Georgia Divorce with Children
Everything you need to know about divorce with children in Georgia — custody types, child support guidelines, parenting plans, and protecting your children through the process. Updated for 2026.
Types of Custody in Georgia
Legal Custody
The right to make major decisions about your child's education, healthcare, religion, and welfare.
Physical Custody
Determines where the child lives on a day-to-day basis and the parenting time schedule.
"Best Interests of the Child" Factors
Georgia courts consider multiple factors when determining custody arrangements:
Create your parenting plan with guidance
Divorce.ai helps you build a comprehensive parenting plan that meets Georgia court requirements.
Child Support in Georgia
Georgia uses the Income Shares Model to calculate child support based on the combined gross income of both parents. The goal is to approximate what parents would have spent on children if still living together. Each parent's share is proportional to their percentage of combined income. Effective January 1, 2026, Georgia adds a parenting time adjustment (replacing deviation) and removes the low-income deviation.
Official Georgia child support calculator →Factors Considered
Additional Forms Required (Children)
| Form | Name |
|---|---|
| Complaint for Divorce With Minor Children | Complaint for Divorce With Minor Children |
| Parenting Plan | Parenting Plan |
| Child Support Worksheet | Child Support Worksheet |
Mandatory Parenting Course
Georgia requires both parents to complete a parenting education course when filing for divorce with minor children.
Mandatory for ALL cases involving minor children under 18. Both parents must complete the seminar. The respondent must attend within 30 days of the court order being served. The case cannot be finalized until both parents complete it. Fee ranges from $25-$100 per person depending on county and provider. Online options available in most counties.
Typical cost: $50
Protect your children through the process
Divorce.ai helps you create a child-focused parenting plan and prepares all custody-related Georgia forms.
What Goes in a Parenting Plan?
A comprehensive parenting plan should cover:
Regular Parenting Schedule
Week-by-week schedule of where the child lives and when transitions occur.
Holiday & Vacation Schedule
How holidays, school breaks, and vacation time are divided between parents.
Decision-Making Authority
Who makes decisions about education, healthcare, extracurriculars, and religious upbringing.
Communication Rules
How the child communicates with the non-custodial parent (phone, video calls, etc.).
Transportation & Exchange
Who handles pickups/dropoffs and where exchanges occur.
Dispute Resolution
How disagreements about the parenting plan will be resolved (mediation first, then court).
Relocation Rules
Notice requirements and procedure if either parent wants to move.
Tips for Protecting Your Children During Divorce
Never speak negatively about the other parent in front of your children. It puts them in the middle and can harm your custody case.
Maintain routines. Keep school, activities, and daily routines as consistent as possible during the transition.
Communicate openly with your children in age-appropriate ways. Let them know the divorce is not their fault.
Consider counseling. A child therapist can help children process their emotions during this time.