child, that money is still owed and gives the father leverage.

I'm located south of Atlanta and do handle cases in your area so feel free to call me at 404-768-3509.