Defining “Love, Affection, Bonding, and Emotional Ties” in Georgia Custody Cases

If parents are serious about pursuing positive child custody results in Georgia, they should review the “best-interest factors” outlined by the family court before getting started. Family court judges consider these factors (and only these factors) when approaching custody decisions – so you should build your arguments around them. One of the most important factors to consider is the “love, affection, bonding, and emotional ties” between the parents and children. But what does this phrase actually mean?

Courts Consider the “Strength” of Your Relationship With the Kids

The phrase “love, affection, bonding, and emotional ties” refers to the strength of your relationship with the children. The term “love” is self-explanatory, and courts will do their best to determine how much you love your children when approaching child custody decisions. However, love is extremely subjective in nature – and people express love in different ways. A parent might love their child a great deal without necessarily expressing or showing their feelings in a way that a judge can easily detect.

“Affection” is another vague term, and some might feel that it is synonymous with love. However, affection may refer more to the amount of time a parent spends “caring” for their child. Affection may be associated with basic parenting responsibilities, including feeding the child, playing with the child, and supporting the child to follow their own favorite hobby and pastimes.

“Bonding” is closely associated with the net amount of time spent with the child. The more time you spend with your child, the closer your “bond” is likely to be. This may be easier for some parents than others, especially if one parent works a full-time job while the other works part-time or acts as a homemaker. That said, even the busiest parents can find time to bond with their children over shared interests, such as sports, music, or video games.

The phrase “emotional ties” is another vague one, although this might be more associated with the level of dependency a child has on their parent. A strong emotional tie implies that the child would struggle to function and thrive without the support of their parent.

How Do You Establish Love, Affection, Bonding, and Emotional Ties?

Your child custody lawyer can help you establish love, affection, bonding, and emotional ties between you and your young one. Your child may be allowed to express their own feelings and preferences on this matter, depending on their age and mental maturity. You might also show evidence of the time you have spent together, including video footage, photographs, and testimony from community members like teachers, coaches, and instructors.

Can a Georgia Child Custody Lawyer Help Me Pursue Positive Outcomes?

A Georgia child custody lawyer can help you understand the various best-interest factors and their relevance to your case. Although some of the phrasing might seem confusing, you can approach your case confidently with help from an experienced attorney. Consider working alongside Buckhead Family Law – and schedule your consultation today to get started.

Source:

womenslaw.org/laws/ga/statutes/19-9-3-custody-child-best-interest-child-factors-finds-fact-review-retention