In almost all cases, parenting plans are required in Georgia for divorcing or separating parents who share minor children. The only notable exception to this state law involves cases wherein “a parent seeks emergency relief for family violence pursuant to Code Section 19-13-3 or 19-13-4.”
A parenting plan usually serves as a detailed document that outlines how parents will share responsibilities and make decisions for their children after a separation. In Georgia, courts require at least one parenting plan to be submitted in any custody case because this effort can help to establish a stable, supportive environment for the children involved.
Making this effort
Georgia law prioritizes the best interests of the child, and the effort of submitting a parenting plan helps the court evaluate how each parent plans to contribute to the child’s upbringing. Parents can submit an agreed-upon plan jointly, or each parent can submit their own proposal if they cannot agree. Any parenting plan must address physical and legal custody arrangements, including where a former couple’s child will live and how major decisions will be made.
In addition to the fundamental logistical concerns that will govern a former couple’s approach to shared parenting moving forward, a parenting plan can detail other concerns, including how parents will communicate about their child, whether through phone calls, emails and/or a parenting app. Making these efforts proactively can help to mitigate the risk of misunderstandings and conflict moving forward.
To that end, it is worth repeating that if parents cannot agree on parenting plan terms, the courts may intervene and create a plan rooted in the child’s best interests. In that event, the court would review each plan carefully before choosing one proposal or crafting its own approach. This is one of the reasons why most parents prefer to cooperate with each other in the drafting process. Leaving a child’s fate up to the courts is rarely ideal.