Mandatory Deviations to Child Support in Alpharetta

Georgia uses the income shares model to determine a parent’s child support payment. This involves combining the parents’ net incomes and using a chart showing a dollar amount that parents of that income level typically spend on their children. You and your spouse will each pay a prorated portion according to the percentage of your combined income you contribute.

However, even after determining your income share, there is more work to be done. There are two mandatory deviations to child support in Alpharetta that impact the final number. If you are having trouble calculating income shares or applying the deviations, you should consult a local child support attorney.

Determining Childcare Costs

The law requires parents to adjust their child support payments if either parent must pay for childcare while working or attending school. You and your spouse must share these costs. If you both need childcare while the children are staying with you, the calculation must include childcare costs for both of you.

The childcare adjustment covers the actual amount you must pay. If a relative or workplace provides free childcare, no adjustment is necessary. Childcare costs may vary—for example, a teacher may not need childcare during school holidays.

When the costs are consistent, you can apportion them according to their share of your combined income. A family court includes that amount in the child support order, but when costs vary, you and your spouse can agree to share the costs proportionally, and the judge will include that obligation in the order. An Alpharetta family law attorney can help you document mandatory deviations to your child support agreement and present it to the judge.

Parents Must Adjust for Children’s Health Insurance Costs

The purpose of child support is to ensure that children have the basics they need to thrive. You must prioritize ensuring your children have health insurance after your divorce or separation.

Many children have coverage through one of their parent’s employers. If this is the case, when you decide to continue this coverage, you must adjust the child support amount to reflect the payroll deduction for dependent health insurance. If you or your spouse ever leave your job and your children’s coverage continues through COBRA, you will share the cost of the premiums.

If neither of you has coverage through your employer, you must investigate an individual policy to cover your children. You and your spouse would share the cost of this policy proportionally, with the higher earning parent assuming more of the burden. Alpharetta family courts consider insurance a mandatory deviation and adjust the amount of child support to ensure each parent contributes to the cost of the policy.

More Required Adjustments in 2026

Amendments to the Official Code of Georgia §19-6-15 take effect on January 1, 2026. These amendments add two new mandatory deviations to child support. You should consult an Alpharetta attorney if you believe the new mandatory deviations might significantly change the amount of child support in your case. If it does, you can seek a modification of the existing order.

The amendments make a parenting time adjustment mandatory. The current guidelines assume that the parent receiving child support has the children most of the time, but parents often share custody more equally, and this can result in one parent paying too much child support. Before the new law takes effect, you can ask a judge to allow you to factor parenting time into your child support calculation.

Adjustments for low income will also become mandatory in 2026. Currently, you must ask a judge for a deviation if your income cannot absorb the child support payment the guidelines call for without hardship.

Get Help With Mandatory Child Support Adjustments From an Alpharetta Attorney

The aim of the child support formula is to simplify the process of calculating child support and ensure the amount is fair and consistent. You may need to make certain adjustments to make sure the support amount is enough to cover your children’s needs.

The mandatory deviations to child support in Alpharetta can be confusing. An experienced family law attorney can help you calculate the appropriate amount of child support and ensure your worksheet and supporting documents are correct and complete before submitting them to the judge. Call the Atlanta Divorce Law Group today for guidance.