Do We HAVE to do Child Support?

Do we have to do child support? This is a question I hear pretty frequently. Often parents feel like they can take care of kid business without being obligated by the court to pay a certain amount each month. The bottom line answer is yes, in most cases, one parent will be required to pay child support to the other parent, the one with whom the children live with a majority of the time, also known as the Primary Physical Custodian. If you’re into research and want to see for yourself, check out the GA Code here.

How much, you may wonder? Well the State of Georgia has decided that the amount is determined – basically - by calculating both parents Gross Monthly Income (that’s before taxes or other deductions) adjusted by health insurance and work-related child care costs. There may be other factors that adjust the final number further such as high or low Income, other children from another relationship, alimony, mortgage, or travel for visitation.

Then there’s the Parenting Time Deviation. This comes up when the children spend “extended” or “equal” time with parents. It is a subjective calculation and depends largely on the parents’ income, their ability to co-parent well, and ability to agree on a number that makes sense for them. This deviation, as all the others, can be negotiated privately by the parties who arrive at a number that makes sense for their unique situation. Keep in mind though, that all deviations are subject to the court’s approval.

I encourage folks to get familiar with the Child Support Worksheet (found here) before negotiating with each other. You may be surprised as to what worksheet calculates for you. Or maybe not but either way, and you may want to be familiar with any adjustments or deviations that may fit into your situation. These can help you get the final number to a place that makes sense for everyone. Having some understanding of how the whole thing works makes the discussions around it go all the much better.

If it all feels overwhelming or you and your co-parent are in disagreement about child support, mediation can really help. We go over what is required and what is subjective. A lot of it can be negotiated but as with all things money, it helps to have a referee (the mediator) to keep the emotions cool and conversation balanced.

Schedule a consultation here when you can ask me all your questions.