Calculating Child Support in Georgia: A Step-by-Step Guide
Calculating child support accurately ensures that a child’s essential needs, such as housing, healthcare, and education, are met. In Georgia, courts apply an income-sharing model under the Georgia Code 19-6-15 to determine support amounts based on both parents’ incomes and the number of children involved.
Working with experienced family law attorneys in Atlanta can simplify this process and prevent costly errors. North Georgia Family Lawyers is here to guide you through each step
Schedule a call with us today for dedicated assistance.
What is the Importance of Calculating Child Support?
Accurate calculation of child support is vital for providing a stable environment that meets a child’s basic subsistence needs. When parents separate or divorce, determining a fair support amount helps ensure the child’s standard of living is maintained. Following legal guidelines also reduces conflicts among parents, as calculating child support promotes shared financial responsibility that is fair to both parties. Failing to calculate support correctly can lead to enforcement actions, arrears, or court-ordered modifications that strain family resources and relationships.
What Are the Steps in Calculating Child Support in Georgia?
Calculating Gross Income
The first step in understanding child support is to determine each parent’s gross income. This includes wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, interest, dividends, rental income, and specific benefits, such as disability payments. Courts use recent pay stubs, tax returns, and employer statements to establish accurate figures.
Determining Additional Support Obligations
After identifying gross income, courts account for mandatory child-related expenses. These typically include health insurance premiums for the child, work-related childcare costs, and extraordinary medical expenses not covered by insurance
Such expenses are divided between parents in proportion to their incomes, ensuring that all costs are shared equitably.
Pro Rata Division of Child Obligations
In Georgia, the combined net incomes of both parents form the guidelines for child support. Each parent’s share of that combined income determines their percentage of the support obligation. For instance, if Parent A earns 60% of the total net income and Parent B earns 40%, then Parent A pays 60% of the combined child costs, and Parent B pays 40%.
Understanding Special Circumstances
Certain situations require adjustments to the presumptive support amount. Courts may consider joint custody arrangements that affect cost-sharing, parenting time deviations, children’s special needs requiring additional financial support, and high-income parents where guideline amounts may be adjusted upward or downward.
These factors are weighed carefully to serve the child’s best interests.
Finalizing the Child Support Order
Once the figures are computed, the court prepares a support worksheet and reviews it during the hearing. Both parents can present evidence of income changes or extra expenses. The judge then issues a Support Order, which becomes part of the final divorce decree or a standalone order under Title 19, Chapter 6 of the Official Code of Georgia.
How Can a Family Law Attorney Help with Your Child Support Concerns?
Engaging the services of a dedicated family attorney can make a significant difference when handling child support matters. Attorneys provide clear legal guidance and determine child support concerns by accurately interpreting statutes and applying Georgia’s support guidelines. They ensure all necessary documentation is complete and precise, gathering income records, expense receipts, and supporting evidence. In court, skilled attorneys advocate on your behalf, negotiating terms, filing motions for modifications, and representing you at hearings.
If your financial circumstances change, your attorney can promptly file a motion to adjust support amounts. By choosing North Georgia Family Lawyers, LLC, you partner with an Atlanta family law attorney who prioritizes your child’s best interests every step of the way.
Contact our family law firm today for a personalized consultation to ensure your child receives the support they deserve.