Source: https://www.clplaw.com/news/2016/8/19/xvff40y14rk6tsh3dm57bxqew7rw6a
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 16:25:11+00:00

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Does it matter that dad is an alcoholic? What if mom had an affair? With a felon? How about the time dad forgot to pick up the kids from school? But mom is breastfeeding! How do judges decide?
In Georgia, juries are not allowed to decide custody of a minor child, only a judge can do that. Official Code of Georgia (2015 Edition), §19-9-3(a)(2). Even when parents agree on custody and parenting, the judge is required to review the agreement and either approve it “as is” or supplement it before approving of it. Official Code of Georgia (2015 Edition) §19-9-5.
When making a custody determination, Georgia judges have a lot of discretion. A lot. In other words, if you don’t like the judge’s decision, it might be very difficult to be successful in an appeal. You will have to prove that the judge abused his or her discretion. This standard of appellate review is also referred to as the “any evidence” standard, which means that if there was any evidence at all to support the judge’s decision -- a single fact -- then it will be upheld, even when the evidence contraindicating the decision was much more abundant.
Here's what Georgia’s Supreme Court has said repeatedly: “Where the trial court exercises its discretion and awards custody of a child to one fit parent over the other fit parent, the appellate court will not interfere with that decision unless there is evidence the trial court clearly abused its discretion. If there is any evidence to support the trial court's decision, it cannot be said there was an abuse of discretion.” Rose v. Rose, 294 Ga. 719 (2014), citing Powell v. Powell, 277 Ga. 878 (2004); Welch v. Welch, 277 Ga. 808, 809 (2004).
Clearly, an appeal of a custody decision that you disagree with will always be a tough row to hoe. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
Begin with a clean slate. Neither parent starts with an advantage when answering the custody question. There is “no presumption in favor of any particular form of custody, legal or physical, nor in favor of either parent.” Official Code of Georgia (2015 Edition), §19-9-3(a)(1). Judges may consider the following factors, including any other factors that she or he decides is important. How much weight is given to each factor is left entirely to the judge.
Official Code of Georgia (2015 Edition), §19-9-3(a)(3).
As you can see, the list is long and provides for a lot of wiggle room. The weight that a judge will give to the factors that might be present in your family’s situation will most likely determine the outcome. And every judge weighs them differently.

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