Child Support in Georgia: How It's Calculated
Georgia uses the Income Shares Model to determine child support obligations. This guide walks through how the formula works, what factors Georgia courts consider, and how to modify or enforce an order — with links to official Georgia resources.
Income Shares Model in Georgia
Georgia uses the Income Shares Model under the Georgia Child Support Guidelines (O.C.G.A. §19-6-15). Both parents' gross incomes are combined and the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations is used to determine a presumptive support amount, divided proportionally.
Georgia's guidelines allow for deviation from the presumptive amount based on special circumstances — such as a child's extraordinary needs, travel expenses for parenting time, shared parenting arrangements, and income disparity. The state has a dedicated Child Support Commission that reviews and publishes calculator tools. Georgia also addresses parenting time adjustments when the non-primary parent has substantial time with the child.
Key Factors Georgia Courts Consider
- Both parents' gross monthly income
- Number of children
- Child's health insurance costs
- Work-related childcare costs
- Extraordinary medical, educational, or other special expenses
- Parenting time — substantial time with non-primary parent can trigger deviation
- Prior child support obligations for other children
Official Georgia Resources
Get an accurate number from an official source
Child support calculations are complex and fact-specific. For an accurate figure, use Georgia's official worksheet or consult a licensed family law attorney. This guide explains the framework — it does not produce a binding calculation.
Step-by-Step: How Georgia's Formula Works
Here is how Georgia applies the Income Shares Model to calculate a child support obligation, step by step:
1. Determine each parent's income
Georgia starts by calculating each parent's income — gross income (before taxes). The specific definition of income is set by Income Shares Model.
2. Combine incomes and find the basic obligation
Both parents' incomes are combined and compared to Georgia's child support schedule. The schedule produces a basic child support obligation based on combined income and the number of children.
3. Add health insurance and childcare costs
Health insurance premiums paid for the child and work-related childcare expenses are added to the basic obligation before it is divided between parents.
4. Divide proportionally based on income share
The total obligation is allocated between the parents in proportion to each parent's share of combined income. The parent with the higher income share bears a larger portion of the obligation.
5. Apply parenting time credits
Parenting time — substantial time with non-primary parent can trigger deviation parenting time, shared parenting arrangements, and income disparity.
Document Everything for Your Georgia Case
Georgia courts rely on documented records — parenting time logs, expense receipts, and payment histories. ReplyCalmly helps you track all of it and generate organized, exportable reports.
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