Child Support Waycross, Georgia
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Child Support Waycross, Georgia
If you're going through the process of divorce, it is a good idea to acquaint yourself with the specific child custody and support laws of your state. You must be aware of the different rules so that you know exactly what is happening and how the whole process works.
Being a resident of Georgia, if you require professional help regarding child custody, child support and other legalities of divorce, our attorneys at Affordable Legal Help are always ready to guide you about child support Waycross, GA.
What is Child Support?
Child support can be defined as the financial assistance owed by the parents for the benefit and well-being of their child. In the state of Georgia, parents are obligated to provide a reasonable amount of child support for their children. A parent cannot overlook the child's right to receive child support. In case the parent required to pay the child support doesn't abide by the laws, they can be subjected to punishment by the state.
Legitimation
According to the family laws in Waycross, GA, the husband is presumed to be the father of the child born during the marriage. In case the biological father is not married to the mother, he does not have any legal rights as a father. This is where the legitimation process is required. According to this process, if the couple is not married, the father is recognized legally and has custody and visitation rights.
How to File for Child Support?
To file for child support, any of the parents can come forward and contact the Division of Child Support Services Waycross, GA. They can either visit the child support office or apply online. In both the cases, the child support process will be initiated.
Who can Collect Child Support?
When a divorce is finalized, the child gets to live with one of the parents: the custodial parent or a guardian. The other non-custodial parent is required to provide an adequate amount of child support to the minor children so that they can have a decent living standard. The custodial parent or the guardian can collect child support on behalf of the child.
Once the application process of child support is completed, the Division of Child Support Services Waycross, GA will help you in acquiring the initial child support payments and arrearages, if any.
If the non-custodial parent fails to make payments on time, you can hire a family law attorney to file a private lawsuit against them.
Child Support Guidelines, Waycross GA
In Waycross, GA, an income-sharing approach is used to determine the amount of child support. This means that both the parents are required to pay child support, based on their incomes.
The court will first determine the gross annual income of both the parents and put them through a Child Support Calculator to determine the amount of child support payable by the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent and, the contribution of the custodial parent in the total amount. To determine the gross annual income, the court will look at the following:
- Salary
- Interest
- Commission
- Trust Income
Child support Waycross, GA is compulsory even if you're receiving:
- Unemployment benefits
- Disability benefits
- Social security payments
- Worker's compensation payments.
Although the amount of child support is calculated through a predetermined method, the court can increase or decrease the amount, based on the following factors:
- High income of parents (combined income of $30000 or more per month)
- Low income of the non-custodial parent ($1850 or less per month)
- Health insurance
- Life insurance of one parent with the child as the beneficiary
- Travel expenses
- Alimony
- Mortgage
- Foster care plan
- Medical and educational expenses
- Actual parenting time
What is Included in Child Support?
The Division of Child Support Services Waycross, GA has listed the following expenses as part of child support:
- Monetary support for food, clothing and shelter
- Health insurance
- Basic education
- Child care expenses
- Visitation travel expenses
- Extracurricular activities
- College expenses
How Long must a Parent Pay Child Support?
According to laws regarding child support Waycross, GA, a parent is obliged to pay child support till:
- The child turns 18 (or 20 in case they haven't graduated high school)
- Dies
- Marries
- Is emancipated
If the child is handicapped or mentally disabled, a parent is required to make child support payments even after the age of 18.
Child Custody Laws in Waycross, GA
All US states, including Georgia, follow the Uniform Child Custody Act (UCCA) which gives the option of joint custody to the parents. It also gives visitation rights to the grandparents.
The Georgia courts recognize legal, physical as well as joint custody of the child.
Legal custody refers to the right of a parent to make important decisions for the child, such as schooling and religious upbringing.
Physical custody refers to the parent the child gets to lives with. The parent with physical custody is known as the custodial parent.
Joint custody refers to both the parents spending equal time with the child and have equal rights to make decisions on behalf of the child.
Parenting Plans
According to Georgia child custody laws, children 14 or older have the right to decide which parent they want to live with. But this decision can be overruled by the court if it is not in the best interest of the child. This is where parenting plans come into the picture. The following points are considered while making parenting plans:
- The needs of the child change as they mature
- Every day decisions are made by the custodial parents
- For the child to remain in contact with either parent, the child's best interests is kept into consideration
- The child's official records are accessible to both parents
Parenting Plans also cover other considerations like how the child will spend their birthday, holidays and travel arrangements.
Contact Us
At Affordable Legal Help, you can hire divorce lawyers in Waycross, GA to find solutions to all problems related to your marriage. Whether it is divorce, property issues, child custody or child and spousal support, we have everything covered.
Contact us for a free consultation appointment. We are always at your service.
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