How Georgia Calculates and Sets Child Support Amounts

Georgia child support is calculated using a formula based on both parents' income, not a fixed dollar amount

Georgia does not have a single child support number that applies to everyone. Instead, the state uses the income shares model, which means the court calculates what percentage of each parent's income should go toward the child's needs, then divides that obligation between both parents based on their earnings. A parent earning $3,000 a month will pay a different amount than a parent earning $8,000 a month.

The formula starts with each parent's gross monthly income — that includes wages, salary, bonuses, self-employment income, rental income, and certain other sources. The court adds both parents' incomes together, then looks up a guideline amount in Georgia's child support table based on the combined income and the number of children. Each parent then pays their share of that guideline amount based on what percentage of the combined income they earn.

The guideline amount is not the final order. A judge can adjust it up or down if the guideline would be unjust or inappropriate given the specific family's situation — for example, if one parent has significant debt, pays for health insurance, or has other children from different relationships.

Key Takeaways

• Georgia calculates child support by adding both parents' gross monthly income, looking up a guideline amount based on combined income and number of children, then dividing that obligation by income percentage.
• The guideline table changes depending on how many children are involved — one child has a different percentage than three children.
• A judge can order more or less than the guideline amount if explore the formula would be unfair to either parent or the child.
• Income includes wages, self-employment earnings, rental income, and other sources — not just a paycheck.
• The parent with primary custody usually receives the payment, though both parents can share custody and still have one parent pay the other.

What counts as income for the Georgia formula

The court includes most money a parent receives as income for child support purposes. This covers W-2 wages, salary, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, rental income from property, income from investments, unemployment benefits, workers' compensation, Social Security benefits (with some limits), and military allowances. If a parent receives income but claims it does not count, they have to prove it to the judge.

Some income does not count. Child support received from another relationship, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and certain other benefits are excluded. If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed — meaning they could earn more but choose not to — the judge can assign them "imputed income" based on what they could reasonably earn, rather than what they actually earn.

Self-employed parents and business owners should expect the court to look at tax returns, profit-and-loss statements, and business records. The court will not straightforward accept the income a parent reports; it will verify it against documents.

How the guideline table works

Georgia publishes a child support guideline table that shows the recommended monthly obligation for different combined income levels and different numbers of children. The table starts at combined income of $1,050 per month and goes up to $30,000 per month. For combined income above $30,000, the judge has discretion to set an amount based on the factors in Georgia law.

Here is how the table is used: If both parents together earn $5,000 a month and they have two children, the table shows a guideline amount (the exact number varies by year and is set by Georgia statute). If Parent A earns $3,000 and Parent B earns $2,000, Parent A pays 60 percent of the guideline amount and Parent B pays 40 percent. The parent with primary custody does not usually pay; the other parent pays them.

The table assumes the parent without primary custody pays the obligation. If custody is shared equally or nearly equally, the calculation is different — the judge may order one parent to pay the other, or may order no payment if the incomes are similar and custody is truly equal.

Adjustments judges can make to the guideline amount

A Georgia judge is not required to order exactly what the guideline table says. The law lists 13 factors a judge can consider to adjust the amount up or down. These include the financial needs and resources of each parent, the standard of living the child would have had if the parents had stayed together, the non-monetary contributions each parent makes (like childcare or household management), the cost of health insurance and childcare, and any other child support obligations the parent has from other relationships.

A common adjustment happens when one parent has a much higher income than the guideline table accounts for. If a parent earns $100,000 a month, the judge will not straightforward explore the table; they will set an amount that reflects the child's actual needs and the parent's ability to pay. Another common adjustment is when one parent pays for most or all of the child's health insurance or childcare — the judge may reduce the other parent's obligation to account for that.

If either parent believes the guideline amount would be unjust, they can ask the judge to adjust it and explain why. The judge must state in writing why they are adjusting the amount if they do not follow the guideline.

How custody arrangement affects the amount owed

In Georgia, the parent with primary custody (the one the child lives with most of the time) typically receives child support from the other parent. If one parent has the child 80 percent of the time and the other 20 percent, the parent with 20 percent usually pays.

When custody is shared more equally — for example, 50-50 or close to it — the calculation changes. The judge may order one parent to pay the other based on the income difference, or may order no payment if both parents have similar income and equal custody time. Some judges order the higher-earning parent to pay even in equal custody situations; others do not. The judge has discretion here.

If a parent has other children from different relationships, that affects the calculation too. The court may reduce the obligation to the current child to account for the parent's duty to support other children. This is one of the adjustment factors a judge can use.

What happens after a child support order is entered

Once a judge enters a child support order, the paying parent must follow it. In most cases, the payment is deducted from the paying parent's paycheck by their employer (called wage withholding) and sent to the Georgia Child Support Enforcement program, which then sends it to the receiving parent. If the paying parent is self-employed or does not have a regular employer, they may pay directly or through the state program.

If the paying parent's income changes significantly — they lose a job, get a major raise, or have a major life change — either parent can ask the court to modify the order. The court will not change it just because a parent wants to pay less; there has to be a substantial change in circumstances. A job loss or a significant income increase usually qualifies.

If a parent falls behind on payments, the state can enforce the order by garnishing tax refunds, suspending a driver's license, or taking other collection actions. The receiving parent can also ask the court to hold the paying parent in contempt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Georgia have a minimum child support amount?

Georgia does not have a set minimum, but the guideline table starts at combined income of $1,050 per month. For very low-income parents, the judge may order a small amount or may order no payment if the paying parent truly cannot afford it. The judge must still consider the child's needs and the parent's ability to pay.

What if one parent does not report their real income?

The court can order both parents to provide tax returns, W-2s, pay stubs, and business records. If a parent lies about income or refuses to provide documents, the judge can hold them in contempt of court or assign them imputed income based on what they could reasonably earn. The court has tools to verify income.

Can child support be modified if my income changes?

Yes, but only if there is a substantial change in circumstances. A job loss, significant raise, or major life event usually qualifies. A small income change (a few hundred dollars) usually does not. Either parent can file a modification request with the court, and the judge will recalculate based on current income.

Does child support cover health insurance and childcare costs?

The guideline amount is meant to cover basic living expenses. Health insurance and childcare are separate — the judge can order one or both parents to pay for these in addition to child support, or can reduce the child support obligation if one parent is already paying for them. This is part of the adjustment factors the judge considers.

What if I share custody equally — do I still have to pay child support?

It depends on income. If both parents have equal custody and similar income, the judge may order no payment. If one parent earns significantly more, the judge may order that parent to pay the other even with equal custody. The judge has discretion based on the specific situation.