§ 19-9-7.Visitation by parent who has committed acts of family violence; conditional orders; confidentiality; joint counseling; conditions for supervised visitation

Chapter 9. Child Custody Proceedings · Article 1. General Provisions · Last amended 2008 · Last verified October 9, 2026

In one sentenceO.C.G.A. § 19-9-7 lets a Georgia judge give visitation or parenting time to a parent who committed family violence only if the child and the victim parent can be kept safe, and lists the protective conditions the judge may impose.

Full Text of § 19-9-7

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d)

(a) A judge may award visitation or parenting time to a parent who committed one or more acts involving family violence only if the judge finds that adequate provision for the safety of the child and the parent who is a victim of family violence can be made. In a visitation or parenting time order, a judge may:

(1) Order an exchange of a child to occur in a protected setting;

(2) Order visitation or parenting time supervised by another person or agency;

(3) Order the perpetrator of family violence to attend and complete, to the satisfaction of the judge, a certified family violence intervention program for perpetrators as defined in Article 1A of Chapter 13 of this title as a condition of the visitation or parenting time;

(4) Order the perpetrator of family violence to abstain from possession or consumption of alcohol, marijuana, or any Schedule I controlled substance listed in Code Section 16-13-25 during the visitation or parenting time and for 24 hours preceding the visitation or parenting time;

(5) Order the perpetrator of family violence to pay a fee to defray the costs of supervised visitation or parenting time;

(6) Prohibit overnight visitation or parenting time;

(7) Require a bond from the perpetrator of family violence for the return and safety of the child; and

(8) Impose any other condition that is deemed necessary to provide for the safety of the child, the victim of family violence, or another family or household member.

(b) Whether or not visitation or parenting time is allowed, the judge may order the address of the child and the victim of family violence to be kept confidential.

(c) The judge shall not order an adult who is a victim of family violence to attend joint counseling with the perpetrator of family violence as a condition of receiving custody of a child or as a condition of visitation or parenting time.

(d) If a judge allows a family or household member to supervise visitation or parenting time, the judge shall establish conditions to be followed during visitation or parenting time.

End

Plain-English Summary

A parent who has committed one or more acts of family violence can still receive visitation or parenting time in Georgia — but only if the judge finds that adequate provision can be made for the safety of the child and of the parent who was the victim. Safety comes first; the visit comes second.

The section gives the judge a toolbox. The judge may order exchanges in a protected setting; require supervision by another person or agency; require the perpetrator to complete a certified family violence intervention program as defined in Article 1A of Chapter 13 (see § 19-13-10); bar alcohol, marijuana or Schedule I controlled substances during visits and for 24 hours before; make the perpetrator pay a fee for supervised visits; prohibit overnights; require a bond for the child’s return and safety; and impose any other condition needed to protect the child, the victim or another household member.

Three more protections follow. Whether or not visitation is allowed, the judge may order the addresses of the child and the victim kept confidential. The judge shall not order an adult victim to attend joint counseling with the perpetrator as a condition of custody or visitation. And if a family or household member supervises, the judge must set conditions to follow during visits. Section 19-9-3(a)(4) points to this section when a judge in a custody case finds family violence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a parent who committed domestic violence get visitation in Georgia?

Only if the judge finds the child and the victim parent can be kept safe. The section allows visitation or parenting time for a parent who committed family violence only if adequate provision can be made for the safety of the child and of the parent who was the victim. The judge may then add conditions such as supervision, protected exchanges or a ban on overnights.

What conditions can a Georgia judge put on visitation after family violence?

The section lists eight options: exchanges in a protected setting; supervision by a person or agency; completion of a certified family violence intervention program; no alcohol, marijuana or Schedule I drugs during visits and for 24 hours before; a fee to cover supervision costs; no overnight visits; a bond for the child’s return and safety; and any other condition needed for the safety of the child, the victim or another household member.

Can my address be kept secret from my abuser in a Georgia custody case?

Yes, the judge may order it. Whether or not visitation is allowed, the judge may order that the address of the child and of the victim of family violence be kept confidential. The decision is the judge’s; the section makes it available but not automatic.

Can a Georgia judge make me go to counseling with my abuser to keep custody?

No. The section says the judge shall not order an adult victim of family violence to attend joint counseling with the perpetrator as a condition of receiving custody of a child or as a condition of visitation or parenting time.

Can a relative supervise visits with a parent who committed family violence?

Yes, if the judge allows it. When a judge lets a family or household member supervise visitation or parenting time, the judge must establish conditions to be followed during those visits. The judge may instead order supervision by another person or an agency, and may require the perpetrator to pay a fee for supervised visits.

Amendment History

Laws 1995, p. 863, § 7; Laws 2002, p. 1435, § 2; Laws 2007, Act 264, § 5, eff. Jan. 1, 2008.

Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, enacted by the Georgia General Assembly, and checked word for word against the Georgia Code Revision Commission’s public-domain edition and the acts that later amended it. Section headings are the Code’s official catchlines. Last verified October 9, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: supervised visitation domestic violence georgiavisitation after family violence georgiaabuser visitation conditions georgiaconfidential address custody georgiafamily violence intervention program custody