(770) 504-4024
Child Support Attorney in Atlanta
Child support is necessary, but it’s often not handled appropriately. Either a parent isn’t paying as they should, or the court ordered too much support and has financially crippled one of the parents.
​
This is why you must hire a child support attorney in Atlanta to represent you and advocate for your rights.
​
At Saint Owens Law, we will analyze the case and advocate for a child support agreement that is fair and ensures both parents are meeting the child’s financial needs.
Why Do You Need a Child Support Attorney?
Unfortunately, child support cases aren’t usually straightforward. Since they involve the child and finances on top of the emotions of a relationship ending, they are often very messy.
​
A child custody and support attorney can ensure that your rights are upheld throughout the process and that the agreement is based on what’s fair and good for the child; not emotions.
How Child Support is Determined in Georgia
Child support in Georgia isn’t just made up in court. It’s determined by a variety of factors.
​
These include:
​
-
Both parents’ income;
-
The number of children being supported;
-
Who has the child most of the time per the custody agreement;
-
The child’s medical, education, and other needs that require financial support.
These are all factored in to ensure that the parent’s rights are upheld and the child’s needs are met.​
Establishing Child Support in Georgia
Child support is considered the right of the child in Georgia. Therefore, it can’t be waived by the parents. To establish child support, the parents can arrange out of court, but it has to be court-approved. Otherwise, the case is taken to court where the judge decides.
Modifying a Child Support Agreement
Child support agreements can be modified in Georgia, and there are two options.
​
You can ask the DCSS in Georgia for a review of the payment order. That, or you can directly petition the judge.
​
Saint Owens Law can help you determine the best course of action based on your needs.
Enforcing Child Support Payments
Georgia has a number of ways to enforce child support payments. This is necessary if a parent is refusing to pay court ordered payments.
​
There are three things that you can do:
​
-
First, you can file a complaint with the Georgia Department of Human Resources.
-
However, you can also take the case back to court where the court will use a variety of tools to reclaim missed payments and issue punishments.
-
The third option, if you’re struggling to pay, is to have your support order reviewed by DCSS.​
​
Disputing the Amount of Child Support Payments
Sometimes, you might not be receiving enough in child support to support the child fairly. In other cases, you might be ordered to pay too much and experience undue financial stress of your own.
​
Saint Owens Law will review your support order, and we can represent you to modify the agreement to something more workable.
​
Failure to Pay Child Support
​
Failure to pay child support has serious consequences in Georgia. You can have your wages garnished, tax refunds and lottery winnings garnished, and you can even have legal action taken to revoke your license or inflict other serious legal consequences.
​
If you’re not being paid properly, Saint Owens can help you resolve that. If you’re struggling and facing these issues, we can help you fight to modify the agreement if there is a reason to.
​
Changes in Custody or Visitation
Changes to custody or visitation greatly impact one of the determining factors of child support payments. Time spent with each parent.
​
If you change your custody or visitation agreement, it’s also necessary to have Saint Owens Law help you to modify the support agreement to reflect that change.
How Saint Owens Law can Help You with Your Child Support Case
At Saint Owens Law, we can help you navigate the complicated child support system to find a fair agreement, modify an agreement to reflect current circumstances, pursue legal action for unpaid support, and more. We start from the first step of understanding the case fully, and stay with you until a reasonable solution is found.