Georgia Child Support — Calculator, Laws & Guide (2026)

Understanding Georgia child support laws helps both custodial and non-custodial parents know their rights and obligations. This comprehensive Georgia child support guide covers how payments are calculated, what income counts, when support can be modified, and how orders are enforced. Whether you are going through a divorce, seeking a modification, or dealing with non-payment, this guide explains Georgia’s child support system in plain language.

Verified against Georgia statutes and federal OCSE guidelines as of April 2026.

Georgia Child Support Overview

Georgia uses the income shares model for calculating child support. This model is based on the principle that children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the family were intact. Both parents’ incomes are combined, and the support obligation is divided proportionally.

Georgia uses the Income Shares Model under O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15. Both parents’ gross incomes are combined and looked up on the Basic Child Support Obligation (BCSO) table, which varies by combined income and number of children (1-6+). Each parent’s share is calculated pro rata based on their percentage of combined adjusted gross income. Health insurance premiums and work-related childcare costs are added to the BCSO before splitting. As of January 1, 2026, a mandatory Parenting Time Adjustment (using a formula that raises each parent’s court-ordered days to the power of 2.5) and a mandatory Low-Income Adjustment (self-support reserve at 180% of federal poverty guidelines) replaced the former discretionary deviations for those factors.

How Georgia Calculates Child Support

The Georgia child support calculation considers multiple factors:

1. Determine each parent’s gross income — wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, investment income, and other sources.
2. Calculate combined parental income — add both parents’ adjusted gross incomes together.
3. Apply the guideline schedule — Georgia’s guidelines provide a base support amount based on combined income and number of children.
4. Prorate between parents — each parent’s share is proportional to their percentage of the combined income.
5. Add healthcare and childcare costs — these are added to the base amount and divided proportionally.
6. Apply adjustments — parenting time credits, other child obligations, and special circumstances may adjust the final amount.

Online calculator: Use our child support estimator below to calculate your estimated obligation.

What Counts as Income in Georgia

Gross income from all sources, before taxes and deductions. Includes but is not limited to: salaries, wages, commissions, bonuses, overtime, self-employment income (gross receipts minus ordinary and reasonable business expenses), pensions, retirement plans (including VA, Railroad Retirement, Keoghs, IRAs), Social Security disability benefits (Title II), VA disability benefits, rental income, interest, dividends, trust income, royalties, severance pay, recurring monetary gifts, prizes, lottery winnings, and alimony received from other relationships. Self-employment income defined as gross receipts minus ordinary and reasonable expenses required for business operations. Excludes: means-tested public benefits (TANF, SNAP, SSI), special military pay or incentive pay, clothing or family separation allowances, and reimbursed expenses for high-cost-of-living assignments.

Imputed income: YES. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15(f)(4), if the court determines a parent is willfully or voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, child support is calculated based on earning capacity as evidenced by educational level and previous work experience. The court examines the reasons for the parent’s occupational choices and assesses their reasonableness in light of the obligation to support the child. The determination is not limited to choices motivated by intent to avoid support — any intentional choice affecting income qualifies. Exceptions: income shall not be imputed to a parent activated from the National Guard or armed forces, enlisted or drafted for full-time military service, or whose incarceration prevents employment.

Deviation factors: Georgia courts may deviate from the presumptive child support amount based on the following factors under O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15(i): (1) High income of either parent; (2) Low income of the noncustodial parent (note: as of 2026, a mandatory Low-Income Adjustment applies for parents earning at or below 1850 per month gross, with a self-support reserve at 180% of federal poverty guidelines); (3) Other qualified children of either parent; (4) Extraordinary educational expenses for the child, including private school tuition, special needs education, lab fees, books, and room and board appropriate to the parents’ financial abilities; (5) Extraordinary medical expenses not covered by insurance; (6) Special expenses for child-rearing including summer camp, music or art lessons, travel, school-sponsored extracurricular activities (band, clubs, athletics), and other activities enhancing the child’s development; (7) Travel expenses for visitation or parenting time; (8) Alimony obligations; (9) Mortgage on the marital home (if custodial parent and child reside there); (10) Permanency plan or foster care plan for the child; (11) Life insurance costs for the benefit of the child; (12) A parent’s own extraordinary needs (such as significant medical expenses); (13) The best interest of the child standard. Note: The former discretionary Parenting Time Deviation was replaced on 1/1/2026 by the mandatory Parenting Time Adjustment formula.

Healthcare & Childcare in Georgia Child Support

Health insurance: Health insurance premiums attributable to the child are added to the Basic Child Support Obligation before calculating each parent’s pro rata share. Only the portion of the premium allocable to the child (not the parent’s individual or family premium) is included. The court typically orders the parent with access to the most reasonable health insurance coverage to maintain it. Uninsured or unreimbursed healthcare expenses (copays, deductibles, non-covered treatments) are generally divided between the parents in proportion to their respective incomes. In cases of extreme economic hardship involving extraordinary medical expenses not covered by insurance, the court may consider a deviation from the presumptive amount.

Childcare costs: Work-related childcare costs (costs incurred to allow a parent to work, seek employment, or attend necessary education/training) are added to the Basic Child Support Obligation and health insurance premiums before calculating each parent’s pro rata share. The BCSO table does not include childcare costs — they are a separate add-on. Childcare costs must be reasonable and necessary, and seasonal variations (e.g., summer childcare) should be annualized for the monthly calculation.

When Does Georgia Child Support End?

In Georgia, child support generally ends when the child reaches 18 (age of majority in Georgia). Support ends when the child reaches 18, dies, marries, or becomes emancipated, whichever occurs first. However, if the child has reached 18 but is still enrolled in and attending secondary school (high school), the court may order continued support until the child completes high school or turns 20, whichever comes first. Important: child support does not automatically terminate — the paying parent must file a motion to terminate the income withholding order with the Superior Court.. However, support may continue or end earlier based on:

• The child graduates from high school (if still a minor)
• The child becomes emancipated (marriage, military service, self-supporting)
• The child has special needs requiring ongoing support
• College support: NO. Georgia courts have no statutory authority to order parents to pay college tuition, room and board, or other post-secondary education expenses through a child support order. Parents may voluntarily agree to contribute to college costs in a settlement agreement, but the court cannot compel it.

Modifying Georgia Child Support

When to modify: A substantial change in either parent’s income or financial status, or a change in the needs of the child. A wage increase or decrease of 25 percent or more typically qualifies as a substantial change. Other qualifying changes include: altered custody arrangements, additional medical or educational expenses due to a child’s changed condition, a parent’s responsibility for additional children from a new relationship, significant changes in childcare or health insurance costs, and involuntary job loss or disability. Either parent has the right to request a DCSS review every 3 years without proving a substantial change. If less than 3 years since the last order or review, the requesting party must demonstrate a substantial change in circumstances. The 2026 law changes (new Parenting Time Adjustment and Low-Income Adjustment formulas) may themselves provide grounds for modification.

How to modify: Two paths: (1) Administrative review through the Georgia Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) — either parent can request a review every 3 years, or sooner if a substantial change in circumstances exists. DCSS reviews the order and may petition the court for modification. (2) File a petition for modification directly with the Superior Court in the county where the current order was entered. The modification, if granted, is effective from the date the petition for modification was filed and served — not retroactively. Any payment or installment of support already accrued under the existing order cannot be retroactively modified.

Either parent can request a modification. Changes are typically not retroactive to before the date of filing the modification request.

Georgia Child Support Enforcement

Georgia has multiple tools to enforce child support orders when a parent fails to pay:

• Automatic income/wage withholding (most common method — state law requires it in most cases); suspension or revocation of driver’s license; suspension of professional
• occupational
• and recreational (hunting/fishing) licenses; federal and state tax refund intercept; lottery winnings intercept; credit bureau reporting of arrears; contempt of court actions (civil or criminal — used when administrative enforcement fails); federal passport denial for arrears exceeding 2500; liens on real and personal property; bank account seizure/levy; referral to the Federal Parent Locator Service. License reinstatement options include: full payment of past-due balance
• payment of 20% of total past-due balance
• payment of three times current support plus past-due payments on all active cases
• or enrollment in and completion of the Fatherhood program.

Contact Georgia Division of Child Support Services (DCSS), under the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) at https://childsupport.georgia.gov/ for enforcement assistance.

Additional Georgia rules: (1) 2026 Mandatory Parenting Time Adjustment: Replaces the former discretionary parenting time deviation. Uses a mathematical formula raising each parent’s court-ordered parenting days to the power of 2.5, applied automatically whenever a custody or visitation order specifies parenting time. This is no longer discretionary — courts must apply it. (2) 2026 Mandatory Low-Income Adjustment: Replaces the former discretionary low-income deviation. Parents earning at or below 1850 per month in gross income may qualify. The self-support reserve is set at 180% of the federal poverty guidelines. A parent’s basic support obligation cannot reduce their income below the self-support reserve. (3) Georgia requires the use of standardized Child Support Worksheets and Schedule E (Deviations) attached to every child support order. (4) The Georgia Child Support Commission conducts periodic economic studies to update the BCSO table (2026 economic study currently in progress for public comment). (5) Jury trial: Georgia is one of the few states where either party may request a jury trial on child support issues in divorce cases.

Official Sources & Resources

• Georgia Division of Child Support Services (DCSS), under the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS): https://childsupport.georgia.gov/
• Federal OCSE: acf.hhs.gov/css
• Cornell LII — Child Support: law.cornell.edu
• Georgia Guidelines Statute: O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15 (Official Code of Georgia Annotated, Title 19, Chapter 6, Section 15) — current version effective January 1, 2026, as amended by HB 443 (2024 session)

Last verified April 2026. Contact us if you notice outdated information.

Estimate Your Child Support

Use our free child support estimator to calculate estimated monthly payments. Enter both parents’ incomes, number of children, and custody arrangement to see a personalized breakdown based on your state’s formula.

Related Guides

• Georgia Divorce Process Guide
• Georgia Child Custody Guide
• Georgia Alimony Guide
• All Child Support Guides