| In Georgia, when parents divorce, in most cases one | | | | certain place and time. |
| of the parents is given custody and the other parent | | | | Denying visitation |
| is given visitation rights. The visitation schedule can | | | | For a Georgia Superior Court to deny visitation to a |
| vary according to each parents needs. A standard | | | | parent, it must be determined that the child would be |
| Georgia visitation agreement allows the non-custodial | | | | harmed in some way by continuing to have a |
| parent to see the children every other weekend with | | | | relationship with the parent. This could be because of |
| holiday's split between the two parents. | | | | abuse allegations or because of criminal or immoral |
| For example, one parent will have the children on | | | | activity. In most cases, the court will not deny |
| Thanksgiving one year and the other one will have | | | | visitation permanently but will order the non-custodial |
| the child the next year. Judges always determine the | | | | parent to meet certain obligations. Often a parent will |
| custody and visitation agreements. The standard | | | | deny the other parent visitation rights. This is a |
| measuring tool is "what's in the best interest of the | | | | violation of a court order and the other parent can |
| child." In recent years, judges have been just as | | | | be charged with contempt. First, the parent who was |
| agreeable to awarding custody to the fathers and | | | | denied visitation must file for modification of visitation. |
| visitation rights to the mothers. | | | | Unfortunately, this can take several weeks to move |
| In Georgia, grandparents have been awarded | | | | through the court system before the parent has his |
| visitation rights as have step-parents who had a close | | | | or her visitation rights destroyed. |
| bond with the child at the time they were married to | | | | Parental kidnapping |
| the child's parent. Again, as long as the judge finds | | | | In some cases, the non-custodial parent will refuse to |
| the visitation is in the best interest of the child, | | | | return the children because they fear for the child. In |
| visitation is often awarded in these circumstances. | | | | this case, the non-custodial parent must file a petition |
| Supervised visitation | | | | within 96 hours to prove his or her case or else be |
| A judge may grant supervised visitation in certain | | | | charged with kidnapping. If the child has not been |
| circumstances that include:o Allegations of domestic | | | | returned by the non custodial parent, a police report |
| abuse against the parent.o Allegations of mental | | | | must be filed immediately. The Federal Bureau of |
| cruelty against the child.o Fear that the other parent | | | | Investigation usually assists in parental abductions |
| would attempt to violate the custody order by | | | | since many of the involve taking children across state |
| kidnapping the child.o In some cases where there is a | | | | lines. Finally, anyone who has been granted visitation |
| great deal of conflict between the parties. The | | | | must abide by the court order. If not, he or she will |
| supervisors may be a social worker but in many | | | | face contempt charges. While jail sentences only |
| cases a family friend or relative observes the | | | | happen in rare cases, a judge could order jail time for |
| visitation. Usually the visitation is restricted to a | | | | a parent that violates the order. |