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Georgia Senate Bill 454 Introduces Low-Income Adjustment

Publish Date: 07/15/2024

New Low-Income Adjustment

On January 1, 2026, Georgia will implement significant changes to its child support calculations with the introduction of Senate Bill 454. This legislation replaces the existing low-income deviation with a new mandatory low-income adjustment, aimed at providing a more precise and uniform approach to calculating child support for low-income parents.

Currently, the low-income deviation in Georgia allows courts or juries to consider reducing child support payments to ensure they are appropriate and in the best interest of the child. This system, however, offers considerable discretion, leading to variability and potential inconsistencies in child support awards. Recognizing the need for a more standardized method, Senate Bill 454 introduces the low-income adjustment.

Low-Income Adjustment Table


The new low-income adjustment will be accompanied by a detailed low-income adjustment table. This table is designed to add clarity and precision to how a parent's low income is reflected in the child support worksheets. Unlike the current deviation, the new adjustment is mandatory, ensuring that it is applied consistently across all relevant cases.

For example, under the new system, if one parent's monthly adjusted gross monthly income is $1,800, and they have 2 children, the parent's child support obligation would be the lesser of $456 (per the low-income table) or the presumptive amount of child support for two minor children. This ensures the child support obligation is tailored to the parent's financial situation, providing a more balanced approach which considers both the parent's ability to pay and the child's needs.

The mandatory low-income adjustment aims to strike a fair balance, reducing the financial burden on low-income parents while maintaining support for children. By removing the subjective element of the low-income deviation, the new system promotes uniformity and fairness in child support calculations.

Overall, the changes brought by Senate Bill 454 mark a significant step towards a more equitable child support system in Georgia. When this new approach takes effect in 2026, it promises to provide a clearer, more consistent framework for supporting the needs of children while considering the financial realities of low-income parents.

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Child Support
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