Learn More>>Child Support>> High/Low Income

When evaluating the Georgia Child Support payment guidelines, deviations are made from the Presumptive Amount of Child Support when parent(s) have abnormally high or low income. Parents are considered to be high-income Parents if their Combined Adjusted Income exceeds $30,000.00 per month. For high-income Parents, the Court shall set the Basic Child Support Obligation at the highest amount allowed by the Child Support Obligation Table but the Court or the jury may consider upward Deviation to attain an appropriate award of child support for high-income Parents which is consistent with the best interest of the Child.

A "low income person" means either parent whose annual gross income is at or below $1,850.00 per month. If the noncustodial parent is a low income person and requests a deviation on such basis, the Court or the jury shall determine if the noncustodial parent will be financially able to pay the child support order and maintain at least a minimum standard of living by calculating a "self-support reserve". The Court or the jury shall take into account all nonexcluded sources of income available to each parent and all reasonable expenses of each parent, ensuring that such expenses are actually paid by the parent and are clearly justified expenses. The Court or the jury shall also consider the financial impact that a reduction in the amount of child support paid to the custodial parent would have on the custodial parent's household. Under no circumstances shall the amount of child support awarded to the custodial parent impair the ability of the custodial parent to maintain minimally adequate housing, food, and clothing and provide for other basic necessities for the child being supported by the court order.

To calculate the "self-support reserve" for the noncustodial parent, the Court or the jury shall deduct $900.00 from the noncustodial parent's adjusted income. If the resulting amount is less than the noncustodial parent's pro rata responsibility of the Presumptive Amount of Child Support, the Court or the jury may deviate from the amount of support provided for in the Child Support Obligation Table to the resulting amount. If the child support award amount would be less than $75.00, then the minimum child support order amount shall be $75.00.

 If the custodial parent is a low income person, the Court or the jury shall subtract $900.00 from the custodial Parent's Adjusted Income. If the resulting amount is less than the custodial parent's pro rata responsibility of the Presumptive Amount of Child Support, the Court or the jury shall not deviate from the amount of support required to be paid by the noncustodial parent as provided for in the Child Support Obligation Table.

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