Georgia Child Support Calculations

By Christie Nicholson, J.D. | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff | Last reviewed February 20, 2025

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The purpose of child support is to ensure that children continue to get support from both parents once they divorce or separate. The question is how much child support the parents will have to pay.

In most child support cases, the court orders the noncustodial parent (NCP) to make monthly child support payments to the other parent. This is because the parent with primary physical custody usually has the children.

Of course, there are situations where the custodial parent makes significantly more money than the NCP. If this is the case, the court may order the custodial parent to pay child support to the NCP. But these cases are few and far between.

Here, we'll explain how the Georgia courts calculate child support. We will also discuss the factors that impact the amount of child support the NCP must pay.

If you have questions about your child support case, visit FindLaw's sections on child custody and child support. You can also contact an experienced family law attorney.

Does Every State Have Child Support Guidelines?

Under federal law, lawmakers in every state must publish child support guidelines at least once every four years. Federal Regulation §45.302.56 demands that the state base its child support guidelines on both parents' monthly income, and this income includes all sources of revenue.

Federal law also requires that child support guidelines account for the NCP's basic needs and any extraordinary expenses they must pay.

Finally, §45.302.56(f), the courts must treat the final child support amount as presumptive. If the NCP believes the total amount of child support should be lower or the custodial parent doesn't believe it's high enough, they can challenge the court's findings.

In the State of Georgia, the Georgia Child Support Commission establishes and regularly reviews the state's child support guidelines and maintains the Georgia Child Support Calculator.

Georgia Child Support Calculations at a Glance

The following table highlights Georgia law on child support calculations and links to Georgia's child support guidelines statutes.

Statute

O.C.G.A. §19-6-15 (Georgia Child Support Guidelines and Child Support Obligation Table)
Overview of the process for calculating child support

The Georgia courts calculate monthly child support as follows:

  1. Determine the monthly gross income of the custodial and noncustodial parent.
  2. Adjust each parent's monthly gross income by deducting (a) half of any self-employment taxes (if applicable), (b) preexisting child support orders and alimony, and (c) theoretical child support for qualified children (if allowed by the court).
  3. Add the parents' adjusted income together.
  4. Find the basic child support obligation on the child support obligation table.
  5. Divide the combined adjusted income of both parents into each parent's adjusted income to determine each parent's share of the basic child support obligation.
  6. Add health insurance and work-related childcare costs to find the adjusted child support obligation.
  7. Determine the amount of child support for the custodial and noncustodial parents, resulting in a monthly payment to the custodial parent, by assigning or deducting credit for actual payments for work-related childcare costs and health insurance from the basic child support obligation.
Deviations from the presumptive amount of child support

The court can deviate from the presumptive amount of child support if it doesn’t believe it meets the "best interests of the child" standard.

Deviations may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • High income
  • Whether either parent is on Social Security
  • Low income
  • Medical expenses not covered by health insurance
  • Special needs of any minor children
  • Parenting time
  • Travel expenses
  • Number of children
  • Unique living expenses
  • Child’s extracurricular activities
  • Alimony
  • Extraordinary expenses
  • Mortgage
  • Life insurance
Related statutes

Georgia Code, Title 19, Chapter 11:

Note: State laws are subject to change through new legislation, higher court rulings, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information, consult a family law attorney or conduct legal research to verify your state laws.

Get Legal Help With Questions About Child Support Calculations in Georgia

If you have questions about child support calculations or need help with the child support process, it's a good idea to talk to a Georgia child support attorney. An attorney can help you sort through the facts of your case, determine how the law applies, and give you confidential legal advice about your options.

Georgia Child Support Calculations: Related Resources

Please visit the links below for more information and resources on this topic.

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