Savannah Child Support Lawyer
Over 100 Years of Collective Experience for Paying & Receiving Parents in Chatham County
Child support exists for one reason: the financial well-being of the children involved. Whether you’re the parent paying or the parent receiving, getting the amount right matters. At Johnson Kraeuter & Sanders LLC, our Savannah child support attorneys represent parents on both sides of these disputes in divorce proceedings and in non-divorce contexts alike.
Our team brings over 100 years of collective experience in Georgia family law, serving individuals and families across Chatham County. We handle straightforward negotiations and contested hearings. When parents can reach an amicable resolution, that’s often the best outcome for everyone, but it takes skilled negotiation to get there. When a dispute can’t be resolved outside the courtroom, we’re prepared to take it in front of a judge.
Contact our Savannah child support attorneys today at (912) 421-2900 to discuss your situation.
How Georgia Calculates Child Support
As with child custody, Georgia courts approach child support through the lens of the best interests of the child. The state uses the Georgia Online Child Support Calculator to produce a presumptive monthly support amount, and any private agreement between parents must reflect that same standard or risk rejection by the court.
Georgia adopted an income shares model in 2007, meaning the calculator accounts for both parents’ gross monthly income, not just the paying parent’s wages. Gross income includes salary, bonuses, tips, interest income, and severance pay. The calculator also factors in the number of minor children, documented health insurance costs, and childcare expenses paid by each parent.
The result is a presumptive amount, not an automatic final order. Deviations are available when circumstances warrant adjustments up or down from the calculated figure.
Common grounds for a deviation include:
- Parenting time that differs significantly from the standard arrangement
- Private school tuition or extracurricular activity costs
- Travel expenses for visitation
- A parent’s unusually low income
- Extraordinary medical expenses
If parents can’t agree, the state applies the formula without accounting for informal financial arrangements between households. Having an attorney involved can help ensure the inputs are accurate and that available deviations are properly argued.
Child Support in Paternity & Legitimation Cases
Child support isn’t limited to divorce. Georgia courts can order support through paternity actions and legitimation proceedings when parents were never married. Legitimation establishes a father’s legal relationship to a child and gives the court authority to issue a support order. Paternity actions can similarly lead to enforceable support obligations.
When child support is sought as part of a divorce, it can be included in the initial pleadings and must be resolved before the divorce is concluded. Johnson Kraeuter & Sanders LLC handles support matters arising from both contexts, helping clients understand their rights and obligations regardless of whether they were ever married to the other parent.
Requesting Changes to a Child Support Order
A child support order that made sense when it was entered may no longer reflect reality. Georgia allows parents to seek a modification when there has been a substantial change in the income or financial status of either party, or a material change in the needs of the children.
Qualifying events the court recognizes include:
- Job loss or termination
- A raise or promotion that significantly increases income
- A new custody arrangement that changes each parent’s time with the children
- Illness or injury that affects a parent’s ability to work
If custody has changed, a modification of child support is often necessary to reflect the new arrangement. Modification petitions are filed as separate civil actions and require documentation and procedural compliance. After the first modification, subsequent petitions generally require that at least two years have passed since the final order on the previous petition was entered. Our attorneys can assess whether your circumstances meet the threshold and guide you through the process.
Child Support Enforcement & Collection in Savannah
Georgia routes child support payments through the Georgia Family Support Registry for collection and distribution. When payments are missed, the Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) has broad enforcement authority.
In situations where a paying spouse refuses or falls behind, the DCSS can act through several channels.
Enforcement tools available to the DCSS include:
- Wage garnishment through an income deduction order
- Interception of unemployment benefits
- Notifying creditors
- Revoking professional and personal licenses
A court can also hold a non-paying parent in contempt, which may result in fines or incarceration. When arrears are significant and non-payment was willful, it can constitute a criminal offense under Georgia law. Parents who genuinely can’t pay, as opposed to those who are unwilling, may have defenses available. Consulting an attorney before arrears accumulate is far better than addressing the consequences after the fact.
Why Choose Johnson Kraeuter & Sanders LLC for Child Support in Savannah
Child support cases turn on financial details, procedural compliance, and, when necessary, courtroom advocacy. Our attorneys have held positions on the Executive Committee of the State Bar of Georgia’s Family Law Section and present at legal seminars attended by judges and fellow practitioners. This level of peer recognition reflects the knowledge we bring to each case. The firm has received Super Lawyers recognition and an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell, two well-regarded peer-review designations in the legal profession.
Credentials & Experience
Our team includes a former felony prosecutor whose trial experience strengthens our ability to handle contested support matters. Whether your case involves a complex income calculation, a modification dispute, or an enforcement action, we approach it with the same thorough preparation.
Personalized Strategy for Every Case
Over 100 years of collective legal experience in Georgia family law means we’ve seen the full range of circumstances that affect child support outcomes. We work to understand each client’s specific financial picture and develop a strategy that reflects it, not just the formula’s output.
Speak With a Savannah Child Support Attorney Today
Child support is one of the most consequential financial arrangements a family makes, and the stakes are too high to navigate alone. Whether you need help establishing an order, challenging a calculation, seeking a modification, or enforcing what you’re owed, our team is ready to help.
Call (912) 421-2900 to schedule a consultation with our Savannah child support attorneys. With over 100 years of collective legal experience, we can help you pursue a resolution that supports your child’s future.