Understanding the Georgia Child Support Worksheet

Georgia uses the income shares model to calculate child support. Under OCGA 19-6-15, both parents’ incomes are combined to determine a total child support obligation, which is then divided between the parents based on their proportional share of that combined income. The calculation is performed using an official worksheet that the court requires in every case involving child support.

The worksheet is not optional. Georgia law mandates that a completed child support worksheet be filed with the court in any proceeding where child support is established, modified, or enforced. Understanding how the worksheet works helps you anticipate what you will owe or receive and identify areas where adjustments or deviations may apply.

The Income Shares Model

Georgia’s income shares model is based on the principle that children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the family were intact. The model works as follows:

1. Determine each parent’s gross income
2. Calculate adjusted gross income (after certain deductions)
3. Combine both parents’ adjusted incomes
4. Look up the basic child support obligation (BCSO) from the statutory table based on the combined income and number of children
5. Divide the BCSO between the parents based on each parent’s percentage of the combined income
6. Add adjustments for health insurance, childcare, and extraordinary expenses
7. Apply deviations if applicable

The final number is the presumptive child support amount. The court can deviate from this amount, but only if specific findings are made.

Gross Income

The worksheet starts with each parent’s gross income, which includes:

• Salary, wages, and commissions
• Self-employment income (less reasonable business expenses)
• Bonuses and overtime
• Severance pay
• Recurring interest and dividend income
• Trust income
• Social Security benefits
• Workers’ compensation and disability benefits
• Unemployment benefits
• Retirement and pension income
• Alimony received from a previous relationship
• Rental income
• Any other income from any source

Income that is not included:

• Child support received for children from another relationship
• Means-tested public assistance (TANF, food stamps, SSI)
• Adoption assistance subsidies

Imputed income

If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court may impute income — assigning an income level based on what the parent could earn given their education, work history, skills, and the local job market. The court considers:

• Prior employment history
• Education and credentials
• Available job opportunities in the geographic area
• The parent’s efforts to find employment
• Whether the parent is caring for a young child (age under 5), which may justify reduced imputed income

Schedule A vs. Schedule B

Georgia uses two different worksheets depending on the custody arrangement:

Schedule A: Sole physical custody

Schedule A is used when one parent has primary physical custody (the child resides with that parent more than 50% of the time). The noncustodial parent pays child support to the custodial parent.

This is the more commonly used schedule and follows a straightforward calculation: the noncustodial parent’s share of the combined income determines their share of the basic child support obligation.

Schedule B: Joint physical custody (shared parenting)

Schedule B is used when both parents have the child for a significant amount of time — specifically, when the noncustodial parent exercises court-ordered parenting time of at least 123 overnights per year (approximately one-third of the time). Schedule B applies a different calculation that accounts for the additional expenses each parent incurs when the child is in their care.

Under Schedule B, the basic support obligation is adjusted using a multiplier of 1.5 to account for the duplicated costs of maintaining two households for the child. Each parent’s obligation is then calculated based on their income share and parenting time share.

The Schedule B calculation generally results in a lower support payment from the higher-earning parent compared to Schedule A, because the lower-earning parent is already bearing a larger share of direct costs during their parenting time.

The Basic Child Support Obligation Table

Georgia’s statute includes a table that sets the basic child support obligation (BCSO) based on the parents’ combined adjusted gross income and the number of children. The table covers combined incomes from $800 per month to $40,000 per month and from one to six children.

For example (these are approximate figures for illustration):

For combined incomes exceeding the table’s maximum, the court has discretion to set support based on the needs of the children and the parents’ ability to pay.

Adjustments

After determining each parent’s pro rata share of the BCSO, the worksheet adds adjustments for specific expenses:

Health insurance premiums

The cost of the child’s health insurance premium (not the entire family premium — only the child’s portion) is added to the support calculation. The parent who carries the insurance receives a credit.

Work-related childcare costs

Reasonable and necessary childcare expenses incurred so that either parent can work, look for work, or attend school are added to the obligation. These costs are divided between the parents based on their income shares.

Extraordinary expenses

The worksheet allows for adjustments for extraordinary educational expenses (such as private school tuition agreed to by both parents or ordered by the court), extraordinary medical expenses (uninsured costs exceeding $250 per year per child), and special needs expenses.

Preexisting child support orders

If either parent has a preexisting child support obligation for children from another relationship, that amount is deducted from their gross income before the calculation begins.

Deviation Factors

The amount produced by the worksheet is the presumptive child support obligation. However, the court can deviate from this amount — either up or down — if it finds that the presumptive amount would be unjust or inappropriate. Under OCGA 19-6-15(i), the court must consider the following deviation factors:

• High income: If the combined parental income is very high, the court may determine that the BCSO table overstates the child’s actual needs.
• Low income: If the noncustodial parent’s income is very low, the court may reduce the obligation to prevent undue hardship while ensuring the child’s basic needs are met.
• Other in-home children: If a parent is supporting other children in their household, this may justify a deviation.
• Parenting time: The amount of time each parent spends with the child can justify a deviation, particularly if the noncustodial parent has significantly more time than a typical visitation schedule.
• Travel expenses: If the parents live far apart and one parent bears significant travel costs for visitation, this may justify a deviation.
• Extraordinary expenses: Educational, extracurricular, or medical expenses not captured by the standard adjustments.
• Mortgage on the family home: If one parent is paying the mortgage on the marital home where the child resides, this may factor into the deviation analysis.
• Life insurance: If a parent is required to maintain life insurance for the child’s benefit, the premium cost may be considered.

Any deviation must be supported by written findings of fact explaining why the presumptive amount is unjust and how the deviation serves the child’s best interest.

How to Complete the Worksheet

While an attorney or the court’s self-help office can assist you, here is the general process:

1. Gather income documentation: Pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, and any other evidence of income for both parents.
2. Calculate gross income for each parent. Subtract preexisting support obligations to arrive at adjusted income.
3. Combine adjusted incomes and look up the BCSO on the statutory table.
4. Determine each parent’s pro rata share based on their percentage of the combined income.
5. Add adjustments for health insurance premiums, childcare, and extraordinary expenses.
6. Evaluate deviation factors and determine whether a deviation is warranted.
7. Complete the appropriate schedule (A or B) and file it with the court.

Georgia’s child support worksheet is available through the Georgia Commission on Child Support and can be completed online or in paper form. Many Georgia courts require electronic filing of the worksheet.

What to Do Next

Child support in Georgia follows a structured formula, but the inputs — income determinations, expense adjustments, and potential deviations — leave room for significant variation in outcomes. Accurate income documentation and a thorough understanding of the adjustments and deviations available to you are essential.

For national context on how child support works, see our guide on how child support is calculated. If you are also dealing with custody arrangements that may affect which schedule applies, our article on 50/50 custody and child support covers how shared parenting time impacts calculations.

A Georgia family law attorney can help you complete the worksheet accurately and identify deviation arguments that may apply to your situation. Schedule a free consultation to review your case.