Middle Georgia Child Support Attorney

How is child support calculated in Georgia? 

Georgia courts and attorneys use “child support worksheets” to determine child support. The worksheets combine each parent’s gross income and approximate how much financial support children would have received if the parents still lived together. The worksheets then divide the cost of raising the children between the parties in proportion to their income. 

As an example, if your gross income is $3,000 per month and the other parent’s is $7,000 per month, then the worksheets would establish what a family earning $10,000 per month would spend on children. If that amount is $1,000 (to use a round number) then you would pay $300 and the other parent would pay $700. 

How is gross monthly income calculated?

Simply put, gross monthly income includes all income received by a parent such as wages, self-employment earnings, business commissions; pensions, retirement account payments, disability payments, worker’s compensation, unemployment benefits, investment income, and many other sources of income—even lottery winnings. 

Are any adjustments or deviations made to my gross monthly income? 

Yes, gross monthly income can be adjusted based on a prior child support obligation or for other children living in that parent’s home. 

A parent also receives credit for childcare expenses and for health insurance costs associated with a child. 

A court can also deviate from the child support amount based on high or low income, parenting time, or extraordinary expenses for a child. 

The Georgia Child Support Worksheets are available to the public at: 

https://csconlinecalc.georgiacourts.gov/frontend/web/index.php 

You can use the same tool as Georgia attorneys and judges to see what child support payments may look like. 

Whether you're paying or receiving child support, contact J. Matthew Sanders today to ensure your child’s support needs are accurately calculated.