Reviewed August 2026
Child Support in Georgia
Georgia calculates child support under the income shares model, set out in O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15. The guideline combines both parents' incomes into one total support obligation. It then splits that obligation between them based on each parent's share of the combined income. The formula also adjusts for health insurance and work-related child care. The Division of Child Support Services, part of the Georgia Department of Human Services, is the state's IV-D agency. It handles applications, order establishment, review, and enforcement. Georgia superior courts decide child support as part of divorce, legitimation, and paternity cases.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how child support works under Georgia law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Georgia paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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The income shares guidelines
Under O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15, Georgia's child support worksheet combines both parents' gross incomes. It calculates a basic child support obligation from that combined figure. The worksheet then splits the obligation between the parents based on their share of the combined income. It also adjusts for the cost of health insurance and work-related child care for the children in the order.
Applying for DCSS services
Georgia's Division of Child Support Services offers three application packets, depending on the case. Packet I opens a new case with no existing order. Packet II applies when an order already exists and the noncustodial parent lives in Georgia. Packet III applies when that parent lives out of state. You can apply online or mail a paper packet to the county child support office. DCSS services include paternity establishment, order creation, enforcement, and support order review.
Who hears a Georgia child support case
Georgia superior courts decide child support matters that arise from divorce, legitimation, and paternity actions. They apply the O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15 income shares worksheet to the parents' documented income. DCSS works alongside the court system. It requests that orders be established or enforced and handles many of the administrative steps in a IV-D case.
Reviewing and modifying an order
DCSS offers a periodic review of existing IV-D support orders. The review can raise the amount, lower it, or leave it the same. It cannot change past-due support already owed. Different requirements apply if the order was issued or last reviewed less than 36 months earlier. A review request costs a $100 non-refundable application fee. That fee is waived for parents on TANF or Medicaid, or with gross monthly income of $1,000 or less. The review can take up to six months, depending on how fast the other parent is located and income is verified.
Enforcement tools
Georgia's child support process, as DCSS describes it, moves through several steps and ends in enforcing the order once it's in place. DCSS enforcement tools include income withholding. For parents who fall far behind, DCSS also assists with driver's license suspension and reinstatement tied to compliance. A parent who does not comply with a superior court support order can be held in contempt. DCSS also takes part in federal tax refund interception for qualifying arrears.
Sources: Georgia Division of Child Support Services (DCSS), DCSS, Apply for Child Support Services, DCSS, Review and Modification of Support Order
Not independently confirmed
- Direct verified link to the official O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15 statute text (Georgia's official annotated code is not freely hosted for automated verification; citation given from standard legal reference)
- Current URL of the standalone Georgia Child Support Commission calculator tool
Child Support in Georgia: frequently asked questions
Does Georgia use the income shares model for child support?+
Yes. O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15 combines both parents' gross incomes to calculate a basic child support obligation. It then divides that obligation between the parents based on their share of the combined income, with adjustments for health insurance and child care costs.
How do I apply for child support services in Georgia?+
You apply through Georgia's Division of Child Support Services. Choose the packet that matches your situation. Packet I is for a new case with no order. Packet II applies if an order exists and the other parent lives in Georgia. Packet III applies if the other parent lives out of state. You can apply online or mail a paper packet to your county office.
What court hears child support cases in Georgia?+
Georgia superior courts decide child support as part of divorce, legitimation, and paternity cases. They apply the O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15 income shares worksheet to the parents' documented income.
How do I get my Georgia child support order reviewed or modified?+
DCSS offers a periodic review that can raise the amount, lower it, or leave it unchanged. Past-due support cannot be modified this way. A $100 non-refundable review application fee applies, unless you receive TANF or Medicaid, or your gross monthly income is $1,000 or less. The review can take up to six months.
What happens if a parent stops paying child support in Georgia?+
DCSS can pursue income withholding, driver's license suspension assistance, and federal tax refund interception for qualifying arrears. A parent who does not comply with a court-ordered support obligation can also be held in contempt of court.
Is there an official Georgia child support calculator?+
Georgia's Division of Child Support Services and the state's Child Support Commission provide the official worksheet and calculation tools, built around the O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15 guidelines. Check childsupport.georgia.gov for the current version before you estimate a support amount.
This page is general information about child support in Georgia, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Georgia's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Georgia. Virdix does not prepare or file Georgia divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Georgia.
More Georgia divorce guides
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