How do I know how much child support I might pay or receive in Georgia?

If you're trying to estimate child support in Georgia, the easiest place to start is with the Georgia Child Support Calculator. 

Georgia uses an income shares model, which means child support isn't calculated by simply taking a flat percentage of the paying parent's income. The calculation starts with the income of both parents and the number of children being supported. 

What determines child support in Georgia? 

The Georgia child support calculation generally looks at: 

• Each parent's monthly gross income 
• The number of children covered by the support order 
• Each parent's share of the combined income 
• Health insurance costs for the children 
• Work-related childcare expenses 
• Parenting time 
• Certain adjustments or deviations that may apply to your situation 

The calculator uses this information to determine a presumptive amount of child support. That is the guideline starting point, not necessarily the exact amount a judge will ultimately order. 

Does parenting time affect child support in Georgia? 

Yes. 

As of January 1, 2026, Georgia's child support guidelines include a Parenting Time Adjustment. This uses a formula that takes the noncustodial parent's court-ordered parenting time into account when calculating support. 

That means two families with similar incomes could have different child support amounts depending on their parenting arrangements and other circumstances. 

What if one parent has a low income? 

Georgia's 2026 guidelines also include a Low-Income Adjustment. If the parent who would pay support has a relatively low income, that adjustment may affect the guideline calculation. 

Can I estimate Georgia child support myself? 

Yes. Georgia has an official online Child Support Calculator maintained by the Georgia Child Support Commission. 

To get a useful estimate, you'll want to have at least: 

• Your monthly gross income 
• The other parent's monthly gross income 
• The number of children involved 
• Information about health insurance and childcare costs 
• Your parenting-time arrangement 

The calculator can then generate a Georgia Child Support Worksheet showing the presumptive support amount. 

So how much will I actually pay or receive? 

There's no single answer based only on salary. 

For example, asking "How much child support will I pay in Georgia if I make $80,000 a year?" isn't enough information by itself. The other parent's income, number of children, parenting time, childcare, health insurance, and other adjustments can all affect the calculation. 

The same is true if you're trying to figure out how much child support you might receive in Georgia. 

The bottom line 

If you want to estimate child support in Georgia, start with both parents' monthly gross incomes and use the official Georgia Child Support Calculator. That will give you a much better starting point than using a generic percentage of income. 

Just remember that the calculator produces a presumptive amount. The final child support order can depend on additional facts and any adjustments or deviations that apply to your case.