What It Is & Why It Matters (A Straight-Talking Guide for Custodial Parents)
Alright, parents—let’s talk about child support in Georgia. It’s not a favor, it’s not charity, and it’s definitely not optional. It’s the law—and it exists to make sure your child has everything they need to grow up happy, healthy, and with food that isn’t just ramen noodles.
If you’re the custodial parent (meaning your child lives with you most of the time), the other parent legally has to contribute financially. But if they’re acting like child support is a donation instead of a responsibility, it’s time to get the court involved—no lawyer needed.
What is Child Support? (And Why is It Necessary?)
Child support = money paid by one parent to help cover the cost of raising a child.
Because let’s be real—kids are expensive.
Think about it:
✅ Food (because they somehow never stop eating)
✅ Clothes (because they grow like weeds)
✅ School supplies (because teachers ask for a truckload of stuff)
✅ Daycare (aka, why you can’t afford vacations)
✅ Medical bills (because kids find new ways to injure themselves every day)
If you’re handling all of this on your own while the other parent is out here living their best life—it’s time to get a child support order.
Getting Child Support in Georgia
Alright, so you’re the custodial parent (meaning the kid lives with you most of the time), and the other parent needs to start contributing financially. Maybe they’re dodging responsibilities, maybe they’re “between jobs for the fifth time this year,” or maybe they just need a little legal nudge to do what’s right.
No worries! You don’t need a lawyer to get child support in Georgia—you just need a plan, patience, and some paperwork. Pro-Se Institute is here to help! Let’s break it down step by step.
You’ve got two main ways to get child support:
✅ Option 1: File Through Georgia’s Division of Child Support Services (DCSS)
- Pros: It’s free or low-cost, and they do the work of tracking payments.
- Cons: It can take forever (government speed = 🐢).
✅ Option 2: File Directly in Superior Court
- Pros: Faster and more control over your case.
- Pros: Can get temporary child support early in the process while you complete the case
- Pros: Can get your expenses for filing and other fees back from the opposing party at the end of the case
- Cons: Upfront filing fees ($200–$250).
You can file the Petition for Child Support in Superior Court yourself and your Pro-Se Institute team can help. Enroll Now!
Pro-Se Institute can help you with your child support case – Enroll Now!