Georgia Child Support
In Georgia, all cases involving minor children will have child support implications. Child support is calculated according to a statutory formula that takes into account each parent’s income as well as certain needs of the child. Some of the needs that are considered include, but are not limited to, childcare required for a parent to work, health insurance for the child, support obligations to another household, and extraordinary educational or medical expenses of the child. You can find the Georgia child support calculators online here. These are commonly referred to as “Child Support Worksheets” and are required to be submitted to the court for approval in most cases involving minor children.
Under certain circumstances, a Court may deviate from the presumptive child support amount in the Child Support Worksheets, which is why you should have an experienced Georgia child support lawyer helping you. Our firm can also assist with presenting the most accurate picture of your income and expenses so that the resulting support order will be based on your true financial situation.
Alimony & Spousal Support
Unlike child support, there is no worksheet or formula for determining alimony (also referred to as spousal support or maintenance) in Georgia. It is strictly within the discretion of the judge. Some of the factors the judge may consider are the length of the marriage, the income of both parties, employment history of the parties, property division, as well as the future ability to earn. Alimony may be awarded on either a temporary or permanent basis or in some cases both.
Since an award of alimony is solely at the discretion of the judge, it is important to have an experienced attorney who is familiar with the courts and knows which evidence will make the most impact during the presentation of your case. The attorneys at Syrop & Ingle are well qualified to evaluate and advise you regarding alimony and spousal support issues.