2026 Georgia Child Support Calculator — Estimate Your Monthly Obligation
To calculate Georgia child support under O.C.G.A. §19-6-15, enter both parents' gross monthly incomes and the number of overnights — the Income Shares table returns the base obligation, and each parent pays their proportional share. Enter the inputs below to get an instant estimate based on Georgia's current 2026 guidelines. The result includes a line-item breakdown showing exactly how the obligation was calculated.
To calculate accurately, you will need: (1) both parents' monthly gross income from all sources including wages, bonuses, and self-employment; (2) the number of qualifying children covered by this order; (3) the number of overnights the child spends with the non-custodial parent annually out of 365; and (4) any monthly costs either parent pays for the child's health insurance and work-related childcare. These add-ons are allocated proportionally and affect the final obligation.
Georgia's child support guidelines under O.C.G.A. §19-6-15 reflect DHS schedule; deviation factors include travel costs and extraordinary expenses. Courts in Georgia apply the statutory formula as a rebuttable presumption — the guideline amount is the correct amount unless a party presents evidence that deviation is in the child's best interest.
What to Enter in the Georgia Child Support Calculator
| Input Field | What to Include | What to Exclude |
|---|
| Monthly gross income (your income) | Wages, salary, bonuses, commissions, overtime, self-employment, rental income, dividends, Social Security | One-time gifts, inheritances, SSI, public assistance |
| Monthly gross income (other parent) | Same categories — all regular income from all sources | Same exclusions |
| Number of children | All qualifying children subject to this order | Stepchildren unless formally adopted; adult children no longer eligible |
| Overnights per year (non-custodial) | Actual overnights in your custody schedule out of 365 | Daytime-only visits without overnight stays |
| Health insurance premium | Monthly cost for child's coverage only | Premium portion for the parent's own coverage |
| Childcare (work-related) | Monthly childcare costs enabling the parent to work | Enrichment or discretionary childcare not work-related |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I use the Georgia child support calculator?
- To calculate Georgia child support under O.C.G.A. §19-6-15, enter both parents' gross monthly incomes and the number of overnights — the Income Shares table returns the base obligation, and each parent pays their proportional share. Enter both parents' monthly income, the number of qualifying children, and the annual overnights for the non-custodial parent. The calculator applies the 2026 O.C.G.A. §19-6-15 guidelines and returns an estimated monthly obligation with a line-item breakdown.
- How accurate is the Georgia child support calculator?
- Our calculator applies O.C.G.A. §19-6-15 directly and uses the current 2026 income schedule. Results are accurate for standard cases. They may differ from a court's actual order if either parent has complex self-employment deductions, there are multiple households with prior support obligations, or the case involves income imputation. Always verify with a Georgia family law attorney.
- What income is excluded from the Georgia child support calculation?
- Most states exclude: SSI (Supplemental Security Income), one-time gifts and inheritances, non-recurring windfalls, public assistance benefits, and income of a new spouse or partner. What counts as includable income is defined by O.C.G.A. §19-6-15. The calculator uses includable income only.
- What if one parent is self-employed in Georgia?
- Self-employment income in Georgia is gross self-employment receipts minus allowable ordinary and necessary business expenses. Courts may disallow excessive expenses. If a self-employed parent minimizes income through deductions, the court can impute income based on earning capacity, prior earnings history, or available job market data.
- Does 50/50 custody eliminate child support in Georgia?
- Not automatically. Georgia calculates a base obligation from both parents' incomes, then applies a shared parenting adjustment. The court evaluates the custody arrangement. The parent with the higher income typically still owes some support in equal custody, reflecting the income disparity between households.
- When can Georgia child support be modified?
- Georgia child support can be modified when there is a material change in circumstances — typically a 15–20% change in either parent's income, a significant change in custody time, or a change in the child's needs. File a petition with the court that issued the original order. Modifications are only retroactive to the petition date.
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