Cobb County Child Support Lawyer
Every parent wants the best for their child and to help them grow up to be healthy, productive members of society. However, a divorce can leave lower-earning parents without the financial resources to pay for basic essentials, such as food, shelter, education, and healthcare.
The good news is that many parents may be eligible for child support as part of their divorce. For help obtaining support in Georgia, call a Cobb County child support lawyer as soon as possible. One of our team’s qualified family attorneys can review your case and advise you on how you might be able to obtain child support. If necessary, they can also file a petition on your behalf and represent you in court to help you obtain the child support you need.
Calculating Child Support Payments
Local courts generally determine child support amounts on a case-by-case basis. Under Official Code of Georgia Annotated §19-6-15, courts use a standard child support obligation amount, calculated by adding together the gross income of both parents. Courts then calculate each parent’s pro-rated share of child support according to their specific income levels.
However, Georgia courts have the power to deviate from standard child support guidelines according to the specific circumstances of each case, as well as factors such as:
- One parent with a substantially high income or low income
- Alimony payments
- Travel expenses for any parent
- Mortgage payments
- Any extraordinary expenses
- Amount of parenting time
Either parent may petition for child support with a Cobb County attorney’s help as part of a divorce case. Additionally, either parent may petition for temporary child support, according to O.C.G.A. §19-6-14. Temporary support orders only last until the divorce is finalized.
Duration of Child Support Obligations
Generally, under O.C.G.A. §19-6-15, both parents have the obligation to support their children until each of them reaches the age of majority, marries, or becomes self-sufficient, whichever comes first. Additionally, Georgia courts have the power to order either or both parents to provide financial support to any of their children who are attending secondary school, even if they have already reached the age of 18. Such financial support ends when the child reaches 20 years of age.
Enforcing Child Support Orders
Courts may enforce child support orders, and penalize any late payments, through various different mechanisms. For example, under O.C.G.A. §19-6-30, courts have the authority to garnish a parent’s wages if they are one month or more behind in their payments.
Additionally, a parent receiving child support may petition a court to hold the other parent in contempt for any violations of the child support order. Under O.C.G.A. §19-6-28, the petitioning parent may serve the motion for contempt by mailing it to the other parent’s last known address.
Once the other parent receives the motion, the court can hold a hearing within 30 days to determine the outcome of the contempt petition. A lawyer in Cobb County can provide further information on enforcing support orders or obtaining back payments for child support.
Let a Cobb County Child Support Attorney Help
Many parents, especially those who have sole custody after a divorce, are eligible for child support. Parents should be sure that they receive the right amount of support and that their support payments are adjusted as needed.
For help with these and other child support issues, enlist a Cobb County child support lawyer today. Once retained, your dedicated attorney can review your situation to see if you are receiving the right amount of support. If not, they could advise you on how you could obtain new or modified child support payments.
