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Georgia Child Support Information

Georgia Child Support Information

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How do I get child support services for my child in Georgia?

Here’s the basics of what you need to do to start receiving Child Support in Georgia:

  • Open a Child Support Case
    Call the Georgia Child Support Agency (1-877-423-4746) and make an appointment to open a case. You will also need to fill out at application. You can do that online, or request an application be mailed to you when you call for your appointment.  They do charge you a small fee for applying to open a case. *If you are on some types of government assistance, you may not need to fill out an application to open a case. Ask about this when you make your appointment.
  • Locate the Non-Custodial Parent
    If you know where the non-custodial parent lives and/or works this step is simple.  However, if you don’t know where the non-custodial parent is; or if he lives in a different state, it could be difficult to locate them.  Information such as date of birth, social security number will make it easier to locate a non-custodial parent.  Unfortunately there are no guarantees, and you can’t collect child support from an ‘un-findable’ parent.
  • Establish Paternity
    If you and the non-custodial parent were not married when you had your child, you will need to establish that he is the legal father of the child.  If the non-custodial parent is uncooperative, you can petition the court to have his DNA tested to determine paternity.
  • File a Support Order
    In Georgia the child support guidelines take into consideration the income of both parents and the number of children.  They also take into consideration which parent provides health insurance for the child.  The court sometimes orders the non-custodial parent to pay for health insurance for the child if they can get it at a reasonable cost.
  • Set up Payment
    Once the child support order is in place, the amount will be deducted from the non-custodial parent’s paycheck.  This is the easiest way for the non-custodial parent to pay child support.  It’s automatic and there is a record of the payments.  It is almost always a bad idea to make (or receive) child support payments directly between the parents.

What can I do if the non-custodial parent stops paying support or providing health insurance for our child?

If you have an Oder in place and the non-custodial parent does not obey the Order, Georgia Child Support Enforcement can assist you in getting your support through the courts. There are things that the court can do to get the non-custodial parent into compliance including fines and/or jail time for non-compliance.  The Judge can enforce the order through a number of ways.  To find out what other steps the courts can take visit Georgia’s Child Support agency directly.

Once the Child Support Order is in place, can it be changed?

After a Child Support Order has been set up, either parent can ask the Georgia Child Support Agency to review the Order every three years.  You can ask them to review it sooner if there have been major changes in income or family situation.

Links Regarding Georgia Child Support

Apophenia: 5 Secrets to Success

Apophenia: 5 Secrets to Success

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If you are the Type A – Uber-Achiever who just happens to be a single parent, this post is for you.

 

1. “Demo or die.” This was the mantra at the Media Lab and i absolutely detested the process of having to demo Lab work to every visitor who entered the building. It was exhausting and repetitive. Looking back, i can’t tell you how much this changed my world. Through the Lab, i learned to be able to present anything on the fly to any audience. I learned how to squeeze a 30 minute talk into 5 minutes and build on a 5 minute talk to fill an hour with useful information. I learned how to read what people knew and adjust what i was showing them to their interests and level of knowledge. Speaking and expressing ideas to a wide variety of audiences is so important. And it takes practice. A lot of practice. You can’t just hide in a library cubicle for years and then expect to give a stellar job talk. The reason that i speak so often is that i think that i need the practice. I want to learn to get my point across. Sometimes, i fail, but i keep trying.

(This also applies to writing. Be able to write to any audience. Learn to write an op-ed, a persuasive blog post, an academic article, anything and everything! I detest writing; that’s why i started blogging my ideas. Practice practice practice.)

2. “Learn the rules. And then learn how to break them.” I was a punk kid who refused to follow by anyone’s rules. I got kicked out of everywhere. I thought that this was radical. When i was in high school, my mother explained that one of her best skills was telling people to fuck off and go to hell in a ladylike way so that they didn’t even know how to respond. Over the years, i realized that there is immense power in understanding the rules and norms and tweaking them to meet your goals. Rejecting society is fun as a kid; figuring out how to circumnavigate barriers to entry is more fun as an adult. Do it with grace, kindness, and sincerity. (I fear that explicitly stating examples of this here might get me into trouble.)

3. “Diversify your life.” The term diversity is so loaded it’s painful, but i can’t think of a better word to explain what i want to explain. Get to know people from every walk of life. Read books from every discipline. Read different blogs. Attend conferences that address the same issue from a ton of different perspectives. And when you attend those conferences, spend 50% of the time with people you know well and 50% of the time with people that you barely know. One of the best decisions i made at SXSW this year was to not flit around but to hang out with one small group per night and really bond. I hate the concept of “social networking” because it seems so skeevy. The idea isn’t to build a big rolodex, but to build meaningful relationships that exist on multiple levels – professional, personal, etc. The more people and ideas you encounter, the more creative you’ll be able to be and the more that you’ll be able to contribute to a conversation on top of the things that you know deeply through your own work.

To read the entire post click here.

Single Parent Support Groups

Single Parent Support Groups

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Being a single parent can be a strain on you financially as well as emotionally. The demands of being a single parent means that most single moms and dads limit or completely cut out any socializing. But not investing in friendships or relationships can be a bad idea, and can cause you to become isolated and depressed. Finding and getting involved in a single parent support group can really be worth the time and effort because the group can help you cope with single parenting issues. There are a variety of things that a single parent support group can offer you such as:

Activities – Many support groups have different types of activities that single parents can participate in. Group activities are a good way to meet others like yourself who have similar single parent issues and provide support. Enjoying a group activity can also help keep depression at bay and give you something fun to look forward to on a regular basis.

Conversation – Having an opportunity to talk with people who are in similar situations can be a relief. So often single parents feel they are being judged by others who don’t understand what being a single parent entails. You also have an opportunity to listen to and get advice from other single parents who have overcome some of the issues that you may be dealing with currently, and that can be very encouraging.

Learning – Many single parent support groups invite speakers to educate the group on various relevant topics, or provide useful information in other ways. Some of the useful topics covered might be learning how to talk to teens about touchy subjects such as sex, drugs, and alcohol. Or learning how to create a budget that works for the single parent; how to make their income go farther, or how to find ways to supplement their income. Being a single parent can be frustrating and confusing if you try to go it alone, and that’s where single parent support groups can help.

Find new interests – As a single parent you want to show your kids that you’re ‘okay’, and that means keeping some of your life for yourself; and living it! Getting involved in a single parent support group can be a great way to grow and enjoy life as you meet new people and develop interests. The truth is, the kids will appreciate and respect you more if you have some boundaries when it comes to carving out much needed ‘adult time’.

Support network opportunities – The people you will meet in single parent support groups will be more likely to want to be a part of your support network because they’re looking for support also. From something as simple as knowing people who can form a babysitting co-op with you to knowing people who can help you out with various things you’ll need in life.

Make new friends – If nothing else, a single parent support group will give you an opportunity to be around people like you who are going through similar issues. The potential for making new friends will be great. And who knows; maybe when you’re ready for a deeper relationship, it just might be the place you find it.

If doesn’t matter how you became a single parent, we all know that is can be challenging. Joining single parent support groups can really help give you that extra support that you and your family need. If your not sure where to find a single parent support group in your area, check out your local church websites or do a local search on your favorite search engine.

Single Parent Dad: Paging Mr. Mom

Single Parent Dad: Paging Mr. Mom

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I thought this article over at the Huffington Post was very informative. Enjoy.

Being a divorced parent means being a single parent. One of the most
fundamental reasons for the breakdown of a marriage is loss of empathy
for a spouse. It can therefore come as quite a shock to newly single
dads as to just how difficult it can be to raise kids on your own. Not
every guy can slip effortlessly into his new-found responsibilities.
Even worse — we’re scared to ask for help (probably for the same reason
we refuse to ask for directions when we’re driving despite being
hopelessly lost). In no particular order, here are some general tips
around the whole experience that I’ve found useful. As always, when it
comes to being a parent there are no rules except for giving love and
following your instincts as every relationship, every kid, and every
parent are unique.

To read the entire article click here.

Assisting Single Parent Families – Universal Love Foundation

Assisting Single Parent Families – Universal Love Foundation

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Ten years ago the Agoura Hills-based Universal Love Foundation opened its doors and its heart to assist struggling single parents and their children. On Oct. 15, it celebrated its 10th anniversary with a fund raising gala at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills Hotel.

During cocktails, guests enjoyed a boutique shopping experience presented by a variety of area vendors and a silent auction presented by Westlake Village auction company Bang the Gavel. The keynote dinner speaker was Elli Hakami, senior vice president of programming and production for BBC Worldwide. Dinner entertainment featured music by talented, local coloratura soprano Bonnie Bowman, as well as a performance by Malibu singer/songwriter/instrumentalist Naomi Louise Warne and her son, 12-year-old Gabriel Deibel. Warne and Deibel became a single parent family following the loss of their husband/father Paul V. Deibel, and sought help from ULF to work through their grief.

The Single Parent Student

The Single Parent Student

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If you are a single parent and you are interested in becoming a Licensed Vocational Nurse, the following article may be helpful to you.

The Single Parent Student

Single parenting while attending a LVN program can be tough. But it can be done. I know a lot of people are saying to themselves, “no way, not with my kids. I’m too tired now without going to the program”. Well, if you want it bad enough you’ll go after it. Your children will live through it and may come out better for it. There are ways to go about getting the help you need.

First, check with family and friends. They want you to succeed and are usually willing to help where and when they can. You can also ask friends; start babysitting for each other,payable in time you can use later the same week. Ask the church you attend for a good sitter who needs to make some money. You supply the food and pay a couple of bucks an hour. Be sure to interview the people first. You should know them fairly well before just dropping off you kids. Set this all up before the program starts. This way no last minute things fall though the cracks. Like when the children are sick and no day care will take them.