How many custody & visitation resources are in Georgia?

Women's Corner tracks 17 custody & visitation resources for women in Georgia.

Are custody & visitation resources in Georgia free?

16 of the 17 listed custody & visitation resources in Georgia are explicitly free or low-cost.

Which cities in Georgia have custody & visitation resources?

Listings span cities including Atlanta, Decatur, Marietta, Lawrenceville.

What are some examples of custody & visitation resources in Georgia?

Featured entries include Georgia Courts — Family Law Self-Help, Atlanta Legal Aid Society — Family Law, Fulton County Superior Court — Family Division, DeKalb County Superior Court — Family, Cobb County Superior Court — Family Division.

Do these listings include phone numbers?

9 of 17 Georgia custody & visitation listings include phone numbers.

Do I need a lawyer to file for custody?

No — you can file pro se using forms from your county's Family Court Self-Help Center or Family Law Facilitator at no cost. A lawyer is strongly recommended if your ex is contesting custody, there's a history of abuse, or you need to relocate. Legal aid organizations cover custody cases for income-qualifying mothers.

How does the court decide who gets custody?

Judges apply the 'best interest of the child' standard, weighing each parent's caregiving history, stability, work schedule, the child's bond with each parent, any abuse or substance use, and (for older children) the child's preference. Being the primary caregiver — the parent who handles school, doctor visits, and daily routines — carries significant weight.

What if my ex won't follow the parenting plan?

Document every missed exchange, denied visit, or violation with dates, screenshots, and witnesses, then file a Motion for Contempt or Motion to Enforce with the court that issued your order. Courts can order make-up time, fines, or even change custody for repeated violations. Don't withhold the child in retaliation — that can hurt your case.

Can I get sole custody?

Yes, but courts presume joint custody is best unless you can show the other parent is unfit — documented abuse, untreated addiction, abandonment, or serious mental illness that endangers the child. Bring police reports, medical records, CPS findings, and witness statements. A guardian ad litem may be appointed to investigate.

Best Custody & Visitation in Georgia — 17 resources

About Custody & Visitation for Women

Custody and visitation cases for women are handled in state and county family courts under each state's 'best interest of the child' standard. Mothers seeking sole, joint, or primary physical custody can use free self-help centers inside most courthouses to file petitions, parenting plans, and modification requests without an attorney. The ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence and the Women's Law Project track state-by-state custody trends, and organizations like the Battered Mothers Custody Conference advocate where abuse intersects with custody. This directory combines official state court self-help portals, county family law facilitators, women-focused family law firms, and maternal advocacy organizations.

Custody & Visitation in Georgia

Georgia superior courts hear divorce and custody in each of its 159 counties. The Division of Child Support Services under DHS handles enforcement. Atlanta anchors the state; Savannah, Augusta, Columbus, and Athens round out major metros. Atlanta Legal Aid, Georgia Legal Services Program, and the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence offer women legal help and safety planning.

17 Resources

1. Georgia Courts — Family Law Self-Help — Free

The Judicial Council of Georgia at 244 Washington St SW in Atlanta hosts statewide standardized family-law forms and procedural guidance for custody, divorce, and child-support filings. Mothers preparing pro se cases will find the parenting-plan worksheet and child-support calculator linked here. Call (404) 656-5171 for circuit-specific questions.

(404) 656-5171 · 244 Washington St SW, Atlanta, GA 30334 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

2. Atlanta Legal Aid Society — Family Law — Free

Atlanta Legal Aid at 54 Ellis St NE handles custody, divorce, and DV-related family-law cases for low-income mothers in Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Cobb, and Gwinnett. Call (404) 524-5811 weekdays for intake. ALAS attorneys appear regularly in Fulton Superior Court and are well-known to family-court judges.

(404) 524-5811 · 54 Ellis St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website

3. Fulton County Superior Court — Family Division — Free

Fulton Superior at 136 Pryor St SW handles divorce, custody, child support, and legitimation actions for Atlanta and Fulton County. Family Division judges require mediation in most contested custody cases. Call (404) 613-5313 for docket information and self-help center hours.

(404) 613-5313 · 136 Pryor St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website

4. DeKalb County Superior Court — Family — Free

DeKalb Superior at 556 N McDonough St in Decatur processes family-law filings for DeKalb County. The Family Division operates a parenting-plan coordinator program for high-conflict cases. Call (404) 371-2836 for filing fees, judicial assignments, and self-help resources.

(404) 371-2836 · 556 N McDonough St, Decatur, GA 30030 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

5. Cobb County Superior Court — Family Division — Free

Cobb Superior at 70 Haynes St in Marietta handles divorce, legitimation, custody modifications, and child support for Cobb County families. Family Division judges hear contested custody cases on dedicated days; call (770) 528-1300 to confirm calendar assignments.

(770) 528-1300 · 70 Haynes St, Marietta, GA 30090 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

6. Gwinnett County Family Court — Free

Gwinnett Superior Court at 75 Langley Dr in Lawrenceville handles family-law actions for one of Georgia's most populous counties. Bilingual services available given Gwinnett's diverse demographics. Call (770) 822-8100 for filing instructions and self-help center referrals.

(770) 822-8100 · 75 Langley Dr, Lawrenceville, GA 30046 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

7. Georgia Bar Association — Lawyer Referral

The State Bar of Georgia's referral service at (404) 527-8700 matches mothers with member family-law attorneys for an initial reduced-fee consultation. Useful when you've been denied legal aid or need representation for a contested case the legal-aid offices can't take.

(404) 527-8700 · 104 Marietta St NW Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30303 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website

8. Georgia Court Mediation — Family — Free

The Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution operates court-connected mediation programs for custody disputes in every superior court district. Mediator fees are often reduced or waived for income-eligible parties. Call (404) 656-5171 for circuit-specific information.

(404) 656-5171 · Statewide service · Varies by county · Visit Website

9. Georgia Legal Services — Family Law — Free

GLSP at 104 Marietta St NW serves the 154 Georgia counties outside metro Atlanta, with offices in Augusta, Macon, Savannah, Columbus, and elsewhere. Mothers can call (404) 206-5175 to find their regional GLSP office and start intake for family-law and DV cases.

(404) 206-5175 · 104 Marietta St NW Suite 250, Atlanta, GA 30303 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website

10. WomensLaw.org — Custody Information — Free

Plain-language guides written by attorneys cover Georgia custody law, the best-interest factors in OCGA 19-9-3, and how to file a legitimation action when the parents aren't married. Especially useful for mothers preparing pro se motions.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. ABA Family Law Section — Find a Lawyer — Free

The ABA's Family Law Section publishes free articles on interstate UCCJEA disputes, military custody, and modification standards. Useful for Georgia mothers whose case involves a service member at Fort Benning, Fort Stewart, or Robins AFB.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. Federal Office of Child Support Services — Free

OCSS oversees every state child-support program including Georgia DCSS. The site explains how UIFSA interstate registration works for enforcing a Georgia order against an out-of-state parent.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. USA.gov — Child Custody and Support — Free

Federal portal linking to every state's custody and support agency with practical answers to interstate enforcement and tax-refund intercept questions. A useful starting point for Georgia mothers whose ex has moved out of state.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. ChildWelfare.gov — Custody Resources — Free

HHS's child-welfare gateway covers Georgia kinship-care rules and the Relative Care Subsidy. Useful when a Georgia mother is taking custody of a grandchild or niece after DFCS removal.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

15. National Council of Juvenile & Family Court Judges — Free

NCJFCJ publishes the bench guides Georgia family-court judges use on DV-informed custody decisions and trauma-aware parenting plans. Mothers can cite these standards in motions to push for safer parenting plans.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

16. Cornell Legal Information Institute — Family Law — Free

Cornell Law School's free legal encyclopedia provides clean, citation-backed definitions of joint legal custody, sole physical custody, and best-interest factors. Useful when reading a Georgia draft order before signing.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

17. FindLaw — Child Custody — Free

FindLaw's consumer custody library covers modification standards, relocation, and what to bring to a Georgia custody hearing. Good for mothers preparing for a Superior Court appearance without an attorney.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many custody & visitation resources are in Georgia?: Women's Corner tracks 17 custody & visitation resources for women in Georgia.
Are custody & visitation resources in Georgia free?: 16 of the 17 listed custody & visitation resources in Georgia are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Georgia have custody & visitation resources?: Listings span cities including Atlanta, Decatur, Marietta, Lawrenceville.
What are some examples of custody & visitation resources in Georgia?: Featured entries include Georgia Courts — Family Law Self-Help, Atlanta Legal Aid Society — Family Law, Fulton County Superior Court — Family Division, DeKalb County Superior Court — Family, Cobb County Superior Court — Family Division.
Do these listings include phone numbers?: 9 of 17 Georgia custody & visitation listings include phone numbers.
Do I need a lawyer to file for custody?: No — you can file pro se using forms from your county's Family Court Self-Help Center or Family Law Facilitator at no cost. A lawyer is strongly recommended if your ex is contesting custody, there's a history of abuse, or you need to relocate. Legal aid organizations cover custody cases for income-qualifying mothers.
How does the court decide who gets custody?: Judges apply the 'best interest of the child' standard, weighing each parent's caregiving history, stability, work schedule, the child's bond with each parent, any abuse or substance use, and (for older children) the child's preference. Being the primary caregiver — the parent who handles school, doctor visits, and daily routines — carries significant weight.
What if my ex won't follow the parenting plan?: Document every missed exchange, denied visit, or violation with dates, screenshots, and witnesses, then file a Motion for Contempt or Motion to Enforce with the court that issued your order. Courts can order make-up time, fines, or even change custody for repeated violations. Don't withhold the child in retaliation — that can hurt your case.
Can I get sole custody?: Yes, but courts presume joint custody is best unless you can show the other parent is unfit — documented abuse, untreated addiction, abandonment, or serious mental illness that endangers the child. Bring police reports, medical records, CPS findings, and witness statements. A guardian ad litem may be appointed to investigate.