Divorced fathers in Georgia who want equal parenting time may have some hope in the near future. There is a new but growing movement led by a group consisting of all women to have shared equal custody between the father and the mother. This group feels their fight may be the only way divorced fathers will have a decent chance of achieving equality when it comes to child custody.
In 2010, a leading university study showed that both men and women fundamentally agree that shared custody should be awarded in most cases. Of course, there are some cases where this type of custody should not be awarded, as in cases of domestic violence. The group wants to make sure that there are measures to protect the children in cases where domestic abuse has been confirmed.
Shared custody is not the same thing as joint custody. Shared custody indicates equal time should be spent with each parent. Joint custody usually means that one parent gets the child on alternating occasions, such as weekends and holidays, but the majority of the time is physically spent with the other parent — most often the mother. One study indicated that judgment for the mother to have exclusive custody was given in nearly 70 percent of all custody arrangements.
As with any issue, there are supporters and detractors. Some attorneys that practice family law are skeptical, stressing that each divorce is unique and should be treated as such. However, many are willing to come around to the idea so long as any proposed legislation includes certain protections for the children that can be applied when a child custody situation necessitates it. Ultimately, many Georgia parents may agree that having equal access to both parents may be in the best interest of the children.
Source: startribune.com, “Divorced dads get big gift from fired-up moms,” Gail Rosenblum, June 8, 2013