Georgia Child Support Laws (2026): Guidelines & Calculator

Georgia calculates child support using the Income Shares Model under O.C.G.A. 19-6-15. Both parents' adjusted gross incomes are combined, the Basic Child Support Obligation table sets the total amount, and each parent pays a proportional share based on their income. Use the Georgia child support calculator below to estimate a guideline amount, or open the Georgia child support calculator for the full-page tool.

Quick Summary: Georgia Child Support

• Model Used: Income Shares Model
• Governing Law: O.C.G.A. 19-6-15 (updated effective January 1, 2026, via Senate Bill 454; see Georgia Child Support Commission)
• Support Ends: Age 18, or age 20 if still enrolled in secondary school (graduation ends the obligation regardless of age)
• Modification Limit: One modification request every two years, with exceptions
• Interest on Arrears: 7% per year, which a court has discretion to apply, waive, or reduce under O.C.G.A. 7-4-12.1(a)
• Statute of Limitations on Enforcement: None for child support judgments (O.C.G.A. 9-12-60(d) exempts child support orders from dormancy rules)
• Official Calculator: Georgia Child Support Commission Calculator
• Apply for Services: Georgia DCSS Application

2024-2026 Changes to Georgia Child Support Law

Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 454 into law in May 2024, representing the first major revision to Georgia's child support guidelines since 2007. The law's changes took effect in two phases: an updated BCSO table on July 1, 2024, and mandatory parenting time and low-income adjustments on January 1, 2026.

Mandatory Parenting Time Adjustment

Before 2026, courts could grant a discretionary "parenting time deviation" to reduce child support for noncustodial parents who spent significant time with their children. That system was inconsistent. Different judges applied it differently, and many parents received no credit at all.

Under the new O.C.G.A. 19-6-15(g), the parenting time adjustment is now mandatory whenever a custody or visitation order includes court-ordered parenting time. The formula raises parenting days to the power of 2.5, assigning a specific dollar value to the time each parent spends with the child.

This means noncustodial parents who spend more time with their children will see a measurable reduction in their child support obligation. The statute sets no maximum day count for eligibility. The only condition in O.C.G.A. 19-6-15(g)(1)(C) is a court order: the adjustment shall only be used to account for court ordered parenting time, and if no court order awards parenting time, the court determines the obligation without it. Parenting time itself is measured under O.C.G.A. 19-6-15(a)(17.1) by counting the days a parent spends with the child across a two-year period and taking the annual average, not by a single year's day count. The Georgia Child Support Commission's Parenting Time Formula Tool automates this calculation.

Mandatory Low-Income Adjustment

Before 2026, Georgia used a discretionary low-income deviation. Courts could, but were not required to, reduce child support for parents earning below certain thresholds. The new law replaces that discretion with a mandatory low-income adjustment under O.C.G.A. 19-6-15(i.1), which sets the obligation at the lesser of the parent's presumptive amount of child support or the amount produced by the low-income adjustment table at O.C.G.A. 19-6-15(p).

Parents earning below specified thresholds now receive automatic support reductions through formula calculations. This standardizes support obligations for low-income parents and includes a self-support reserve to make sure the paying parent can still meet basic living needs.

Expanded Obligation Table (Effective July 1, 2024)

The Basic Child Support Obligation (BCSO) table was updated effective July 1, 2024 and now covers combined parental incomes up to $40,000 per month ($480,000 annually). The previous table capped at $30,000 per month. This expansion provides more standardized calculations for high-income families who previously relied on judicial discretion for amounts above the table.

How Child Support Is Calculated in Georgia

Georgia's child support calculation under O.C.G.A. 19-6-15 follows a step-by-step process using the income shares model. This model assumes that children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the parents lived together.

Step 1: Calculate Gross Income for Each Parent

Georgia's definition of gross income is broad. It includes:

• Salary, wages, and overtime
• Commissions and bonuses
• Self-employment income (minus one-half of self-employment taxes)
• Rental property income
• Severance pay and pension income
• Capital gains
• Unemployment benefits
• Workers' compensation
• Social Security benefits
• Gifts and prizes (if recurring)

Step 2: Determine Adjusted Gross Income

Subtract allowable deductions from each parent's gross income. Deductions include:

• One-half of self-employment taxes
• Preexisting child support orders actually being paid
• A theoretical support order for other qualified children living in the parent's home (when the court allows it)

Court-ordered alimony payments are not deductible from gross income. O.C.G.A. 19-6-15(i)(2)(F) states that actual payments of alimony shall not be considered as a deduction from gross income, but may be considered as a deviation from the presumptive amount of child support. Alimony a parent actually pays can only be considered later, as a possible discretionary deviation from the presumptive amount.

Step 3: Add Both Parents' Adjusted Gross Incomes

Combine both adjusted gross incomes to get the combined adjusted gross income. This total determines which row of the BCSO table applies.

Step 4: Find the Basic Child Support Obligation

Using the BCSO table, locate the figure closest to the combined adjusted gross income in the left column. Then find the number of children in the top row. The intersection gives the basic child support obligation.

If the combined income falls between amounts in the table, the court uses the bracket that most closely matches.

Step 5: Calculate Each Parent's Pro Rata Share

Divide each parent's adjusted gross income by the combined total. The resulting percentage determines each parent's share of the obligation. For example, if Parent A earns 60% of the combined income, they are responsible for 60% of the basic obligation.

Step 6: Apply Adjustments

Add costs for health insurance premiums paid for the child, work-related childcare expenses, and extraordinary medical or educational expenses. Then apply the mandatory parenting time adjustment (effective 2026) and low-income adjustment if applicable.

Step 7: Determine the Final Obligation

The noncustodial parent's final obligation is their pro rata share of the total, minus any credits for adjustments. This is the amount they pay to the custodial parent.

Imputed Income for Unemployed or Underemployed Parents

Georgia courts can assign income to a parent who is willfully or voluntarily unemployed or underemployed under O.C.G.A. 19-6-15(f)(4). This is called "imputed income."

When deciding whether to impute income, the court examines the parent's reasons for their occupational choices and whether those choices are reasonable given their obligation to support their child. Factors the court considers include:

• The parent's educational level and previous work experience
• Assets and residence
• Employment and earnings history
• Job skills, literacy, age, and health
• Criminal record and other employment barriers
• Record of seeking work
• Local job market conditions and prevailing wages

There are important exceptions. Courts will not impute income to a parent who is activated for military service, drafted, or enlisted full-time in the armed forces. Courts also will not make this determination when a parent's incarceration prevents employment.

Deviations from the Guidelines

Even after applying all adjustments, a court can order an amount different from the calculated figure. This is called a "deviation." Georgia law permits deviations when applying the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate. Factors that may support a deviation include:

• Unusual travel expenses for visitation
• Mortgage payments on the marital home that benefit the child
• Parenting time significantly different from standard arrangements
• Life insurance premiums for the child's benefit
• High or low parental income situations not fully addressed by the table
• Health-related insurance costs beyond basic coverage
• Extraordinary educational expenses (such as private school or tutoring)
• Special needs of the child
• Alimony payments

Impact of Remarriage

Remarriage does not directly affect child support in Georgia. A new spouse's income is only considered in unusual circumstances, such as when a parent no longer needs to work due to the new spouse's earnings. However, if a new spouse's income covers all household expenses, the court may consider that the parent has more disposable income available for support.

How to Modify a Child Support Order in Georgia

Georgia limits modification requests to prevent constant litigation. The general rules are:

• Two-year rule: A parent may not request modification more than once every two years.
• Exceptions: Modification can be requested sooner if there is a significant change in parenting time or a substantial involuntary reduction in income.

Grounds for Modification

Either parent can file for modification based on:

• A substantial change in either parent's income and financial status (job loss, raise, disability)
• A change in the child's needs (medical condition, educational requirements)
• Failure to exercise court-ordered parenting time, which under O.C.G.A. 19-6-15(k)(2)(A) lifts the two-year waiting period rather than standing as a ground on its own

Recalculating support under the current guidelines and arriving at a lower number is not, by itself, a basis for modification. O.C.G.A. 19-6-15(k)(1) provides that a parent has no right to petition for modification, regardless of how long the order has been in place, unless there is a substantial change in either parent's income and financial status or in the needs of the child.

To support a modification request, gather current income records, changed expenses, medical documentation (if applicable), and any evidence of the other parent's current financial situation. With one request allowed every two years, get a free case evaluation from a Georgia family lawyer on that evidence before you file (attorney advertising).

When Does Child Support End in Georgia?

Georgia child support obligations end when the child:

• Turns 18 and has graduated from secondary school
• Turns 20 (if still enrolled in secondary school, though graduation ends the obligation at any age)
• Becomes legally emancipated
• Marries
• Dies

The court may also order continued support past age 18 for a child enrolled in and attending secondary school, provided the order was entered on or after July 1, 1992. This extended obligation cannot continue past age 20 under any circumstances.

Emancipation in Georgia

A minor can become emancipated in Georgia by:

• Legally marrying
• Joining the military
• Petitioning the court and demonstrating financial independence and the ability to manage their own affairs

The minor may request sworn statements from professionals (attorneys, clergy, school officials, therapists) to support the emancipation petition.

Georgia has a unique provision: emancipated minors can petition to reverse their emancipation if they resume a family relationship with their parents, if parents agree to rescind the order, or if they can no longer support themselves.

What Happens if You Do Not Pay Child Support in Georgia

Georgia takes child support enforcement seriously. The Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) and the courts have multiple tools to collect unpaid support. Under O.C.G.A. 15-11-310(a)(3), a court can terminate parental rights if a parent has wantonly and willfully failed to comply for 12 months or longer with a support decree entered by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Enforcement Methods

Interest on Arrears

Unpaid child support accrues interest at 7% per year under O.C.G.A. 7-4-12.1(a), starting 30 days after an installment comes due. That interest is not automatic. The same subsection gives the court discretion in applying or waiving past due interest, and directs it to consider whether good cause existed for the nonpayment, whether paying the interest would cause substantial and unreasonable hardship for the parent who owes it, how applying, waiving, or reducing the interest would affect that parent's current ability to pay support, and whether a waiver would cause substantial and unreasonable hardship to the parent owed. Under O.C.G.A. 7-4-12.1(b), the Department of Human Services also keeps its separate authority under O.C.G.A. 19-11-5(b) to waive, reduce, or negotiate a settlement of unreimbursed public assistance. Arrears cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. There is no statute of limitations on enforcement of child support judgments (O.C.G.A. 9-12-60(d) exempts child support orders from dormancy rules).

Termination of Parental Rights

Beyond nonpayment, parental rights may be terminated if:

• The court finds misconduct or inability to care for the child
• The parent is convicted of murdering the child's other parent
• The parent consents in writing
• The child is abandoned

If parental rights are terminated, the parent loses all rights to notice of proceedings regarding the child and all custody and visitation rights.

How to Apply for Child Support Services in Georgia

The Georgia Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) provides assistance with locating absent parents, establishing paternity, obtaining child support orders, and enforcing existing orders.

To apply, visit the DCSS online application or contact the DCSS Communications Center at 1-877-423-4746 (1-877-GADHSGO).

Services available through DCSS include:

• Parent location services
• Paternity establishment
• Support order establishment
• Order modification assistance
• Payment collection and distribution
• Enforcement of support orders across state lines through the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA)

More Georgia Laws

• Georgia Alimony Laws
• Georgia Child Custody Laws
• Georgia Divorce Laws

Frequently Asked Questions

How is child support calculated in Georgia in 2026?

Georgia uses the income shares model under O.C.G.A. 19-6-15. Both parents' adjusted gross incomes are combined, and the Basic Child Support Obligation (BCSO) table determines the total obligation based on combined income and number of children. Each parent pays their pro rata share. Senate Bill 454 expanded the BCSO table to cover combined incomes up to $40,000 per month (effective July 1, 2024) and, effective January 1, 2026, added a mandatory parenting time adjustment and a mandatory low-income adjustment.

Can child support arrears be dismissed in Georgia?

The principal arrears generally cannot be dismissed. They cannot be discharged in bankruptcy, and there is no statute of limitations on enforcement. The interest is a different matter. Arrears accrue 7% annual interest under O.C.G.A. 7-4-12.1(a), but that subsection gives the court discretion to apply, waive, or reduce past due interest after weighing good cause for the nonpayment, hardship to the parent who owes it, the effect on that parent's current ability to pay support, and hardship to the parent owed. Where the arrears represent unreimbursed public assistance owed to the state, the Department of Human Services can waive, reduce, or negotiate a settlement under O.C.G.A. 19-11-5(b). Otherwise, the routes are a repayment plan or a documented agreement with the custodial parent filed with the court.

Does a new spouse's income affect my child support in Georgia?

Only in unusual circumstances. Georgia does not automatically include a new spouse's income in child support calculations. However, if a new spouse's earnings cover all household expenses, the court may consider that the paying parent has more disposable income. The court must find unusual circumstances before factoring in a new spouse's income.

Can I go to jail for not paying child support in Georgia?

Yes. A court can hold a parent in contempt for willful nonpayment, which can result in fines, jail time, or both. However, the child support obligation does not stop during incarceration, and arrears continue to accumulate, with interest at 7% per year that the court has discretion to apply, waive, or reduce under O.C.G.A. 7-4-12.1(a). Courts typically treat jail as a last resort after other enforcement methods (wage garnishment, license suspension, tax interception) have failed.

What is the new parenting time adjustment in Georgia?

Effective January 1, 2026, Georgia replaced the old discretionary parenting time deviation with a mandatory parenting time adjustment under O.C.G.A. 19-6-15(g). The formula raises the number of parenting days to the power of 2.5 to assign a dollar value to the time the noncustodial parent spends with the child. The adjustment is required whenever a custody or visitation order includes court-ordered parenting time. If no court order awards parenting time, the court determines the obligation without the adjustment. There is no maximum number of parenting days that disqualifies a parent, and parenting time is measured as an annual average of the days spent with the child over a two-year period under O.C.G.A. 19-6-15(a)(17.1).