Georgia Child Support
Estimate for Georgia
Georgia uses the Income Shares model.
Georgia Child Support Worksheet — Planning Estimate
Paying parent income: $5,000.00/mo · Other parent: $4,000.00/mo · Overnights: 0/yr · Child care: $0.00/mo · Health ins.: $0.00/mo · Children: 2
This is an informal planning estimate, not a court worksheet and not legal advice. Confirm the current guideline with the state child-support agency or a licensed family-law attorney.
Official schedule: O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15 Basic Child Support Obligation Table (subsection (o)), post-7/1/2024 (2024)
View calculation breakdown
| Combined parental income | $9,000 |
|---|---|
| Total basic obligation (schedule) | $1,807 |
| Obligor income share | 55.6% |
| Obligor basic obligation | $1,004 |
| Estimated monthly support | $1,004 |
How the basic obligation splits between parents
Estimated monthly support by number of children
Typical amounts in Georgia
| Scenario | Obligor income/mo | Other parent | Est. monthly support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower earner | $2,500 | $4,000/mo | $401/mo |
| Typical case | $5,500 | $4,000/mo | $724/mo |
| Higher earner | $9,000 | $4,000/mo | $1,059/mo |
Georgia uses the income shares model on adjusted_gross income. Your numbers will differ — run the calculator above with your own inputs. Estimates are educational, not a court order.
§ How Georgia calculates support
Georgia uses the Income Shares model under O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15. Each parent's gross monthly income is adjusted (preexisting support orders, self-employment FICA, credit for other children in the home) to adjusted gross income; the combined figure is applied to the Basic Child Support Obligation (BCSO) table covering $800–$40,000/mo combined. The noncustodial parent owes their pro-rata share plus a share of health insurance and work-related childcare; a parenting-time adjustment and a low-income adjustment can modify the presumptive amount, and deviations require written findings.
Content verified against official sources on 2026-08-09.
✦ How to open or modify a case in Georgia
- Apply for services through the Georgia Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) or file in court.
- Establish paternity if unmarried (voluntary acknowledgment or court-ordered testing).
- Both parents provide income and expense information; use the official Georgia Child Support Calculator (csconlinecalc.georgiacourts.gov) to produce the worksheet.
- The court enters a support order based on the presumptive amount from the worksheet; deviations need findings.
- Payments are typically by income withholding; DCSS handles enforcement.
- To modify, file a modification action showing a change in circumstances; the worksheet is recalculated.
◈ Illustrative examples
Scenario: Parent A adjusted gross $3,600/mo; Parent B $2,400/mo; combined $6,000/mo; two children; child health insurance $200/mo; childcare $300/mo.
Walk-through: Parent A = 60% of combined. BCSO for $6,000 combined and two children ≈ $1,404 (illustrative schedule figure). Add-ons = $500. Parent A's share = 0.60 × ($1,404 + $500) ≈ $1,142/mo.
Takeaway: Each parent pays their percentage of combined adjusted income times the basic obligation plus add-ons.
Scenario: Obligor adjusted gross $1,200/mo, one child; presumptive share would exceed 19% of adjusted gross.
Walk-through: Georgia's low-income adjustment caps the obligation at a percentage of adjusted gross income (e.g., 19% for one child), reducing the order to that cap so the parent can meet basic living expenses.
Takeaway: Low-income parents are protected by a percentage-of-income cap so support doesn't drop below self-sufficiency.
? Frequently asked questions
↗ Official policy & agency links
Sources verified: https://childsupport.georgia.gov · https://csconlinecalc.georgiacourts.gov · O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15