Child custody (also known as legal custody, conservatorship, or allocation of parenting time and responsibilities) refers to the legal possession, rights, and responsibilities for a minor child by the child’s birth or adoptive parents—including the right to make health care, religious, cultural, and education decisions about the child's upbringing.

During separation, and following divorce, a child’s natural parents often share custody of the child (shared custody or joint custody)—unless one or both of the child’s natural or adoptive parents are deemed to be unfit or pose a risk to the health, safety, and well-being of the child (the child’s best interests). If one of the parents is deemed unfit, the other parent may be awarded sole custody of the child. In some cases a parent who is not allowed to have custody of a child may be given visitation rights—sometimes under the supervision of another adult (supervised visitation). Child custody laws are usually located in your state’s statutes governing family and domestic matters, and may be referred to as the Family Code.

Child custody is distinct from guardianship of a child, which usually involves a relative or an unrelated person temporarily agreeing to take responsibility for a child following the death of the child’s birth or adoptive parents, or their abandonment. And adoption is taking full and permanent responsibility for a child by someone other than the child’s birth parents.

In Georgia, child custody laws are designed to ensure the welfare and best interests of the child. When parents separate or divorce, they may share custody (joint custody) or one parent may be granted sole custody, depending on what the court determines is in the best interest of the child. Georgia courts consider various factors, including the child's relationship with each parent, the parents' ability to provide for the child's needs, and the mental and physical health of all parties involved. If a parent is deemed unfit, perhaps due to issues like substance abuse, neglect, or abuse, they may lose custody rights. However, they might be granted visitation rights, which can be supervised if necessary to protect the child's safety. The specific statutes governing child custody in Georgia can be found in the state's family and domestic relations law. It's important to note that child custody is different from guardianship, which is typically a temporary arrangement made when a child's parents are deceased or have abandoned the child, and from adoption, which is the permanent legal assumption of parental responsibility by individuals other than the birth parents.