Georgia parents who have worked through the details of child custody agreements understand the many challenges and issues that must be considered before an agreement may be deemed suitable. Custody plans impact the way in which children are cared for and raised by their parents, and can look very different from family to family. Once parents have established a child custody plan for their shared children, they may believe that they will never have to deal with custody questions again.
Unfortunately, many families have to change their custodial arrangements before their courts call them back for review. Different life events can throw into turmoil the carefully laid plans that parents made when their initial custody agreements and orders were prepared. This post will discuss changing child custody plans and why such changes are sometimes needed. No part of this post should be read as specific legal advice.
Life events that require child custody changes
One of the most common life events that requires child custody plans to be altered is the relocation of a parent. If the parent has custody of their children, then they may have to seek the approval of the court, and their co-parent, to move with their kids. If the parent does not have physical custody of their kids, they may need to change their visitation plan so that they still have access to their children.
Relocations are not the only reason that child custody plans change. In some cases, children develop needs related to their health, education, or development that necessitates changes in schools, schedules, or residence. When a child has an important need that requires accommodations outside of their established child custody plan, modifications may be necessary.
There are also situations where changes in the life of a custodial parent may require changes to a child custody plan. If a parent’s schedule no longer allows them to provide care for their child, their custody plan may require alteration. If a parent suffers a health problem or develops an addiction, for the child’s well-being the custodial plans surrounding their life may need modification.
Getting a child custody plan changed
Parental agreement is an important component to changing a child custody plan, but it is not always possible to get two co-parents on the same page. As such, child custody modifications can require court hearings and the intervention of the courts to finalize. When a child custody plan is modified by the courts, its new provisions carry with them judicial weight and enforcement rights.
Before questions of custody become problems for families, parents can contact their trusted family law attorneys for guidance on their unique cases. Their lawyers can counsel them on the best options for changing their custody plans without impacting their parental rights. Legal help can assistant parents as they may important alterations that will impact their lives and those of their children.
