Despite the complex emotions involved, the divorce process involves several routine, practical steps. While there are things like the receipt of a divorce summons and the separation of assets, couples also must determine how the welfare of their children will be maintained after the divorce. While some divorces proceed relatively smoothly and parents can agree on how parental responsibilities will be divided without an argument, other divorces are much more argumentative, and the court must intervene to create a division of parenting responsibilities and child support.

How Child Support is Calculated

In January 2007, Georgia altered its child support laws and began what is referred to as an “Income Shares Model” for calculating child support. This means that child support in Georgia is calculated using a form created by the Georgia legislature. Current regulations require that the total gross income of both parties is taken into consideration. This includes income from all sources before any tax deductions are made including things like salaries as well inheritances that are received.

Child-Related Costs in Georgia Divorces

Most parents are aware that raising children is not cheap. According to the statistics compiled by the United States Department of Agriculture, children become more expensive as they age. The cost of raising a child from birth to age 17 increased by 25% from 2000 to 2010. Child support was created to make sure that both parents end up contributing to these costs associated with child care. This includes several things such as clothing, education, and even sporting equipment. 

The exact costs of children vary based on the child’s age. For example, working parents might need to hire a nanny or send a child to daycare when the child is too young to attend school. Later when the child is in school, there might be the additional costs of attending summer camp or joining sports leagues. The role of these basic support obligations (or, the minimum amount that a supporting parent must pay) was created to cover necessities for the child. This obligation is divided among parents based on their income. 

This support might be adjusted further when the two parents share custody, which refers to when the child spends the night with each parent for at least 40% of the year. To make matters even more complex, child support is not the only obligation a parent might be requested to pay. Instead, parents are sometimes asked to provide additional support for important expenses like medical and dental care, school expenses, childcare fees, and extracurricular activities.

Speak with an Experienced Family Law Attorney Today

To make sure that your child receives adequate care after the end of your marriage, it is critical to fully address child support during the divorce process. While many challenges can arise with enforcing and paying child support, an experienced family law attorney can help. 
Contact Vayman & Teitelbaum, PC today to schedule a free case evaluation.