How Is Child Support Calculated in Georgia? The Income Shares Model, Explained

Whether you expect to pay child support or receive it, the first thing to understand is that Georgia does not leave the number to a judge’s gut feeling. Since 2007, Georgia has used an income shares model — a statutory formula designed to estimate what both parents together would have spent on the child if the family had stayed intact, and divide that obligation between them.

But the formula is only as accurate as the information fed into it, and the worksheet number is frequently just the opening bid. Here is how the calculation actually works in Georgia courts.

Step One: Determine Each Parent’s Gross Income

Both parents must disclose their gross monthly income — and Georgia defines income broadly. It includes wages, salary, bonuses, commissions, overtime (in many cases), self-employment income, rental income, retirement benefits, and even recurring gifts or perks like a company car or paid housing.

For self-employed parents, the court looks past the tax return to actual earning capacity. Business expenses that reduce taxable income on paper — vehicle write-offs, home office deductions, depreciation — are frequently added back. As a former judicial officer, I can tell you that judges are highly attuned to income that looks artificially low in a support case.

Step Two: Combine Incomes and Find the Presumptive Amount

The two gross incomes are combined, and Georgia’s statutory child support table produces a presumptive monthly obligation based on the combined income and the number of children. Each parent is then responsible for a share of that obligation proportional to their share of the combined income.

For example, if the parents earn a combined $8,000 per month and one parent earns 75% of that total, that parent is presumptively responsible for 75% of the guideline support amount — though the custodial parent’s share is presumed to be spent directly on the child.

Step Three: Adjust for Real-World Costs

The presumptive amount is then adjusted for the actual costs of raising the child:

• Health insurance premiums for the child, allocated between the parents
• Work-related childcare costs, divided proportionally
• Extraordinary expenses — private school tuition, special medical needs, or gifted programs, when justified
• Parenting time — significant shared custody can reduce the support figure through a parenting time deviation

When Courts Deviate From the Guidelines

Georgia law allows judges to deviate above or below the guideline amount when specific circumstances justify it — high combined income, very low income, extraordinary medical or educational needs, or substantial parenting time arrangements. Deviation requests are where support cases are often won or lost, and they require documented evidence rather than argument alone.

A court can also impute income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed — meaning support is calculated based on what that parent could earn, not what they currently report earning.

Can Child Support Be Changed Later?

Yes. Georgia allows modification when there has been a substantial change in either parent’s income or the child’s needs — a job loss, a promotion, a change in childcare costs, or a shift in the custody schedule. Generally, a parent must wait two years between modification actions unless the change was involuntary.

If you are establishing, paying, or owed child support anywhere in metro Atlanta, Bryce Law can review your numbers and tell you candidly whether the guideline amount fits your situation. Call (678) 785-9085 for a free consultation.

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice for any specific case. Georgia law changes, and outcomes depend on individual facts. Consult an attorney about your situation.