Parents in Georgia or anywhere else in the United States may be able to give custody of their children to another party on a temporary basis. For instance, parents who have unusual work hours may hand their child over to a grandparent or a trusted friend. Parents who may not have the money to take care of a child may also decide to temporarily relinquish custody.
While almost anyone can have custody of a child, it is important that this person be capable of caring for a child consistently. This is why most temporary custodians are the child’s grandparents, godparents or other close friends or relatives. Regardless of who gets custody, the arrangement must be in the child’s best interest to be approved by a court. A custody order should spell out how long the arrangement is to last for.
It should also specify where the child is going to live and if the parent will have visitation rights. In most cases, parents retain some sort of visitation schedule even when another party obtains custody. The custody agreement will likely touch on who is responsible for providing for the child financially while it is in effect. Prior to executing a temporary child custody agreement, the child him or herself may be allowed to offer input into the situation.
Parents who have questions about child custody and child support may benefit from consulting with an attorney. Doing so may make it easier to learn more about their rights and obligations after a divorce or other significant event. Generally speaking, those who are not granted custody of a child are granted visitation, and they are also generally required to pay child support to the custodial parent. However, this may depend on the details of a specific custody arrangement.