Specialized Expertise

Georgia Child Support Attorneys Serving Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cumming & Macon

Child support is intended to help ensure that a child’s financial needs are met by both parents. In Georgia, child support may be addressed as part of a divorce, custody case, legitimation action, paternity matter, or modification proceeding. Our child support attorneys help parents understand how Georgia’s child support guidelines apply to their circumstances and work to ensure that support obligations are calculated fairly and accurately.

We represent clients throughout Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cumming, Macon, North Fulton, Forsyth County, and surrounding Georgia communities in child support matters.

How Child Support Is Established in Georgia

Child support may be established by agreement of the parties or through a court order after litigation. In many cases, child support is determined as part of a larger family law matter, such as a divorce or custody case. In other situations, child support may be addressed in a separate action.

The amount of support depends on a number of financial and parenting factors. Georgia uses statutory child support guidelines and worksheets as the starting point for determining the appropriate obligation.

Our attorneys help clients gather the necessary financial information, review the calculations, identify potential adjustments or deviations, and advocate for an appropriate support amount.

Factors Considered in Calculating Child Support

Georgia’s child support guidelines consider the income of both parents and may also take into account a variety of additional expenses, benefits, and circumstances.

Depending on the facts of the case, relevant considerations may include:

• Each parent’s gross income
• Health insurance premiums for the child
• Work-related childcare expenses
• Other children for whom a parent has a legal support obligation
• Self-employment income and certain business-related expenses
• Social Security benefits received on behalf of a child
• Extraordinary medical expenses
• Extraordinary educational expenses
• Private school tuition
• Long-distance transportation expenses associated with parenting time
• The amount of parenting time exercised by each parent
• Certain non-cash or in-kind benefits
• Other financial circumstances recognized under Georgia law

Because every family’s financial circumstances are different, accurately calculating child support may require more than simply entering salaries into a worksheet.

Child Support and Self-Employment Income

Calculating child support can become more complicated when one or both parents are self-employed, own a business, receive commissions or bonuses, or have income that changes significantly from month to month.

Determining a parent’s actual income may require a review of tax returns, bank statements, business records, profit-and-loss statements, and other financial documents. Certain personal expenses paid through a business may also become relevant when determining income for child support purposes.

Our attorneys carefully analyze financial records in cases involving business ownership, self-employment, disputed income, or other complex compensation arrangements. When necessary, we may work with forensic accountants or other financial professionals to assist with the analysis.

Deviations from the Georgia Child Support Guidelines

The guideline calculation is an important starting point, but Georgia law permits deviations in certain circumstances. A deviation may increase or decrease the presumptive amount of child support depending on the facts of the case and the best interests of the child. Potential deviation issues may involve parenting time, extraordinary expenses, educational costs, travel expenses, high or low income, or other circumstances recognized by Georgia law.

Our attorneys help clients understand when a requested deviation may be appropriate and what evidence may be necessary to support or oppose it.

Child Support Modifications

A child support order does not necessarily remain unchanged until a child reaches adulthood. Significant changes in income, employment, parenting time, custody, childcare costs, health insurance expenses, or other circumstances may provide a basis to seek modification of an existing child support order. If your financial circumstances have changed substantially, or if you believe an existing support obligation no longer reflects the current circumstances of your family, our attorneys can evaluate whether a modification may be appropriate.

Child Support Enforcement

When a parent fails to comply with a child support order, the other parent may have legal options to seek enforcement. Depending on the circumstances, enforcement proceedings may involve unpaid support, reimbursement obligations, medical expenses, or other amounts required under an existing court order.

We represent clients seeking enforcement of child support orders as well as clients responding to allegations that they have failed to meet their support obligations.

Experienced Georgia Child Support Attorneys

Child support calculations can have significant financial consequences for both parents and children. Errors involving income, deductions, insurance expenses, childcare costs, or deviations can affect support obligations for years.

Our attorneys understand Georgia’s child support guidelines and how they apply in a wide range of family law cases. We work to ensure that the court has accurate financial information and that our clients’ positions are clearly presented.

Whether you are seeking child support, being asked to pay support, requesting a modification, or dealing with an enforcement issue, we can help you understand your rights and available options.

Child Support Representation in Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cumming & Macon

Our Georgia child support attorneys represent parents throughout Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cumming, Macon, North Fulton, Forsyth County, and surrounding areas.

If you have questions about how child support is calculated, whether a deviation may apply, or whether an existing child support order should be modified, contact our office to discuss your situation with an experienced Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cumming, or Macon child support attorney.