When Savannah area parents decide that their marriage is heading for divorce there are a number of things that need to get worked out. One of the major items that a divorced parent needs to work out is child support. Both parents care about their children immensely and they have the duty to support those children. A parent may wonder how long they will need to pay child support in Georgia.
When child support stops
A parent who is ordered to pay child support has the duty to do this until the child is emancipated. Emancipated in Georgia means the following:
- Child turns 18 and is no longer enrolled in high school. If the child is still enrolled in high school, child support may continue until they are 20.
- If the child gets legally married.
- If the child enters active duty in the U.S. military.
A parent’s child support obligation ends when one of these conditions is met.
College expenses
When a child enters college, a parent is not obligated to pay for their education unless they choose to. There are circumstances in which a parent may need to adjust their child support payments. The State of Georgia uses a formula for child support calculations but under certain circumstances, deviations are allowed.
A legal professional who is skilled in family law can help their client understand their options when it comes to child support payments. They can give their client knowledge and advice about terminating or modifying a child support order. An attorney can also work with their client to achieve the best possible outcome for them and their children.
