Alake Colwell Furlow

Family law attorney handling cases involving child support, child custody, legitimation, guardianship, divorce, visitation, child abandonment, modifications & all other domestic cases. Licensed to practice law since 2011 having handled cases in counties such as Cobb, Gwinnett, Dekalb, Fayette, Fulton, Henry, Rockdale, Cherokee, Clayton, Douglas, Barrow, Clarke, Carroll, Forsyth, Hall, Lumpkin, Netwon, Habersham, Paulding, Putnam, & Walton county. Offering reasonable fees, lower than most of my colleagues, which may include payment plans.

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  Offering a free 15-minute telephone consultation and a reasonable retainer with some payment options available.
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Georgia

State Bar of Georgia

Since 2011

State Bar of Georgia

Member

2011 - Current

Q. What actions can a father take to establish custody when the mother threatens to keep the child?

May 1, 2025

A: If there are no court orders or custody agreements then the mother has sole legal and physical custody of the child, if you all were not married when the child was born. If you were married when the child was born then you both have the same rights and either of you can have the child. You haven't stated whether you and the mother were married or not, so we cannot answer this question of how you can keep the mother from keeping the child. If you were never married, then you would need to legitimize in order to get any formal custody of the child.

Q. Does child support confer legal rights to a father not on birth certificate?

May 1, 2025

A: Filing for child support does not give any legal rights to the father. However, if you initiate a child support action, he may file to legitimize and to assert his legal rights. Then he could ask for some form of custody and/or visitation. So by taking him to court for child support, he may file a counterclaim to legitimize, and if he does so, you will not be able to stop him from asking the Court for custody and/or visitation.

Q. Should I modify the final custody and support order before relocating to Maryland?

April 21, 2025

A: If you received an Order dated April 17, 2025, I highly doubt a judge would entertain any modification at this time. Because if you were to file for a modification, the case is going back to the very same judge. And since it has been only days since they signed the Final Order, I can't see what grounds you would have for modification that have arise in 4 days. The Order that you have is likely the Order you are going to have for awhile now.