Gwinnett County Child Support Lawyer: When Child Support Issues Are Overwhelming
Court-ordered child support is a critical issue in family law cases involving children. Understanding the complex Georgia child support laws can be overwhelming. An experienced Gwinnett County child support attorney can help ensure that your case has a fair resolution.
Practicing law since 1995, attorney Doug Fox is a skilled child support lawyer who prioritizes client communication and attention to detail in his case and trial preparation. Founder of Fox Firm, P.C., he understands how stressful a child support matter can be and how the uncertainty can make this a very emotional time. He is dedicated to providing honest guidance and is committed to helping his clients navigate through challenging times with strength and integrity.
The Importance Of Child Support
Child support is defined as a payment made by a noncustodial parent to the custodial parent, caregiver, guardian or government for the care and support of their children. Most often, child support is arranged by the court as part of a divorce proceeding, a paternity action or a legal separation. Support orders designate a set amount of money to be paid over a specified length of time, usually on a monthly basis and most often until the child reaches their 18th birthday. However, this can be extended if the child is in school.
How Is Child Support Calculated In Georgia?
The state of Georgia uses an online child support calculator to determine child support payments. Courts in Georgia follow specific guidelines and apply an income-sharing approach to ensure fairness for child support matters. Therefore, the most important consideration in a child support disagreement is the income of both parents. Income includes wages, bonuses and even self-employment earnings. The court combines both incomes to determine the family’s total income. Then, a percentage is applied based on the number of children needing support.
Beyond income, the court often considers other factors. These include the cost of health insurance, day care and any special needs of the child. In a divorce, the goal is to ensure that the child maintains a similar standard of living as the one they had before the parents separated. An experienced child support lawyer can guide you through these calculations so you can better understand your financial obligations or an estimated amount that you might receive. A child support lawyer can also advocate for your needs should your family circumstances require a deviation from suggested guidelines.
Can Child Support Be Changed In Georgia?
After the transition of a divorce, life can sometimes change. Sometimes, child support needs to be adjusted. In Georgia, you can request a modification in child support if there is a significant change in a parent’s circumstances. Changes in circumstances can include:
- A job loss that results in an income change
- A substantial increase in a parent’s income due to a promotion
- A significant change in a child’s needs, such as a medical condition, education or activity
In order to ask the court to consider a change, a party must start the process, by petitioning the court for a modification of an existing court order. In requests for child support modifications, both parents are required to provide updated financial information.
An experienced child support lawyer can help you gather the necessary documents and represent your interests in court.
Consult A Lawrenceville Child Support Lawyer
Fox Firm, P.C., offers you the opportunity to meet with child support lawyer Fox. During this appointment, he can review your case, answer your questions and tell you more about how he can help you.
To schedule an appointment, contact the firm by calling 770-341-4882 or sending an inquiry through the firm’s website.