Georgia residents face serious financial pressures after losing their jobs, especially with an unprecedented cost of living. The loss of a reliable job can be even more challenging when you face child support payments. If you lose your job in Georgia, can you stop paying child support? This question is becoming increasingly common, and a child support lawyer in Georgia may be able to offer helpful guidance.
Losing Your Job Does Not Automatically Allow You to Pay Less Child Support
The sudden loss of income does not necessarily allow you to reduce or eliminate your child support obligations. The family court must see that you are completely unable to find a similar job with the same pay rate – and it may take months or years to convince them of this fact. During this period, the court expects you to make a genuine effort to find a new job.
People are Struggling to Find High-Quality Jobs in Georgia
Unemployment levels in Georgia are relatively low, suggesting that there is plenty of work available. That being said, employment statistics are infamously unreliable. More jobs being created does not necessarily mean higher income for average Georgia residents. Many of these jobs are being created in specific sectors.
People are often overly optimistic about job data because it fails to differentiate between full-time and part-time jobs. For example, someone might lose a well-paying, full-time job at a factory. This individual may then be forced to take two part-time jobs to make ends meet – while still earning less than their previous full-time job. In this situation, the job data would show a rosy picture: One lost job and two new jobs created. However, the actual impact on the worker is clearly negative.
The rise of automation, AI, and outsourcing makes job losses more common in Georgia than ever before. People are losing high-quality jobs to robotics, self-checkout machines, and artificial intelligence. These individuals are pushed toward the “gig economy” as a result, often becoming food delivery workers or rideshare drivers.
Your lawyer may be able to help you explain these realities to the family court as you strive to reduce your child support obligations. The goal is to prove that your previous career path is no longer possible and that you cannot earn the same income in the current economy. Make no mistake: This is a challenging prospect – but it is not impossible.
Can a Family Law Attorney in Georgia Help Me Reduce Child Support?
A family law attorney in Georgia may be able to help you reduce your child support obligations. If you have lost your job, this could constitute a change in circumstance – and it may allow you to modify your support order. That being said, this process is not automatic – and it makes sense to work with someone who understands how modifications work. Choose Lankford & Moore Law, schedule a consultation, and get started with an action plan today.
