Last updated on April 23, 2021

Working To Protect The Financial Interests Of You And Your Children

The Georgia child support guidelines are challenging even to professionals. When determining how much you will receive or are obligated to pay, it is still important to carefully consider your individual situation. Without the help of an experienced child support attorney, your payments may not be calculated fairly or accurately.

Child support can be a major part of your budget after a divorce. To protect your financial interests, call The Siemon Law Firm at 770-888-5120 to schedule a consultation with one of our family law lawyers in the metro Atlanta area.

Family Law Lawyers Versed In Georgia Child Support Laws

A “worksheet” must be filed in the appropriate Georgia court — whether in Fulton County, Forsyth County, Cobb County or other counties in Northern Georgia In theory, this means that your obligation to pay child support — or the amount you can reasonably expect to receive — is objectively determined. In reality, many factors can drastically change the bottom line of the child support calculation. To protect your financial interests, it is important that you enlist experienced representation on this critical issue.

What Factors Can Complicate Child Support Amounts?

Divorce cases almost always lead to major financial adjustments for all parties involved. We are practical Atlanta divorce attorneys who want the best for you and your children, and we are dedicated to making certain that you are treated fairly in any settlement agreement or by the courts if your case goes to litigation.

Child support calculations can become especially complex if:

• You have a child with special needs
• You have a unique or custom-designed arrangement for child custody and visitation
• You are attempting to negotiate a settlement in a high-asset divorce
• Your own or your spouse’s income is difficult to determine, possibly involving “non-W-2” income or any source of support that either spouse attempts not to reveal

What Is Contempt?

If your former spouse has been ordered to do something by the court — whether it be a child custody or visitation order, or an order to pay child support, alimony or property settlement — and he or she has failed to come through — this is considered contempt of court, and there are legal ramifications. To get your ex-spouse to comply with the order, a court will have to engage in enforcement tactics. In this case, this takes the form of an order of contempt.

What If They Still Don’t Comply?

If your ex-spouse is found to be in contempt of court and still does not live up to his or her obligations, he or she can be subject to penalties that may include:

• Jail
• Court-ordered payment plan
• Monetary judgment

If your spouse is unable to pay or meet his or her court-ordered obligations, a court may allow a compromise instead of the above penalties. If, however, your ex has the ability to pay alimony, or spousal support, or child support, or to honor a child custody or visitation agreement, and he or she has knowingly declined to do so, you need a family law lawyer to help you get the enforcement you deserve.

When Child Support Modifications May Be Possible

A modification of your child support order is possible after your divorce if the financial circumstances of you or your spouse changes. It is important to remember in these cases that as an out-of-court agreement will not be binding, going to court is necessary to ensure that the change is documented and you will not be held responsible for any missed payments.

Schedule A Consultation With Our Family Law Attorneys In Greater Atlanta

Call 770-888-5120 to discuss your case with our family law firm. Our divorce lawyers can also address other related practice areas, including child custody, visitation, property division, asset division, uncontested divorce, postnuptial agreements and other family law matters. We have four welcoming law office locations in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Cumming and Marietta.