Georgia has enacted significant updates to its child support laws, and these changes will directly affect how support is calculated—especially for noncustodial parents who exercise substantial parenting time.
Below is a clear breakdown of what is changing, why it matters, and how it may impact your current or future child support order.
What Is Changing?
Under the new law, the Court must adjust the noncustodial parent’s share of the basic child support obligation to account for expenses the noncustodial parent incurs during court-ordered parenting time.
Key Change
Parenting time is now mandatory in the calculation of child support — not optional.
This is a major shift. Under current law, parenting time adjustments are discretionary deviations. Beginning January 1, 2026, the adjustment becomes required whenever a custody or visitation order includes court-ordered parenting time.
This change is contained in O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15(b)(5.1), with detailed instructions for how the adjustment must be calculated on Child Support Schedule C – Parenting Time Adjustment.
Why Georgia Is Implementing This Change
The existing child support schedule is built on the costs of raising children in an intact household. The State calculates the “total household” child-rearing expenses and divides those obligations based on each parent’s percentage of combined income.
For example:
If the total child support obligation is $1,000 and the noncustodial parent earns 75% of the combined income, their presumptive support is $750.
However, this method does not account for the noncustodial parent’s real-world child-rearing expenses during their parenting time—such as food, clothing, transportation, personal care, etc.
The new statute is designed to correct that imbalance. As more parents exercise expanded visitation or joint physical custody schedules, Georgia’s child support system must reflect the realities of modern co-parenting.
What This Means for You
If You Already Have a Child Support Order
You may now qualify for a child support modification, but only if your case meets Georgia’s legal requirements:
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It has been at least two years since your last order; and
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There has been a significant change in income for one parent or
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A significant change in the child’s needs.
If you are a noncustodial parent who exercises more than “standard” visitation or a near-joint schedule, this new law may reduce your support obligation.
For New Custody or Visitation Orders After January 1, 2026
The Court is required to include the parenting time calculation in every new child support worksheet.
This means:
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If you are awarded expanded parenting time, your support amount may decrease.
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If the custodial parent earns significantly more, the custodial parent could—under the formula—be responsible for a higher share of support.
It’s important to remember that your current incomes (both parents) will still factor heavily into the new calculation, so running the numbers before filing is essential.
Tools to Help You Calculate Parenting Time
You can access the Georgia Child Support Worksheet online:
https://csconlinecalc.georgiacourts.gov/frontend/web/index.php
On this page you will also find:
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A Parenting Time Formula Tool
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A tutorial video to help you understand the upcoming changes
Once the new law takes effect in 2026, the parenting time tool will be integrated into the primary calculator.
A Helpful Tip
You can paste your parenting schedule into an AI search engine and ask it to calculate the number of parenting-time days per year. It is surprisingly accurate—just make sure to verify the final results before using them in court.
How to Take Advantage of This Change
If you believe this upcoming law may improve your child support situation—or if you’re unsure whether a modification could help—BB&T Law Group is here to guide you.
Call us at (770) 461-2025 to schedule a free consultation (phone or in-person) at your convenience.
