Child Support: Securing Your Child’s Future After A Separation Or Divorce
Last updated on October 31, 2025
Going through a separation or divorce can be financially stressful. There is a great deal of uncertainty, especially about your financial obligations. It is easy to worry about providing for your child’s needs. An experienced child support attorney can help you secure fair and accurate child support arrangements that prioritize your child’s best interests.
At the Cowan Law Firm, LLC, in Dalton, our firm has been serving the northwest Georgia community since 2003. Our child support lawyers understand the complexities of child support laws in Georgia and will work tirelessly on your behalf.
How Is Child Support Calculated In Georgia?
In Georgia, child support is calculated using the income shares model. This model estimates the amount of money the parents would spend on the child if the family lived together. The court divides this amount between the parents based on their incomes. This takes into account the combined income of both parents and assigns a percentage of that income to each parent based on their respective income levels. The resulting amount is then used to determine the basic child support obligation.
What Factors Are Included In Child Support Calculations?
When calculating child support, the court will consider several factors. Some of these factors include:
- Parental income: The court will consider the income of both parents, including bonuses, commissions and overtime.
- Child health care needs: Any health care needs of the child, such as medical expenses and insurance premiums, are considered.
- Child care needs: Child care needs can include daycare costs and the costs of after-school programs.
- Extracurricular activities: A child’s extracurricular activities, like sports, music lessons or art classes, can be factored into the child support calculation.
- Educational expenses: If a child has additional educational expenses, such as private school tuition or tutoring, these can be added to the calculation for child support.
In other words, when calculating child support, the court will consider the child’s age, health and special needs. In addition, the court will consider each parent’s ability to pay for the child’s needs and the standard of living that the child would have had if the parents hadn’t separated.
Deviating From Georgia’s Standard Child Support Guidelines
While Georgia’s child support guidelines provide a framework for calculating support, there may be circumstances where deviating from these guidelines is necessary. This can occur when there are extraordinary expenses. Some examples of extraordinary expenses can include high health care costs or private school tuition. The court can also consider if one parent has a significantly higher income than the other. In these cases, a child support attorney can help you present a strong case to the court for deviating from the standard guidelines.
When Can You Ask The Court To Modify Child Support In Georgia?
As families move on with their lives after a separation or divorce, sometimes circumstances change enough to ask for a change in child support obligations. As a result, Georgia laws provide that child support orders can be modified if there has been a significant change in circumstances. Significant changes can include:
- A change in income or employment status
- A change in the child’s needs or expenses
- A change in the custodial arrangement or parenting time
- A change in the child’s age or emancipation status
A knowledgeable family lawyer who regularly handles divorce cases and legal matters involving child support can help you assess your situation. At the Cowan Law Firm, LLC, our experienced legal team can help you better understand whether or not you might be eligible for a modification of your child support.
Considering College Expenses When Calculating Child Support
In Georgia, child support typically ends when the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later. However, parents may still be responsible for contributing to their child’s college expenses. As parents are negotiating their divorce settlement, they can decide to include college expenses in their agreement. Mediation can be effective for couples who want to work together to reach an agreement about what is best for their child. Our family lawyers are experienced with the mediation process and can help you evaluate your options.
What Happens If A Parent Doesn’t Pay Child Support They Were Ordered To Pay?
If a parent fails to pay child support as ordered, the other parent can seek enforcement through the court. This may involve filing a petition for contempt, seeking retroactive child support or requesting the court to garnish the nonpaying parent’s wages. A child support attorney can guide you through the enforcement process and help you secure the support your child deserves.
Talk To A Dalton Child Support Attorney
At the Cowan Law Firm, LLC, our child support lawyers are dedicated to helping you secure a fair and accurate child support arrangement that prioritizes your child’s best interests. Our attorneys have more than 40 years of combined experience, and they are available by appointment for initial consultations. During an initial consultation, they can answer questions about your specific circumstances and suggest legal strategies.
To schedule an initial consultation, call our offices at 706-420-2949 or send us a message through our website. Let us help you understand Georgia’s child support laws and how they apply to your case. We want to help you ensure a brighter future for your children.