Child Support in Georgia

Child support is the monthly amount a court orders a child’s noncustodial parent to pay the parent with primary custody. It helps pay for a child’s needs on a daily basis, from food and housing to clothing and medical needs.

Georgia has a set of guidelines to determine the amount of child support that must be paid by either parent. The amount of child support is based on a variety of factors and that includes number of children, income of both parents, and parenting time arrangement. There are some cases where the court may deviate from the child support guidelines set when determining the amount of child support to be paid. If the court finds the following guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate they may deviate. The court may also consider other factors such as extraordinary child expenses, standard of living enjoyed by the parents prior to the divorce, and the needs of the children.

When it comes to child support, the state of Georgia uses the household income to determine child support. The payments depend on the combined income of the parents as well as the number of the children eligible for support. Amounts transferred also depend on each parent’s income share or income percentage. Parent’s paying the most support are non-custodial parents with high incomes and the biggest receivers are low-income parents with primary physical custody and a high-earning payer.

Once child support is set, there are opportunities for modification. If circumstances of either parent or the child changes, the child support order may be modified. This can include a change in income or increase in parenting time. Ultimately, the court is going to decide if the modification is warranted.

In the state of Georgia, child support will be enforced. If you are responsible for paying child support it is important to keep up with payments. A parent who fails to make payments may be held in contempt of court. Failing to make child support payments can result in fines, jail time, or other penalties. The parent who is receiving the child support may take action to enforce the order. The different enforcement options include wage garnishment, withholding tax refunds, and/or suspending driver’s license and even passports.

Child support in Georgia continues if the child is still in high school past the age of 18, up until the child finishes high school or reaches the age of 20, whichever comes first. If you still have questions about child support and are in need of some professional help, contact one of our experienced attorneys at Brown Dutton and Crider Law firm.