How is Child Support Calculated in Georgia?

Georgia calculates child support using both parents' gross incomes under the Income Shares Model in O.C.G.A. O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15. Both parents' monthly gross incomes are combined, matched to a Basic Child Support Obligation table, and each parent pays their proportional share. As of January 1, 2026, Georgia made a significant change: parenting time adjustments are now calculated using a mandatory mathematical formula rather than left to a judge's discretion. The income table cap also increased to $40,000 per month.

How the Income Shares formula works

Georgia's approach under O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15 combines both parents' gross monthly incomes and looks up the result on the Basic Child Support Obligation (BCSO) table. The BCSO table shows the baseline monthly obligation for that combined income level and number of children — one through six or more.

What counts as gross income in Georgia

Georgia defines income broadly. Wages, salary, tips, bonuses, commissions, overtime, self-employment income, rental income, interest, dividends, and most regular sources of money all count. The definition is intentionally wide — courts look at financial resources, not just what appears on a pay stub.

If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or working below their earning capacity, Georgia courts may impute income based on what that parent could reasonably earn given their education, skills, and local job market conditions. A deliberate choice to reduce income generally doesn't reduce a child support obligation.

The two allowed pre-table adjustments are: one-half of self-employment taxes (to account for the employer portion that self-employed individuals pay themselves), and court-ordered child support actually being paid for other children under an existing order.

The updated income table cap

Georgia's BCSO table now covers combined monthly parental income up to $40,000 per month — $480,000 per year. This is a significant increase from the prior $30,000 per month cap that was in place before January 2026.

For combined income above $40,000 per month, courts have discretion to set support based on the child's needs, the child's established standard of living, and the family's circumstances. The table amount at the cap may serve as a starting point, but courts aren't bound to it for higher-income cases.

Worked Example — Two incomes, one child

The mandatory parenting time adjustment — what SB 454 changed

Before 2026, parenting time in Georgia was treated as a discretionary deviation — a judge could choose to reduce support based on how much time the paying parent had with the child, but there was no formula and no guarantee. If a parent wanted a reduction based on custody time, they had to request it and convince the court.

SB 454 changed that entirely. As of January 1, 2026, Georgia courts must apply a parenting time adjustment whenever a custody order includes court-ordered overnights. The adjustment is calculated using a specific mathematical formula tied to the number of overnights — it's no longer discretionary, and it's no longer something either parent needs to argue for.

The practical result is that Georgia parents with significant court-ordered parenting time now receive a meaningful, automatic reduction in their support obligation — without having to ask for it or litigate it separately. For parents who share time closer to equally, the adjustment can be substantial.

One important nuance: the adjustment applies to court-ordered overnights, not informal arrangements. If your parenting schedule exists only in practice but isn't in a court order, it may not trigger the mandatory calculation. This is one reason having a formalized parenting plan matters.

Add-ons: health insurance and childcare

The BCSO table amount — even after the parenting time adjustment — is not the complete picture. Georgia adds two categories of costs on top and splits them between the parents proportionally.

Health insurance premiums for the children are factored in — if one parent is providing coverage, the children's portion of the premium is included in the overall calculation and shared proportionally. Work-related childcare costs, meaning daycare or similar care that allows a parent to work, are handled the same way. Both of these add-ons are split based on each parent's income percentage.

Remaining deviation factors

Even with the mandatory parenting time formula in place, Georgia courts retain the ability to deviate from the presumptive support amount in specific circumstances. The party seeking a deviation generally needs to show that the standard result would be unjust or inappropriate.

Remaining deviation factors include substantial travel expenses required for court-ordered parenting time when parents live far apart, extraordinary expenses for a child's special needs, extraordinary educational expenses beyond what the BCSO table accounts for, and alimony actually being paid to a former spouse, which courts may consider on a case-by-case basis.

If you're navigating divorce finances in Georgia more broadly, our Georgia divorce finances overview covers property division, alimony, and retirement accounts. We also have a guide on how alimony is calculated in Georgia — including the adultery bar that is unique to Georgia law.

Common questions about Georgia child support

When does Georgia child support end? Georgia child support generally ends when the child turns 18. If the child is still enrolled in high school at 18, support typically continues through graduation. Courts may extend support beyond 18 for a child with a disability, depending on the documented need and what the order specifies.

Can Georgia child support be modified? Yes. Either parent may seek a modification if there's been a substantial change in circumstances — typically a significant income change, a change in the parenting schedule, or a change in the child's needs. In Georgia, a change of at least 15% in the presumptive support amount generally qualifies as substantial enough to support a modification request.

What if a parent is self-employed? Self-employment income is included in gross income. Courts look at business revenue minus ordinary and necessary business expenses. The allowed deduction is one-half of self-employment taxes — not the full self-employment tax, just the employer-equivalent portion. Business expenses that appear personal or inflated may be added back in.

Does Georgia child support cover college? Georgia courts generally do not have authority to order child support beyond age 18 for college expenses. Some parents address this in a voluntary settlement agreement — but it's not something a court typically orders in Georgia absent specific statutory authority or agreement between the parties.