Child Support Marietta GA

Disputes over child support can be among the most contentious in a divorce. Child support is determined by a statutory formula based on the gross income of each parent. Since this figure includes all income, not just salary, there are instances where one parent may have income the other parent is unaware of.

The Marietta child support attorneys at Smith, Schnatmeier, Dettmering & Kilgo, LLP, ensure that the child support payments you receive are adequate or that the payments you make are fair and based on full financial disclosure by the other parent. We make sure that the other parent is not hiding income or assets.

The Marietta child support attorney from our firm also seeks to obtain a modification of child support payments dictated by the statutory formula if circumstances warrant. The most common reason for seeking such a modification is a change in the income of one of the parents.

The Welfare of Your Child Comes First

Since the court in Georgia is most concerned with the welfare of the child, judges deviate from the child support formula if they feel it is in the best interests of the child. Your Marietta child support lawyer makes a case for more financial support from the other parent if specific facts justify the additional funds.

Georgia judges modify child support for many reasons, including the following:

• Higher than normal educational expenses for things such as private schools or special tutoring
• Medical conditions
• Dental insurance
• Summer camps
• Lost income due to the need to take care of the child
• The established spending pattern for the child is higher than allowed by the state formula
• High travel costs to exercise visitation

Your child support lawyer in Marietta fights for modifications to the state formula based on the factors above and any other factors relevant to the welfare of the child, at the initial proceeding to establish child support costs or after the fact. If you are upset with the initial child support determined by the judge, you could file a modification as early as the day after the divorce decree is issued, and you can be successful.

However, the Georgia two-year rule forbids you from filing a modification for child support less than two years after your last successful modification attempt. This time period applies only to your modification filings and not any filed by your ex-spouse.

Finally, when a spouse fails to abide by court-ordered child support, the child support lawyers in Marietta at Smith, Schnatmeier, Dettmering & Kilgo, LLP, help obtain what you are due.

If you are looking for child support attorneys in Marietta, GA, the law firm of Smith, Schnatmeier, Dettmering & Kilgo, LLP, in Marietta, GA is ready to help clients throughout Georgia.