Savannah Child Support Attorney

How Is Child Support Calculated in Georgia?

Georgia courts use the Georgia child support guidelines to determine the appropriate support amount. Since 2007, Georgia has used the income shares model, which means the calculation accounts for both parents’ gross monthly income, not only the paying parent’s wages.

Georgia Child Support Guidelines

Gross income under the guidelines is broadly defined. It includes salary, bonuses, tips, interest income, and severance pay, not only standard employment wages. The Georgia Online Child Support Calculator then factors in the number of minor children, documented health insurance costs paid by either parent, and childcare expenses to produce a presumptive monthly support amount.

The guidelines account for the following:

• The gross monthly income of both parents
• The number of children being supported
• Health insurance costs for the children
• Childcare expenses

The presumptive amount produced by the calculator isn’t an automatic final order. Courts can deviate from that figure based on circumstances such as differing parenting-time arrangements, private school tuition, travel expenses for visitation, or extraordinary medical expenses.

Is Child Support Taxable?

No. Under federal law, child support received by the custodial parent isn’t taxable income, and child support paid by the non-custodial parent isn’t tax-deductible. These rules apply regardless of how payments are made or received.

Types of Child Support in Georgia

Georgia child support orders may address both basic support and additional expenses depending on the child’s circumstances.

There are two broad categories:

• Basic support covers essential needs such as food, clothing, and shelter, as established by the state’s child support obligation table.
• Additional expenses may include costs such as private school tuition, extracurricular activities, work-related childcare, and health insurance, addressed either as adjustments to the presumptive support amount or as deviations from it.

What Do Child Support Lawyers Do?

A knowledgeable child support attorney can help you prepare to navigate the process and advocate for an outcome that reflects your child’s actual needs. Whether through negotiation, mediation, or litigation, we offer the representation required to pursue a fair result.

• Legal advice and guidance: We inform parents about their rights and obligations under Georgia child support law and develop a strategic plan tailored to each client’s situation, whether that means negotiating an agreement or preparing for court.
• Filing petitions: We prepare and file all necessary documentation accurately and on deadline, from initial petitions to responses and supporting forms, ensuring every document meets the court’s procedural requirements.
• Negotiation and mediation: We help negotiate fair support arrangements and represent clients in mediation to reach a workable solution without prolonged litigation.
• Court representation: When a matter proceeds to a hearing, we advocate for our clients, present evidence on income, expenses, and applicable deviations, and work toward a fair outcome.
• Calculating child support: We apply state guidelines and document additional expenses to make sure calculations reflect actual circumstances and that no applicable factor is overlooked.
• Modifying orders: When circumstances change, we petition for modification and gather the evidence needed to demonstrate a qualifying change in income, financial status, or the child’s needs.
• Enforcing agreements: When a parent isn’t paying, we pursue enforcement tools including contempt actions, income deduction orders, and wage garnishment to hold non-compliant parents accountable.
• Support through the process: Beyond legal strategy, we provide guidance through the emotional stress that often accompanies child support disputes.