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O.C.G.A. § 19-9-4

Investigation of abuse,

Ga

Child custody: when does state that issued previous custody determination have continuing jurisdiction under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (UCCJA) or Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act (PKPA), 28 USCS § 1738A, 83 A.L.R.4th 742.

Age of parent as factor in awarding custody, 34 A.L.R.5th 57.

Mental health of contesting parent as factor in award of child custody, 53 A.L.R.5th 375.

Initial award or denial of child custody to homosexual or lesbian parent, 62 A.L.R.5th 591.

Custodial parent’s relocation as grounds for change of custody, 70 A.L.R.5th 377.

Restrictions on parent’s child visitation rights based on parent’s sexual conduct, 99 A.L.R.5th 475.

Effect of parent’s military service upon child custody, 21 A.L.R.6th 577.

Parents’ work schedules and associated dependent care issues as factors in child custody determinations, 26 A.L.R.6th 331.

Availability and use of electronic communication in child custody and visitation determinations, 96 A.L.R.6th 103.

Sufficiency of evidence to modify existing joint legal custody of children pursuant to consent order or divorce judgment — general principles, jurisdictional issues, and general issues related to “best interests of child,” 99 A.L.R.6th 203.

Sufficiency of evidence to modify existing joint legal custody of children pursuant to consent order or divorce judgment — conduct or condition of parents; evidentiary issues, 100 A.L.R.6th 1.

Sufficiency of evidence to modify existing joint legal custody of children pursuant to consent order or divorce judgment — primary custody, visitation, residence, and relocation, 102 A.L.R.6th 153.

neglect, or other acts which

adversely affect health of child in custody disputes; cost.

(a) On motion of either party in any action or proceeding involving determination of the award of child custody between parents of the child, when such motion contains a specific recitation of actual abuse, neglect, or other overt acts which have adversely affected the health

and welfare of the child, the judge may direct the appropriate family and children services agency or any other appropriate entity to investigate the home life and home environment of each of the parents. In any action or proceeding involving determination of the award of child custody between parents of the child when during such proceedings a specific recitation of actual abuse, neglect, or other overt acts which have adversely affected the health and welfare of the child has been made the judge shall also have authority on his or her own motion to order such an investigation if in the judge’s opinion the investigation would be useful in determining placement or custody of the child. The judge may also direct either party to pay to the agency the reasonable cost, or any portion thereof, of the investigation. The report of the investigation will be made to the judge directing the investigation. Any report made at the direction of the judge shall be made available to either or both parties for a reasonable period of time prior to the proceedings at which any temporary or permanent custody is to be determined. Both parties shall have the right to confront and crossexamine the person or persons who conducted the investigation or compiled the report if adequate and legal notice is given.

(b) This Code section shall apply only with respect to actions or proceedings in which the issue of child custody is contested; and this Code section is not intended to alter or repeal Code Sections 49-5-40 through 49-5-44.

Current official text: Official Code of Georgia Annotated (LexisNexis). Digitized from the Internet Archive scan of the OCGA. Reproduced from public-domain Georgia statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.