Visitation and Parenting Schedules
Parenting Time Overview
Georgia's public policy is to continue contact between children and their parents. Courts rarely completely deny visitation, instead preferring to use supervised visitation with various restrictions to maintain a child's safety. As such, in the vast majority of cases, both parents will continue to have parenting time (visitation) with their children after a divorce.
The phrase 'parenting time' (visitation) defines each parent's times with the minor child(ren). The parties can agree on how time will be divided. Alternatively, if they can not agree, they will go to court and request that the judge decides how parenting time will be divided between them.
Regardless of how a visitation plan is developed, through agreement or court order, parenting time details are required to be reduced into a formal court document called a 'parenting plan.' The parenting plan forces the parties to define custody details, from routine parenting schedules to summer and holiday visitation.
Stepping Stones for Younger Children
In general, with very young children, there seems to be support for short, frequent visitations. The rationale is that it allows for strong bonds to develop with the child and each parent. Commonly, visitation in these cases will go from shorter, more frequent visits towards one of the more common plans referenced above.
What Happens When Someone Fails to Follow the Court Ordered Parenting Plan?
If either parent violates a court order regarding custody, they may be held in contempt of court. Upon finding contempt, a court has broad authority to enforce its court orders, including fines and jail time. It is important to honor any court order involving custody or visitation. If you feel circumstances have changed that warrant not following the court order, you should consider seeking a modification of the child custody scheduled.
