Gainesville Child Support Attorney Protects Clients’ Interests
Reputable Hall County, Georgia law firm provides effective legal guidance
Both parents are required by Georgia law to contribute financially to the raising of their children following a divorce, or even if they were never married. At The Brownell Law Office in Gainesville, Georgia, our attorney helps clients who are seeking child support from their co-parent as well as representing paying parties so they can avoid unduly harsh orders. Our law firm assists individuals in child support and other family law matters throughout Hall, Lumpkin, Dawson, White, Habersham, Banks, Jackson, Barrow and Forsyth counties.
Who pays child support?
Typically, the non-custodial parent pays child support to the custodial parent. It is assumed that the parent who the child lives with most often is already contributing financially to the child’s care and upbringing. However, if the child spends equal time with both parents, the party who earns more income might be required to pay their former partner. Whether you expect to pay support or receive it, our family law attorney can advise on the relevant legal standards and how they apply to the circumstances in your case.
How is child support in Georgia calculated?
Under Georgia child support guidelines, calculating support payments starts with estimating what parents in an intact family would spend on children. Then, factors such as the parents’ incomes, child care expenses, healthcare costs and the number of children are considered to set the guideline child support rate. Judges may deviate from the guideline amount in some situations. Examples of possible reasons to adjust the rate include the following:
- A child has special needs and atypical medical expenses
- Extra funding is required for the child’s education or outside activities
- Parents live far away, leading to high visitation costs
- A parent is unable to work
Once we understand your circumstances, we can counsel you about factors that may be taken into account to calculate the required support payment in your case.
When can child support payments be modified?
Courts can modify child support orders when there is a significant change in circumstances that affects the fairness of the existing order. Some examples of situations that may lead to child support amounts being modified up or down include the following:
- Involuntary and ongoing job loss of a parent
- A substantial increase in a parent’s income
- Unexpected education or medical expenses
- Significant changes to parenting time schedule
- The paying parent has additional children with a new partner
The parent requesting the modification must petition the court and provide evidence of why the change is needed. Our attorney can help you prepare your modification request. We can also assist if you are opposing the proposed change.
How are child support payments enforced?
Parents who don’t make payments as required by their child support order may face wage garnishment, liens against their property, suspension of professional or occupational licenses, passport revocation and negative credit bureau reports. They might also be found in contempt of court and be fined or even jailed. If you are not receiving support payments, we can counsel you about getting the money you need for your child’s care.
Contact a skilled Georgia family lawyer for help with your child support concern
At The Brownell Law Office in Gainesville, we represent clients with child support issues who live in the Georgia counties of Hall, Lumpkin, Dawson, White, Habersham, Banks, Jackson, Barrow and Forsyth. To speak to our attorney in a consultation, call our firm at 770-215-0184 or contact us online.
