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What is child support intended to cover?

On Behalf of | Jun 27, 2018 | Child Support |

One of the most contentious parts of a divorce in Georgia frequently concerns child support issues. The noncustodial parent typically pays child support to the custodial parent. Many child support arrangements are part of the divorce settlement and are mandated by the court. However, only about 43.5 percent of custodial parents who are owed child support receive the amount they are owed. And the discrepancies are not limited to parents who are financially challenged.

There have been a couple of high profile cases in the media recently regarding child support by well known noncustodial fathers. Most custodial parents are mothers. Jesse Williams, an actor, stated that he didn’t believe he needed to contribute to his child’s college fund as he would no longer be paying child support for his child after the age of 18. This reasoning was rejected by the court, and he was ordered to pay 10 percent of his income in child support.

Amounts that are asked for and awarded regarding the wealthy often seem extravagant. Nevertheless, child support is meant to allow the child to continue living as he or she would if the parents were still together. This means that support payments may be helping to cover tuition at private schools, vacations, housing and other expenses.

A parent who has decided to divorce in Georgia and is trying to arrive at a child support agreement may benefit from a discussion with an experienced family law attorney. The lawyer can be a calming presence and take an objective look at the financial circumstances. A knowledgeable attorney can make recommendations to his client to arrive at the best possible outcome.

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