Child Support and Custody

Child Support
Every state has its own method for calculating child support. The Georgia state legislature has enacted a method that is one of the most complicated of any state, and they recently made the calculation even more complicated with changes that went into effect on January 1, 2026.

Basic Information Needed To Calculate Child Support:

  • Each parent’s gross monthly income.
  • The amount of time each parent spends with each child.
  • The cost of health insurance for the children.
  • The cost of daycare for each child,

This information is entered into our Child Support Calculator, and this gives us what we call the “Presumptive” amount of child support. Once we have calculated the “presumptive” amount of child support, we determine whether “deviations” from the amount are appropriate.

Common Deviations:

Consulting1. Deviations for Increase in child support:
– cost of private school
– tutoring
– extracurricular activities
2. Deviations for Decrease in child support:
– cost of travel for visitation

Deviations are highly individual; this is where you really need a lawyer who will argue passionately for your cause. If you have any questions or would like an appointment please contact us for a consultation.

Custody
Legal Custody
A party who has “legal” custody of a child often has direct access to the child’s medical and school records, and the right to have some input into major decisions such as:

  • child’s health
  • education
  • religion
  • extracurricular activities

Physical Custody
A party who has “physical” custody has the child in his or her physical care and control.

Consult_familyOne common custody arrangement is joint legal custody with one parent having primary physical custody and the other parent having secondary physical custody. There are, of course, many other possible custody arrangements, including joint physical custody.

Ms. Wallace will work with you to craft a Parenting Plan that serves the best interests of your children.