Georgia Child Support Calculator
Georgia combines both parents' gross monthly incomes, reads the basic obligation from the state's BCSO table (up to $40,000/month), and splits it by income share. Since January 1, 2026, two big changes from SB 454 are mandatory: a formulaic parenting-time adjustment that weights court-ordered overnights by a 2.5 exponent, and a structured low-income cap replacing the old discretionary deviations. This calculator implements both.
Estimated monthly child support
$655.85Parent B (noncustodial)
Annual amount
$7,870.20Who pays
Parent B (noncustodial)| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Parent A gross monthly income | $2,100.00 |
| Parent B (NCP) gross monthly income | $3,900.00 |
| Parent A adjusted gross income | $2,100.00 |
| Parent B (NCP) adjusted gross income | $3,900.00 |
| Combined adjusted gross income | $6,000.00 |
| Basic child support obligation (BCSO table) Table row: $6000/mo combined AGI | $1,009.00 |
| Parent A pro rata share % | 35 |
| Parent B (NCP) pro rata share % | 65 |
| Parent A pro rata share of BCSO | $353.15 |
| Parent B (NCP) pro rata share of BCSO | $655.85 |
| Presumptive amount of child support (NCP) | $655.85 |
| Final monthly child support transfer Parent B (noncustodial) | $655.85 |
This is a guideline estimate under O.C.G.A. §19-6-15 for informational purposes only — it is not legal advice and not a substitute for the official worksheet or a family-law attorney. Courts can deviate from guideline amounts based on statutory factors, and inputs like income determination or imputed income are ultimately decided by the court.
Georgia child support at a glance
| Model | Income shares (BCSO table, gross income) |
| Table range | $800–$40,000 combined gross/month |
| Parenting-time formula | Mandatory since Jan 1, 2026 (days^2.5) |
| Low-income cap | 19%–28% of own income (2026) |
| Statute | O.C.G.A. §19-6-15 (SB 454) |
Gross income, lightly adjusted
Unlike most states, Georgia's table runs on gross income before taxes. The only standard adjustments: self-employed parents deduct the employer half of self-employment tax (6.2% + 1.45%), support actually paid under preexisting orders comes off, and parents supporting other children in their home can claim a discretionary 75% theoretical-order credit.
The new 2026 parenting-time adjustment
Through 2025, parenting time was a discretionary deviation. Effective January 1, 2026 (SB 454), it's a mandatory formula whenever a court-ordered schedule exists: raise each parent's annual days to the power 2.5, cross-multiply against the parents' dollar shares, and add the (usually negative) result to the noncustodial parent's obligation. The 2.5 exponent means credit accelerates steeply as overnights grow — and the direction of payment can flip when the custodial parent earns more.
Low-income cap instead of deviation
Also new for 2026: a parent's obligation is capped at a percentage of their own adjusted gross income — 19% for one child up to 28% for six — when income is low (fully at $1,500/month or less, phasing out by about $3,950). The calculator applies whichever is lower: the presumptive amount or the cap.
Frequently asked questions
Is Georgia child support based on gross income?
Yes — O.C.G.A. §19-6-15 uses gross income before taxes for both parents, which is unusual (most states use net). Standard adjustments are limited: the employer half of self-employment tax for the self-employed, child support actually paid under earlier orders, and a discretionary 75% credit for other qualified children living in a parent's home.
What changed in Georgia child support in 2026?
Two SB 454 changes took effect January 1, 2026. First, the parenting-time adjustment became a mandatory formula (previously discretionary): each parent's court-ordered annual days are raised to the power 2.5 and cross-weighted against the dollar shares, steeply rewarding meaningful parenting time. Second, a structured low-income adjustment now caps a low earner's obligation at 19%–28% of their own income, replacing the old case-by-case low-income deviation. The BCSO table itself is unchanged since July 2024.
How much does parenting time reduce Georgia child support?
Steeply, once a court-ordered schedule exists. Because days are raised to the power 2.5, the credit grows much faster than linearly: in a $6,000/month, 2-child example where the noncustodial parent owes $989.95 with minimal time, having 100 overnights (vs. 265) cuts the obligation to about $122.51/month. With no court-ordered schedule, no adjustment applies at all.
What are the add-ons in a Georgia worksheet?
The child's portion of health insurance premiums and work-related childcare costs are prorated by each parent's income share and added to the basic obligation to form the presumptive amount (Schedule D). Future uninsured medical expenses are handled separately in the order, not in the worksheet math. Whoever pays an expense collects the other parent's share of it.
What happens above the BCSO table's $40,000/month ceiling?
For combined adjusted income beyond $40,000/month, courts set the basic obligation at the $40,000 row as a floor and may deviate upward at their discretion based on the children's needs and standard of living. The table was expanded from $30,000 to $40,000 in the July 2024 revision.
Can Georgia courts still deviate from the calculated amount?
Yes. Beyond the now-mandatory parenting-time and low-income adjustments, nine discretionary deviation grounds remain — high income, extraordinary medical or education expenses, travel costs, life insurance, alimony, mortgage payments, and more — and SSA or VA benefits paid to the child on a parent's record offset that parent's obligation at the final step.