How is child support calculated in Georgia?

Using the income shares model adopted in 2007 under O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15: each parent's adjusted gross income is calculated, the two figures are combined, matched against the Georgia child support schedule, and each parent pays a share proportional to their percentage of that combined income.

What worksheets does Georgia use?

Schedule A for sole custody and Schedule B for shared custody, part of a fuller set (Schedules A through E) available through the Georgia Child Support Commission's official online calculator, the same tool used by courts, attorneys, and the Division of Child Support Services.

What changed in Georgia's guidelines for 2026?

A mandatory parenting-time adjustment that uses a mathematical formula instead of a discretionary deviation, a new income cap of $40,000 per month ($480,000 annually), and automatic low-income adjustments.

How is child support enforced in Georgia?

Judges must issue income withholding orders with all child support orders unless there's good cause not to, or the parents agreed to another arrangement. Additional tools include intercepting tax refunds, suspending driver's or professional licenses, intercepting lottery winnings over $2,500, contempt actions that can lead to jail, and property liens.

Georgia, United States

Georgia Child Support: A Parent's Guide

Q: How do I request a modification in Georgia?

The paying parent applies for a modification through the superior court, and the judge will only change the order on a showing of a substantial change in circumstances. Georgia support doesn't adjust automatically, if income drops or expenses increase, the original order remains enforceable until a court approves a new one.

How child support works in Georgia, in plain English: the income shares guidelines, the 2026 parenting-time formula, modification, and enforcement.

Legal sources reviewed: August 10, 2026

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In short: Georgia uses the income shares model, and as of 2026, a mandatory mathematical parenting-time adjustment replaces the old case-by-case deviation, alongside a new $40,000/month income cap. Support doesn't adjust automatically when circumstances change, a court modification is required, and enforcement leans heavily on mandatory income withholding.

This is an educational overview written for parents, not lawyers. It isn't legal advice. For anything beyond general understanding, talk to a licensed Georgia family law attorney.

What Georgia generally provides

Georgia adopted the income shares model in 2007 through a major overhaul of O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15. Each parent's adjusted gross income is calculated by subtracting allowable deductions from gross income, the two figures are combined, and the total is matched against Georgia's child support schedule for the number of children.

Important terminology

Adjusted gross income: gross income minus allowable deductions, the base figure for each parent's calculation.
Schedule A / Schedule B: Georgia's worksheets for sole custody and shared custody respectively, part of a fuller Schedule A–E set.
Mandatory parenting-time adjustment: the 2026 change replacing discretionary deviation with a fixed mathematical formula tied to actual parenting time.

How the calculation works

Combining adjusted gross income

Each parent's adjusted gross income is combined to produce a combined adjusted gross income, which is matched to the Georgia child support schedule to find the basic obligation for that combined income and number of children. Each parent's proportionate share equals their percentage of the combined income.

The 2026 guideline changes

For 2026, Georgia implemented significant updates: a mandatory parenting-time adjustment using a mathematical formula rather than discretionary deviation, a new income cap of $40,000 per month ($480,000 annually), and automatic low-income adjustments for lower-earning parents.

The official worksheet tool

The Georgia Child Support Commission provides an official online calculator that applies the statutory formulas automatically, the same tool used by courts, attorneys, and the Division of Child Support Services, producing a worksheet and Schedules A through E that can be printed and filed.

Requesting or defending a modification

A paying parent having trouble making payments applies for a modification through the superior court, and the judge will only change the order on a showing of a substantial change in circumstances. Georgia support does not adjust automatically: if income drops or expenses rise, the original order stays enforceable until the court approves a new one, so filing promptly after a real change matters. See the child support calculator and guideline finder for jurisdiction-specific calculation sources and guidance.

How enforcement works

Georgia judges must issue income withholding orders with all child support orders, unless there's a good reason not to or the parents have agreed to another payment arrangement. Income can be withheld from paychecks, unemployment benefits, or workers' compensation benefits. Beyond withholding, enforcement tools include intercepting federal and state tax refunds, suspending or revoking driver's or professional licenses, intercepting lottery winnings over $2,500, filing contempt actions that can result in jail time, and filing liens to seize bank accounts and property.

Common questions

Does the new parenting-time formula replace judicial discretion entirely? It replaces the old case-by-case deviation approach with a mandatory mathematical adjustment, so parenting time is now built directly into the calculation rather than left to a judge's separate discretion.

Can I just stop paying if I lose my job? No, the order stays enforceable until modified; file for a court modification as soon as possible instead of unilaterally reducing payments.

What if my co-parent isn't paying? Contact the Georgia Division of Child Support Services, which can pursue income withholding, tax refund interception, license suspension, and other enforcement tools.

Practical considerations

Because Georgia's 2026 changes meaningfully shifted how parenting time factors into the calculation, don't rely on a pre-2026 estimate or worksheet, run the numbers through the current official calculator or confirm with a Georgia family law attorney. For the custody rules that shape the parenting-time inputs to this formula, see the Georgia custody guide.

Official Georgia resources

FAQ

Questions, answered

This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Family law varies by individual circumstances and may change over time. Consult a qualified attorney or appropriate official resource for advice about your situation.