If you are a custodial parent in Georgia who needs to pursue child support from your child’s other parent, or if you are a non-custodial parent and believe you may need to pay child support, the process of establishing a plan may seem overwhelming. You may be wondering: How is child support calculated in Georgia? Read on to learn about child support and the factors that go into calculating what a parent should pay.
What is Child Support and Who Should Pay?
When a child lives with one parent and not the other, that custody arrangement does not relieve the non-custodial parent of their obligation to support the child. Child support is money, usually paid monthly, that a non-custodial parent pays to a custodial parent for the maintenance of their shared child or children.
As of 2023, Georgia’s divorce rate was 2.2 per 1,000 residents. As a result, child support arrangements are not uncommon in our state. Divorce is not the only context for child support, though. Any time a child lives with and is supported by one parent, the custodial parent can pursue the non-custodial parent for child support.
Whether you live in Lithia Springs or Stonecreek, you can open a child support case with the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Child Support Services at any time. To pursue the father of a child for child support, paternity must be established through the man’s agreement that he is the child’s father or through a DNA paternity test.
How is Child Support Calculated?
Many contributing factors may be considered when calculating an appropriate child support payment. Some of these factors include the amount of time the child in question spends with each parent, each parent’s income and other financial obligations, whether either parent has other children to support, the health of each parent, and, in cases of parental divorce or separation, the lifestyle to which the child was accustomed before the parents separated.
Although each case is unique, and a judge may consider a variety of factors when determining child support, the Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts does provide a basic template to use as a starting point for calculating support. This template lists the assumed amount of maintenance money required for each child at a given combined monthly income. This support number can then be divided between the parents based on how much money each parent makes.
For example, if the combined income of both parents is $3,000, and they have one child, the assumed requirement for monthly child support is $562. This is the total amount of money required to support the child between both parents. Each parent’s share can then be determined based on the amount of custodial time each parent gets and the amount of money each parent makes.
Hire a Child Support Lawyer with Experience in Georgia Family Law
Navigating the process of establishing child support can be daunting, but Christy E. Draper, LLC, has the resources to help you. We have over 20 years of experience advocating for family law clients, and we have the knowledge and skills necessary to help you, too. Contact us to discuss your needs.
