Child Support and Education Expenses in Suwanee
Paying for your child’s education can become a major concern during separation or divorce, especially when school-related costs place added pressure on your household budget. Understanding how Suwanee courts handle child support and education expenses can help you plan for your child’s needs while protecting your finances.
A child support attorney can review the financial circumstances of your case and determine whether education-related costs may affect support. At Atlanta Divorce Law Group, our team helps parents understand state child support guidelines and prepare the information needed for family court.
Child Support Guidelines and Deviations
State law uses an income-shares model to calculate child support. Under Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 19-6-15, Suwanee courts begin with both parents’ adjusted incomes and the number of children the order covers. The calculation produces a presumptive support amount, although certain adjustments and deviations can change the final obligation.
Ordinary costs of raising a child, including education expenses, are generally reflected in the basic support calculation. However, some school-related expenses may qualify for separate treatment under the guidelines. An attorney can help determine whether that applies in your case and explain what documentation may help the family court assess the amount of support you need.
Which Education Expenses Can Affect Child Support?
State law allows a Suwanee family court to consider extraordinary educational expenses as a possible deviation from the presumptive child support amount. These expenses can include:
- Tuition
- Room and board
- Laboratory fees
- Books
- Other school fees
- Reasonable and necessary costs connected with special-needs education or private elementary and secondary schooling
The expense does not automatically result in a higher support award. Georgia courts consider the parents’ financial abilities and the child’s lifestyle if the parents and child were living together. The court must also consider scholarships, grants, stipends, and similar cost-reducing programs. If the family court approves an educational-expense deviation, the court uses evidence of prior or anticipated costs to calculate a monthly average on the child support worksheet.
Our family law team can help parents seeking support for educational needs organize evidence showing why an expense is appropriate. We can also help a parent challenge a requested expense that is unnecessary, unsupported, or inconsistent with the family’s financial circumstances.
School Activities and College Costs
School-related costs do not all fall into the same category. State law separately recognizes certain special child-rearing expenses, including school-sponsored extracurricular activities such as band, clubs, and athletics. When qualifying special expenses meet the statutory requirements, they may support a deviation from the presumptive amount.
The duration of child support also matters when planning for education expenses. Under Ga. Code Ann. § 19-6-15, child support generally continues until a child reaches the age of majority, dies, marries, or becomes emancipated. Under state law, a family court may continue financial assistance for a child who reaches majority while still enrolled in and attending secondary school, but the court cannot require support beyond age 20 under this provision.
Georgia courts generally cannot require a parent to pay college expenses after a child reaches adulthood as part of ordinary child support. Parents may choose to address future college costs in a settlement instead. If the court incorporates those terms into its order, they can become enforceable. An attorney can help you understand the long-term effect of that agreement before you sign.
Contact Us To Seek Guidance on Child Support and Education Costs
Education costs can affect both your child’s opportunities and your household finances. How the court handles those costs will depend on the nature of the expense and your existing support arrangement. An attorney can help you understand how child support and education expenses in Suwanee may be addressed in your case.
At Atlanta Divorce Law Group, we can help you understand how state law may apply to education-related support issues. Contact our firm today to meet with a member of our team and learn how we can assist with your family law matter.
