Many parents going through divorce or a child custody battle in Georgia are likely intimately familiar with the concept of joint physical and legal custody, as this is generally the most favored custodial arrangement. Additionally, many parents may also be familiar with primary physical custody versus secondary physical custody. However, split parenting or split custody is another custodial arrangement available in Georgia that is available to parents with more than one child.
According to Georgia law, split custody is applicable in situations where:
"there are two or more children of the same parents, where one parent is the custodial parent for at least one child of the parents, and the other parent is the custodial parent for at least one other child of the parents. In a split parenting case, each parent is the custodial parent of any child spending more than 50 percent of the time with that parent and is the noncustodial parent of any child spending more than 50 percent of the time with the other parent. A split parenting situation shall have two custodial parents and two noncustodial parents, but no child shall have more than one custodial parent or noncustodial parent."
O.C.G.A. ยง 19-6-15 (a)(21). Put plainly, in split custody situations, each parent serves as the custodial parent of at least one of the couple's children. Split custody arrangements are rarely uncommon. However, every family's situation is different and if you believe spit custody may be an appropriate option for you and your children, speak to a Georgia child custody attorney in your area.