Effective January 1, 2007 and pursuant to §19-6-15, as revised—

1. Gross Income-Determine the gross monthly income of both the mother and father. Gross

income shall be calculated on a monthly basis and each parent enters the amount on Schedule A.

2. Adjusted Income-The gross income of either parent may be reduced if one or more of the

following reasons applies. These are calculated on Schedule B:

· Is either parent self employed?

• If so, that parent’s monthly gross income will be reduced by 6.2% for FICA (up to the annual

maximum amount allowed), and 1.45% for Medicare.

· Has either parent been paying preexisting child support orders?

• If so, the parent’s monthly gross income will be reduced by the amount of monthly current

support the parent has been paying consistently for a specific period (12 months if order has been

in effect that long). If less than full payments have been made, use the average of the amount of

current support actually paid. Do not count back child support owed.

• Is either parent supporting his or her other children living in the home, who

are not the subject of the case before the court or any preexisting child support order?

• If so, the court may allow a reduction of that parent’s monthly gross income if: (a) the failure to

consider the parent’s other child in the home would cause a substantial hardship to the parent,

and (b) such adjustment is in the best interest of the child in the current case. If the parent

qualifies for this reduction of gross income, a “Theoretical Support Order” is calculated. To

calculate: Using the Child Support Obligation Table, find the Basic Child Support Obligation

corresponding to that parent's gross income and the number of qualified other children. Multiply

that amount by 75% and the parent’s gross income may be reduced by the resulting amount, if the

court so allows.

3. Combined Adjusted Income-Add both parent’s adjusted incomes together to arrive at the

combined adjusted income amount. If using the electronic worksheet, it will automatically calculate this

for you.

4. Basic Child Support Obligation-Go to the Child Support Obligation Table and find the dollar

figure which corresponds with the Combined Adjusted Income amount and the number of children for

whom support is being determined. If using the electronic worksheet, it will automatically pull this

amount from the table. This amount is known as the Basic Child Support Obligation.

5. Pro Rata Division-Divide the Combined Adjusted Income amount into each parent's Adjusted

Income to figure each parent’s pro rata share of the child support. The pro rata share is expressed as a

percentage. After obtaining the Basic Child Support Obligation Amount from the Table, multiply each

parent’s pro rata percentage by the Basic Child Support Obligation amount to determine each parent’s

share of the child support responsibility. The electronic worksheet will calculate all of this for you.

6. Adjustments for Insurance & Child Care Costs-If there are Health Insurance premiums for

the children and/or Work Related Child Care Costs, insert these costs on Schedule D. These costs are

added together and divided between the parents, based on the same pro rata percentage as determined in

#5 above. Please note that the parent who is paying or will pay the expense will receive credit for the

payment in a later step. After the adjustments to the Basic Child Support Obligation are made for Health

Insurance and Work Related Child Care Costs, the resulting amount is considered the “Presumptive

Amount of Child Support.”  

7. Presumptive Amount of Child Support-If there are no special circumstances involved, the

noncustodial parent owes the custodial parent the Presumptive Amount of Child Support. The

Presumptive Amount of Child Support is the total of his or her pro rata share of the Basic Child Support

Obligation and the additional expenses of Health Insurance and Work Related Child Care Costs. This

amount may be viewed from the Child Support Worksheet.

8. Deviation from Presumptive Amount-If the court or jury finds there are special

circumstances, they may deviate from the Presumptive Amount of Child Support upward or downward.

These calculations are entered on Schedule E. The court or jury will need to make written findings as to

the reasons for the deviation, including how the best interest of the child will be served by deviating from

the Presumptive Amount of Child Support.

. Specific Deviations: The court or jury may deviate from the Presumptive Amount of Child

Support by applying specific deviations listed in the Guidelines.

• On a case by case basis, if the parties prove extraordinary educational expenses, extraordinary

medical expenses or special expenses incurred for child rearing, these expenses are to be pro

rated between the parties. Where special expenses exist, the amount of special expenses must

exceed 7% of the Basic Child Support Obligation to be considered.

• If a noncustodial parent’s gross income is at or below $1,850 per month, the court or jury may

consider whether a low income deviation would be appropriate by analyzing whether the

noncustodial parent needs a self support reserve. However, the calculation also requires the court

or jury to consider the financial impact that a reduction in the amount of child support would

have on the custodial parent’s household. No award may impair the ability of the custodial parent

to maintain minimally adequate housing, food, clothing and other basic necessities for the child.

• Other specific deviations, found and calculated on Schedule E, include upward deviations for

high income, and deviations for special circumstances in parenting time, travel expenses for

visitation, dental, vision or life insurance, child and dependent tax care credit, permanency of

foster care plan, payment of alimony or housing costs for the custodial parent.

. Nonspecific Deviations: The court may also deviate for any other reason when appropriate, if

in the best interest of the child.

9. Final Support Amount-After adjusting the Presumptive Amount of Child Support for any

appropriate deviations, the resulting dollar amount equals the Final Child Support Order amount. This

amount will be entered on the Child Support Worksheet or calculated on the Electronic Worksheet.

10. Uninsured Health Care Expenses-At the bottom of the Worksheet, the court will allocate the

child’s Uninsured Health Care Expenses between the parents by assigning percentages. These expenses

are not a part of the support awarded or part of the calculation.

*Please note that the basic steps listed above are only just that, the basic steps. They should also not be confused

with the instructions on how to input information on the electronic worksheet. For more thorough details

regarding the provisions found within the child support guidelines, please see O.C.G.A. §19-6-15 (after 1/1/07).

 Access the Electronic Worksheet to assist in calculating consistent child support amounts at:

http://ocse.dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHR-OCSE/ (the Office of Child Support Services

Website) or http://www.georgiacourts.org/childsupp.html (the Child Support Commission

Website)

 To calculate your child support easily, you need to have the appropriate documentation in hand.

Examples include: documentation relating to income, preexisting child support orders, health insurance

and work related child care expenses, and the child’s extraordinary or special expenses.

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