Child Support in Georgia
Georgia law states that children have the legal right to be fully financially supported by their parents at least until the age of majority, and in certain circumstances, beyond that point. In deciding child support the court will also be focused on the separate, but intertwined issues of child custody and visitation.
After the dissolution of marriage, the children have the right to continue the same standard of living to which they have become accustomed prior to the divorce. Additionally, if there are large discrepancies between the standard of living between the two parents, the court may adjust child support in order to ensure the child has a similar style of living with both parents, giving them stability and the ability to bond with both parents on the same level.
To calculate the amount of child support you will owe if you are not the parent with primary physical custody, Georgia has created a Child Support Worksheet which will determine the amount of financial support each party will contribute to raising the child. The main four financial figures used to generate this calculation will be the father’s monthly income, the mother’s monthly income, the monthly insurance cost for the children, and monthly day care cost for the children.
Keep in mind that there are factors that could further affect these calculations, such as:
– The physical and emotional needs of the children
– Educational needs
– The financial needs and/or ability of the parents
– The amount of time spent in the physical custody of each parent
After a child support order has been issued, further actions may need to be taken if the case involves modifications, enforcement and contempt actions for non-compliance. Thus, it is crucial that you hire an attorney that is not only experienced in handling divorce cases with minor children, but that is well versed in cases involving complex family law issues such as child support and custody.
Updated: 2014-02-20
