Child support is the legal obligation to contribute to the financial cost of raising a child. In Georgia, both parents have the legal responsibility to provide support for as long as required by law. Generally, a child support obligation would end when the child turns 18 years of age or if the child is emancipated. In some cases, the support obligation can continue if the child has not graduated from high school; however, it absolutely terminates when the child reaches age 20, regardless if the child has not yet graduated from high school.

The purpose of child support is to meet the “reasonable needs” of the minor child. The amount of support that a court will order a parent to pay is determined by the Georgia Child Support Guidelines. These guidelines ensure that the child’s needs and reasonable expenses are supported by the income of both parents.

Income Shares Model

In order to calculate child support, Georgia uses very specific guidelines based on an “Income Shares Model.” This model estimates the total amount that parents would spend on a child in an intact family unit, and then splits this amount proportionately according to the parents’ incomes. Georgia’s guidelines can be quite complex and detailed. To determine a child support payment amount, the appropriate figures must be included into the worksheet to calculate a specific amount. It is highly beneficial to consult with an experienced Georgia family law attorney to ensure a reasonable and accurate support amount, as it can be very easy to make mistakes or miss certain inputs that might change the child support obligation significantly.

Contrary to common belief, child support is not necessarily dependent on a custodial arrangement. It is actually a multi-dimensional issue that takes many factors into consideration, one of which can be the parenting time schedule along with a variety of other factors. Child support is also not necessarily paid by the non-custodial parent, and is not always dictated by the exact numbers calculated by the worksheet. The parents and the court have the right to deviate from the worksheet considering any special circumstances applicable to each case. Although the Child Support Worksheet is available online, this is where an experienced attorney is helpful in helping you reach the optimal support arrangement for your child.

Modification of Support in Georgia

Child support is always modifiable under Georgia law for as long as a child is eligible for support. The amount can be modified based on a change in income or financial circumstances of either party, a change in the needs of the child, or a change in the custodial arrangement.

If the court has already modified an order, a parent must ordinarily wait two years before asking for another modification. The court will waive the waiting period in certain situations, including involuntary job loss, significant change in parenting time, or a noncustodial parent’s failure to exercise visitation. There can be strategy involved in this process, and it is helpful to have the assistance of a skilled attorney who practices in your county.

Our Experienced Family Law Team

The Leonard Firm is here to help you with child supports issues in Georgia. After more than 10 years of experience trying child support cases in more than 15 counties, we can assist you in obtaining the best result for your case. Whether it is creating an agreement through negotiations or litigating the issue in court, we are confident in our knowledge of Georgia Child Support laws and our ability to passionately advocate on your behalf to ensure a fair and appropriate child support amount is reached.

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