How to Handle the Issue of Child Custody and Domestic Violence

If your marital relationship is of the violent kind, you need to look into a separate set of issues when you decide to either separate or walk down the divorce aisle, particularly when it comes to the safety and security of your children. No one knows better than Atlanta, GA divorce lawyers these are a few things to keep in mind, to make a safe transition for you and your children.

Keep Records

If you live with your partner or spouse, keep detailed records of every incident of emotional or physical abuse, involving you or your children. Note down the place, time, and date of every incident, together with a good description of all things that happened and injuries, if any, to you or the children. These records can help you a long way in case you need to appear before a court and to make sure that you along with your children remain protected from your abuser.

There are many things in the legal process that you cannot do on your own. But having a contingency plan is certainly something you must do by yourself if you believe your marriage could collapse at any time. You must think about the worst case scenario. You must have some money on the side and some clothes ready to go or waiting for you at your friend’s house and so on. Then you can hop on this site (if you have not already) and make yourself a phone call to divorce lawyer.

Staying Safe

Georgia divorce attorneys suggest that once you decide to move out, you ought to make a plan if possible, as you are at your most vulnerable when you leave your relationship. Seek legal counsel as soon as possible. In addition, make sure to spread a safety net all around you and you may want to have the number to an Atlanta divorce lawyer in your smart phone.

Save some money and keep it in some place way from your home, and put away some clothes both for you and your children, preferably with a close friend. Open up another bank account as well and do not login into to this bank account using a computer your spouse uses.

On top of this, what is most important of all, find a secure place to live once you leave, a place where your partner/spouse won’t be able to find you. Never go to a predictable place such as a place that your partner knows about. Ask a friend or coworker whom your partner doesn’t know, to let you stay for short a time, or weigh the options pertaining to the prospect of moving into a hotel or a shelter (you may have to do this for a few days no matter what). Do not rule out moving back in with your parents.

Fighting for the Custody of Your Kids

If you feel compelled to get away from home quickly, make sure to take your children with you to escape an abusive partner/spouse. Approach to the nearest court immediately and request for an emergency protective order. This is to get custody of your children and to your partner to stay away from you. If you fail to make child custody as a part of the emergency order, you can be blamed for kidnapping, as any Georgia divorce attorney will tell you.

Being on the run is no fun. But watching your children get abused is much worse. In the 21st century, woman have many choices and there are many avenues towards protection. One of the best avenues is to seek legal help in the form of an Atlanta, GA divorce lawyer. Go right here to make this happen: https://usattorneys.com/. 

Don’t forget that the emergency custody order is purely temporary. If you want to make a long term plan to obtain custody of the kids, on a permanent basis, it will have to be included as part of your divorce procedure or separation process. Whatever the terms, the judge will consider the best interest of the children. Although the law of the state stipulates the factors to be considered in such a case, the safety of your kids as well as any previous history of domestic violence can be the deciding factor of the equation. Make sure to discuss this with your legal representative.

Visitation

Unless a parent has abused their children, they might be granted visitation rights. If this makes you anxious about the safety of your children, you can request supervised visitation rights only. Since this issue is very complicated and the variables are extraordinary, it is imperative that you hire a Georgia divorce lawyer right away.