Until 2007, Georgia used to take into account 17 to 23 percent of the non-custodial parent’s income to calculate child support. The current method utilizes the combined income of both parents to determine child support. If both parents earn the same gross monthly wages, their child support obligation will be equal. If one parent earns 60 percent of the income with the other providing 40 percent, the amount dictated by Georgia statutes is allocated the same. Requiring 60 percent by the parent who earns 60 percent and 40 percent by the other parent.
The experienced child support lawyers of Cordell & Cordell can help you determine how much child support you should pay based on several factors, including gross income, the number of overnights the child spends with each parent, and the number of children you have.
Georgia Child Support Guidelines
How is child support calculated in Georgia? Both parties must disclose their monthly gross income when completing the child support worksheet. An income shares model makes it harder for the custodial parent to “cheat” by misrepresenting their income—if one parent claims less income than they have, the amount allocated by statutes drops. If the claim is more income than they have, their share of child support increases while the non-custodial parent’s share decreases.
If both parents’ combined gross income is $10,000, and one parent makes $4,000 while the other makes $6,000 monthly—the first parent will pay 40 percent of the basic child support obligation dictated by the statutes.
Using the Georgia Child Support Calculator
By knowing the other parent’s gross income, you can use the Georgia Child Support Calculator to estimate child support payments. The calculator considers several factors, including parents’ incomes, the number of children you have together, health insurance expenses, etc.
Factors Affecting Child Support in Georgia
Several factors affect the amount of child support each parent pays. While the non-custodial parent pays the custodial parent, the custodial parent must also contribute to the child’s financial well-being. When calculating child support, you must also be aware of how many overnights each parent has with the children to obtain an accurate amount.
The income shares model of determining child support also includes other factors in determining child support:
- Deductions, including taxes and mandatory retirement accounts
- Work-related child care
- Extracurricular activities
- Extraordinary medical expenses
- Everyday medical expenses, such as deductibles and co-payments
- The amount of parenting time each parent has with the child
- Each parent’s financial resources and obligations
Deviations from the Child Support Guidelines
In some instances, the court might deviate from the standard child support guidelines. In other cases, the parties may agree to one or more deviations. However, the court will not order or agree to any deviations that are not in the child’s best interests. Deviations may differ upward or downward from the guidelines and may include:
- The combined income of both parents exceeds $40,000 per month
- The combined income of both parents is less than $1,850 per month
- Healthcare and medical insurance expenses
- Travel expenses (for visitation)
- Other extraordinary expenses for the minor children
Modifications to Child Support Orders in Georgia
Child support orders are not permanent. They end when the child turns 18 or graduates high school with a reasonable expectation of graduation by the child’s 20th birthday, marry, or otherwise become emancipated. The support orders can also be modified, though the person requesting the modification must prove a substantial change in circumstances.
You must file a Petition for Modification of Child Support with the court. You can ask for a modification if your circumstances change, or the other party’s circumstances change—or the other party does not request a modification.
Reasons for modification can include:
- Employment status: You lose your job through no fault, receive a promotion, or retire.
- Cost of living: The cost of living significantly increases. For example, your rent or an adjustable-rate mortgage could significantly increase. Your diet or your child’s diet may change for medical reasons, and your diet may require more expensive food items. Inflation might increase significantly.
- Unexpected expenses: If a child’s medical or educational needs suddenly increase, it may warrant increased child support.
- Change in living arrangements: If you shift from regular visitation to watching your child more than 20 percent of the overnights, you can ask for a modification in child support.
The Role of a Child Support Attorney
During a divorce, or if you need to modify child support after a divorce, you should always seek the advice of an experienced child support lawyer at a family law firm like Cordell & Cordell. Child support and other financial ramifications of divorce can often become complex. Even child custody disputes can be complex when the parents cannot agree on fair parenting time.
Why Work with Cordell & Cordell
Before filing for divorce or if you were served with divorce papers, speaking with an experienced family law lawyer about the various issues involved in breaking the marriage contract can help ease some of the fear of the financial ramifications of divorce. Experienced family law lawyers at Cordell & Cordell can also guide you through the process and help protect your rights.
Client Experience
“Communication was really, really, really, good. I appreciated how I was kept informed throughout. They were always checking in on me to see if I had any questions or needed anything. Everything was great.”- Benjamin C.
“First and foremost, Frank was an exceptional person to have worked with me on my case. He not only explained everything regarding strategies and how to proceed in great detail, he let me choose the path I took under his guidance, and I was 100% satisfied with the outcome. He was available to address any concerns at any time they arose. There were times of great concern and difficulty along the way, but he always explained and made sense out of them, which was a very valuable thing to me. Aside from my case, his personality was also outstanding, made me feel like a friend, and my comfort level was great. When I say that everyone from the beginning to the end, from my initial reception, all the paralegals that worked on my case(which was also exceptional), right through to Frank delivering the news I had that my case was finally over, was done extremely well by everyone. I would like to thank them all for their dedicated and very professional work.”- James T.
“Katie did well. She was quick, efficient and she got me what I wanted so I was very satisfied.”- Michael J.
Questions or Concerns About Georgia Child Support? Contact Cordell & Cordell.
Divorce is complicated due to the financial and emotional aspects, including child support. Georgia has child support guidelines that consider several factors.
Cordell & Cordell is a national family law firm that guides individuals through a range of family law issues, including divorce, child support, child custody issues, division of marital assets, and paying child support after a minor child enters college. Contact our team today at 866-323-7529 or fill out our online contact form to schedule an initial consultation.
