People entering into marriage in Georgia do not necessarily anticipate getting a divorce. The reality is that nearly half of all marriages end in divorce. In many cases, there are young children involved. A central concern in negotiations can be the amount of child support a court may mandate if the parents cannot come to an agreement on their own. Knowing how a court determines a support amount and how much may be fair are useful pieces of information.

The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) recently determined that the current cost of raising a child to age 18 is about $233,600. When breaking this number down, it comes out to a little over $1000 per month. Typically a court will determine the amount partially based on the amount of time a non-custodial parent plans on spending with a child and a percent of the parent’s monthly income.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, most custodial single parents receive about $329 per month. On the other end of the spectrum, high earning parents may pay as much as $60,000 per month, based on an income of $15.5 million, to a former spouse. The first number is usually insufficient, and the other exceeds the basic needs of most children.

If a person in Georgia is considering divorce and has young children, consulting with an experienced family attorney may be beneficial. A lawyer can look at the family’s financial situation and may be able to offer advice on negotiating a fair and equitable child support agreement. Most parents, even if they are considering divorce, will still desire to do their best to provide financial security for their children.