How Georgia Calculates Child Support
Georgia uses the Income Shares model for child support. The governing law is Georgia Code Section 19-6-15, which was significantly revised in 2007 and updated multiple times since. Georgia's guidelines are among the more detailed in the country. They include a framework for deviations, specific treatment of parenting time, and a range of adjustable factors that courts can apply when the standard formula does not produce a fair result.
The core calculation combines both parents' gross monthly incomes and uses Georgia's Child Support Obligation Table to determine the total monthly support obligation for the children. Each parent then contributes their proportional share.
The Georgia Child Support Formula
Georgia's calculation follows four steps.
Step one is determining each parent's monthly gross income. Step two is combining those incomes into a combined adjusted gross income. If either parent is paying court-ordered child support for children from another relationship, that amount is subtracted before calculating the combined income. Step three is finding the Basic Child Support Obligation in Georgia's Child Support Obligation Table using the combined adjusted gross income and number of children. Step four is calculating each parent's income share percentage and applying it to find their individual obligation.
A practical example: Parent A earns $6,000 per month. Parent B earns $3,000 per month. Combined adjusted gross income is $9,000. Parent A's income share is 67%. Parent B's income share is 33%. If Georgia's table shows a Basic Child Support Obligation of $1,650 for two children at $9,000 combined income, Parent A's obligation is $1,106 per month as the base amount before adjustments.
Georgia's table covers combined monthly incomes from below $800 up to $30,000 and beyond. At very high incomes, courts have discretion to set support above the table maximum based on the children's needs and the parents' circumstances.
What Counts as Income in Georgia
Georgia defines income broadly under Section 19-6-15. Courts include wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, overtime, self-employment income, business income, rental income, pension and retirement distributions, Social Security benefits, SSDI payments, workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, and income from any other regular source.
Georgia courts can impute income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. The court considers the parent's most recent work history, level of education, and the prevailing wages in the local market. Parents who have reduced their income to minimize child support can expect a court to use the higher imputed figure.
Georgia also allows each parent to deduct court-ordered child support or alimony they are paying from prior relationships when calculating their adjusted gross income for this proceeding. This prevents double-counting when a parent has obligations to multiple families.
Step-by-Step: How to Use This Calculator
Step 1 — Find your monthly gross income. Include all sources: wages, business income, rental income, retirement distributions, and any other regular income. Use the average of the last 12 months if income is variable.
Step 2 — Subtract any existing court-ordered child support payments you are making for children from another relationship. This gives you your adjusted gross income for this calculation.
Step 3 — Estimate the other parent's adjusted gross income using the same method.
Step 4 — Enter the number of children covered by this case.
Step 5 — Enter your parenting time percentage. Count actual overnights per year and divide by 365. Georgia's parenting time deviation framework means the specific percentage matters — more parenting time generally supports a larger deviation credit.
Step 6 — Add healthcare costs. Enter the monthly cost of the children's health insurance premium.
Step 7 — Add childcare costs. Enter monthly work-related childcare expenses.
Step 8 — Review the full breakdown and confirm the income share percentages look proportionally correct.
Parenting Time Adjustments in Georgia
Georgia handles parenting time through a deviation framework rather than an automatic credit formula. The Basic Child Support Obligation assumes a certain level of parenting time with the non-custodial parent. When actual parenting time is significantly higher or lower than assumed, the court may apply a parenting time deviation.
Georgia courts can increase or decrease the Basic Child Support Obligation based on parenting time. A non-custodial parent with substantially more time than the standard schedule — for example, a 40/60 or near-equal arrangement — may receive a downward deviation to reflect their direct spending on the children.
Georgia courts must state in writing the reasons for any deviation from the Basic Child Support Obligation. The deviation must be in the children's best interests. Courts consider the actual number of overnights, the costs each parent bears during their time, and the overall financial picture.
At true 50/50 parenting time, Georgia uses a specific shared parenting calculation that accounts for both parents' obligations and offsets them. The higher earner typically pays the difference.
Add-On Expenses in Georgia
Georgia adds several categories of expenses on top of the Basic Child Support Obligation. Work-related childcare is added and split proportionally by income. Health insurance premiums for the children are added and split proportionally.
Georgia also has a specific category for additional expenses: extraordinary medical expenses, educational costs, and other child-specific costs can be added at the court's discretion. These are treated as supplemental support and split proportionally.
Georgia's framework is explicit that the total child support obligation — base plus add-ons — should reflect the actual cost of raising the children, not just a formula-produced number. Courts have room to address real expenses that fall outside the standard calculation.
Reading Your Results
The results breakdown shows each parent's gross income, the combined adjusted gross income, the Basic Child Support Obligation from Georgia's table, each parent's income share, the parenting time deviation if applicable, add-on expenses, and the final monthly obligation.
Georgia uses detailed worksheets in its court proceedings. The calculator mirrors that worksheet structure. When you take these results into a legal proceeding, you will recognize the line items because they match Georgia's official Child Support Worksheet format.
After You Get Your Estimate
Georgia courts are required to follow the Section 19-6-15 guidelines. Any deviation must be documented with specific written findings. Georgia's deviation framework is more detailed than most states, with 16 named factors a court can consider when deciding whether to deviate up or down from the guideline amount. These factors include high or low income of either parent, the parent's assets, in-kind contributions, travel expenses for parenting time, and a child's special needs.
Modification in Georgia requires a showing of a substantial change in the income and financial status of either parent or in the needs of the child. Georgia courts apply a 15 percent change threshold in the calculated obligation as a practical benchmark, though the statute does not specify an exact percentage.
If your parenting time has changed significantly, if your income has shifted by 15 percent or more, or if your child has developed new substantial needs, a modification case is worth discussing with an attorney.
A licensed Georgia family law attorney can walk you through your specific numbers and advise on deviations or modifications — look for firms offering a free initial consultation.