Children are a focal point in a Georgia family law case. The court will want to make sure that any child is properly cared for. Child support is fundamental toward that end. The state has guidelines in place that dictate how much will be paid. It hinges on income, the child’s needs and various expenses.
While there are basic expenses that must be paid for a safe place to live, food, clothing, medical care, educational materials and extracurricular activities, the guidelines are not set in stone. The court has discretion to deviate when necessary.
There are several reasons why the court could do so. One is if there are extraordinary expenses. Both parents need to understand what types of expenses can be categorized as extraordinary and how it impacts the order.
What are extraordinary expenses?
There is no set formula to determine what constitutes extraordinary expenses. The court makes these decisions based on the evidence in each individual case. This is prorated between the parents.
A child might need a specific kind of education or the parents might want the child to receive an education they would not if they relied on public schools. This could fall into the extraordinary expenses category. Included would be tuition, fees, room and board, books and more. This could be for a private education or for children who need special education. The amount will be based on how much the education costs, if there are available stipends, scholarships and other ways in which the costs could be defrayed.
Child rearing is another extraordinary expense. This might involve the child being sent to a special camp for music, sports, art or other endeavors for which the parents could want the child to be involved or one in which they have shown unusual talent.
Some parents have a child with serious medical needs that will be costly and go beyond their insurance coverage. In these cases, the court is careful not to leave the child without necessary support and the payments could be limited in duration. The court will look at all options in this situation such as agencies or other people who might be able to help.
People in the middle of a family law case will undoubtedly be aware of the child support guidelines when the amount is being decided upon. Just because there is a formula, however, does not mean there cannot be a deviation from the guidelines. Having all the necessary information regarding extraordinary expenses can be helpful with reaching a fair amount to cover the child’s and the parent’s needs.