ATLANTA – A new study ranks Georgia in the top 10 states where child custody attorneys are in high demand.

Release:

• Georgia ranks ninth among states where parents are engaged in fights over guardianship of their children the most.
• The study analyzed 24 searches related to child custody battles to determine which states child custody attorneys are most sought-after.
• Georgia residents are locked in legal fights over children the ninth most, searching 22% more than typical Americans.
• A family law specialist at Sarieh Law Offices advises on the importance of putting aside resentment for ex-partners during custody battles. 

New research reveals the top states parents require help from child custody attorneys, with Georgia searching for legal advice the ninth most.

The study, pulled together by Orange County divorce law firm, Sarieh Law Offices, analyzed Google searches over the last 12 months for keywords related to child custody battles, such as ‘child custody attorney’ and ‘free custody lawyer,’ to identify which states are most in need of their expertise.

Divorce is already a time of high tension, which can often become worse as spouses try to come to an agreement on the custody rights of each parent. 

As more marriages come to an end, more of these disputes will inevitably arise. In fact, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, divorce rates increased by 3.6% between 2021 and 2022. 

It’s imperative that the best possible decision is made on the parental rights of children whose parents are going separate ways, to ease the transition period and ensure they grow up in a healthy environment. 

According to Sarieh Law Offices’ research, child custody attorneys are in the ninth highest demand in Georgia.

The stage averaged 64.74 monthly searches per 100,000 residents, which is 22% higher than the national average of 53.25 searches per 100,000 people. 

The most popular terms residents searched for were ‘family law attorney,’ ‘child custody attorney near me’ and ‘child custody lawyer.’

Arizona has the highest need for legal help, with 80.48 searches per 100,000 residents – 51% higher than the US average. 

In second is Colorado at 79.07 searches per 100,000 people, which is 48% higher than the national average search rate. 

Oregon is third with 74.33 monthly searches per 100,000 people, searching 40% more than the typical American.

The ten states with the most searches relating to child custody attorneys

Rank	State	Average monthly searches per 100,000 residents
1.	Arizona	80.48
2.	Colorado	79.07
3.	Oregon	74.33
4.	North Carolina	74.32
5.	Virginia	71.45
6.	Arkansas	65.19
7.	New Mexico	64.99
8.	Alabama	64.78
9.	Georgia	64.74
10.	Ohio	63.06

At the other end of the scale, those in Maine have the fewest issues when it comes to custodianship, with only 32.84 searches per 100,000 people, which is 38% lower than the US average. 

Parents in Montana have the second lowest need for child custody attorneys, searching 37% less than the national average, with only 33.54 searches per 100,000 residents. 

In third is New Hampshire at 34.24 searches per 100,000 people – still 36% below the national average. 

The ten states with the fewest searches relating to child custody attorneys 

Rank	State	Average monthly searches per 100,000 residents
1.	Maine	32.84
2.	Montana	33.54
3.	New Hampshire	34.24
4.	Rhode Island	34.44
5.	Vermont	34.49
6.	Massachusetts	35.78
7.	Hawaii	36.18
8.	Alaska	37.84
9.	Delaware	38.20
10.	New Jersey	40.03

Commenting on the findings, Wail Sarieh from Sarieh Law Offices says: 

“While the differences in searches from state to state may partly be influenced by where have higher divorce rates, it is also an indication of how easily parents find it to come to an agreement on guardianship. 

“For some, it can be a straightforward case of joint custody, however for others, it can get complicated, for example if both parents want primary custody. 

“Having a lawyer can help if you are struggling to reach a decision, especially if you and your ex-partner don’t have a civil relationship. 

“It can be hard to remove any outside factors, such as resentment over why you and your spouse are divorcing, from the equation, but ultimately your children’s best interests are what matters and getting into heated arguments will only slow down the process. 

“You are better off demonstrating that you are making a conscious effort to have a healthy relationship with your ex for the sake of your children. 

“A custody lawyer can help with this by acting as an objective figure who can calmly communicate your side in situations where you feel you may not be able to, hopefully helping resolve any issues with the least amount of stress possible.”