Atlanta Parental Rights Lawyers

• Divorce and custody disputes
• Paternity actions
• Termination of rights and adoption cases
• Child welfare investigations by the Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS)
• Relocation of a shared child 
• Parental alienation claims (one parent undermining the child’s relationship with the other parent through negative influence, manipulation, or by limiting contact)

Each of these situations can affect a parent’s right to have custody, visitation, or decision-making authority for their child. When parental rights are at stake, the court must always act in the child's best interests, an often complex determination that balances emotional, physical, and developmental needs.

Parental Rights Under Georgia Law

Under Georgia law, regardless of marital status, both parents have the right to seek custody and visitation. However, the law distinguishes between legal custody (the right to make major decisions) and physical custody (where the child lives). Courts can award joint or sole custody, and these decisions will shape each parent’s role in the child’s life.

If parents are unmarried, the mother has sole legal and physical custody unless and until the father establishes legitimation through the courts. Being named on the birth certificate or paying child support does not automatically grant a father legal rights in Georgia.

In severe cases, such as abuse, neglect, or abandonment, a court may move to terminate a parent’s rights entirely, an outcome that is both permanent and profound. Because these cases have serious consequences, the courts cautiously approach them and require compelling evidence.