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C hanges to G eorgia ’ s C hild S upport L aws
AUGUST 2024
Georgia’s child support laws have undergone some major changes that may affect you and your family. At V&T, we know most legislation is written using legal verbiage that can be challenging to understand — that’s why we’re here to help! We broke down the laws that will be in effect starting July 1, 2024, so you can understand how they may impact you and your family.
If you receive child support for the benefit of your child(ren), you may be entitled to a modification of support based on the new guidelines. If you pay child support for the benefit of your child(ren), you could face defending a modification action. ADULT CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS & CHILD SUPPORT Starting July 1, 2024, Georgia enacted Code Section 19-6-15.1, allowing child support to be paid on behalf of a dependent adult child. Under the new law, a dependent adult child is an unmarried person who reached 18 years old and is incapable of self-support as a result of a physical or mental incapacity that began before age 18. A claim for child support for a dependent adult child may be brought by either the parent or the adult child and will, in most cases, be paid directly to the adult child or an appropriate person on their behalf as defined under the new law. Calculating child support for a dependent adult child will not be done like traditional child support; instead, the courts will consider a series of factors in order to determine what support is appropriate for the dependent adult child. Some of these factors include: • The dependent adult child’s income and assets; • Existing and future needs related to physical/mental incapacity for the dependent adult child; • The level of care the paying parent(s) currently provides for the dependent adult child; • The financial resources available to each parent for the dependent adult child’s care and support; • Any other resources (financial or otherwise) available for the dependent adult child’s care and support; • Any state/federal programs and benefits that the dependent adult child receives or may receive; • The impact court-ordered child support would have on the dependent adult child’s eligibility for any federal/state programs and benefits. Please contact V&T for a consultation if you have any questions or are interested in more information about child support under the new laws. We look forward to answering your questions and working alongside you if a modification of support and/or consideration of support for a dependent adult child is imminent for you and your family.
BASIC CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION TABLE Starting July 1, 2024, Georgia updated Code Section 19-6-15 and enacted a new Basic Child Support Obligation Table, the first significant change of its kind in 15 years. The table provides the amount of child support each parent is responsible for paying for the care and support of any minor child(ren). You may ask yourself why this matters and how this affects your family. It matters because Georgia now acknowledges that the cost of raising children has increased substantially over the years, and the amount designated as presumptive child support now reflects that increase. The change to the Basic Child Support Obligation Table could affect how much child support you should receive or pay for the benefit of your child(ren), even if there isn’t a change in either parent’s income. The change shows the state’s acceptance that, presumably, all children benefiting from child support have undergone a material change in circumstances resulting from inflation and the cost of living in Georgia.
- Esther Vayman & Julia Spitler
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While there are no treadmills for the mind or ellipticals for our neurons, science tells us that mental exercise can help us obtain a growth mindset . The American Psychological Association defines a growth mindset as “the belief that a person’s intelligence and abilities can grow and improve with practice.” A growth mindset is the antithesis of a “fixed mindset,” which people exhibit when they quickly give up if they can’t solve a problem. Nurturing a growth mindset, in contrast, can help you view failure or setbacks as opportunities for learning. MORE THAN EFFORT Having a growth mindset is about more than just effort. It is the belief that you can develop your abilities and talents, as well as a perspective on how you approach life’s lessons and learning. That belief allows you to learn more quickly and achieve greater results, no matter what you aim to achieve. This does not mean simply having an open mind; it also means finding a way to continue striving to improve your knowledge, attitude, and performance. Some call it having “grit.” CULTIVATING SUCCESS With a growth mindset, success plays second fiddle to self-improvement. Celebrating the effort we put into each task motivates and encourages us to work harder and accomplish more in the future. Rather than focusing on the destination, the focus is on the journey. A growth mindset is a great way to become more positive, successful, and adaptable. By incorporating more facets of a growth mindset into your life, you will be well on your way to changing things for the better.
P sychology of S uccess HARNESSING THE POWER OF A GROWTH MINDSET
W hy R esolution B eats A ggression in D ivorce P roceedings NO NEED FOR THE BULLDOG MENTALITY negatively affects every member of the family. The conflict that creates divorce can destroy people; more often than not, the little people feel the disastrous effects the most. While our attorneys are armed and ready for whatever courtroom battle or litigation they’re facing, they aren’t always kicking down the door to fight. We would rather see what we can resolve before blowing up a situation. We don’t want to antagonize the other attorney or be mean; instead, we want to fight for our client and their wants, which we can do through resolution. We’ve had experiences with opposing counsel who like to get aggressive right off the bat. Through resolution tactics, we can calm the situation down and get what’s best for everyone involved, especially our client. Some attorneys want us to match their nastiness, but you truly get more bees with honey than vinegar. Not responding in a way that’s advantageous for the other party helps us find better solutions for our clients. While aggressive tactics can be beneficial depending on the situation or case, not every case requires a bulldog attorney. Our attorneys pride themselves on avoiding the nastiness that often accompanies the bulldog mentality; they can be aggressive while staying respectful. More than anything, we try to find resolutions in every situation without waiving anything for our clients. We will always fight to get you the best situation.
When some begin the divorce process, they believe they need a bulldog attorney to walk away with all of their non-negotiables. They want someone who enters every legal conversation with an aggressive demeanor. However, these tactics do not always lead to the most fruitful outcome, as they can lead to war between the two parties. In our opinion, the goal should always be resolution instead of war unless war is the only option presented to us by the opposing counsel.
One of the major reasons we try to avoid entering any situation with a bulldog mentality is that it often
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WHAT IS SOMETHING ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?
Elizabeth Dive the Great Barrier Reef Brooke Visit every continent Leah Visit French Polynesia Amanda D. See Ireland and Scotland Amanda H. 14-day Alaskan cruise Sara Take a surfing lesson Abby Learn to make bread and pasta from scratch
Mari Travel the world
Kimberly Cliff diving Abigayle Visit all national parks Ashlyn Skydiving Maggie Going to Europe (Any country would be nice to visit.) Grace Trip to Japan
L egendary S tuffed P eppers Packed with nutritious ingredients and savory spices, these peppers are a wholesome
ingredients • 4 bell peppers (any color), halved and seeded • 1 lb ground beef • 1 onion, diced • 1 clove garlic, minced • 1 tsp chili powder
BRAIN BREAK
• 1 tsp cumin • 1 14-oz can diced tomatoes • 1 cup cooked rice • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese • Salt and pepper, to taste
meal that’s satisfying and easy to prepare — perfect for any weeknight dinner.
directions 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. Line a baking dish or baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the bell pepper halves in the baking dish. 3. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic until the beef is browned, then drain excess fat. 4. Stir in chili powder, cumin, diced tomatoes, rice, salt, and pepper. 5. Fill the 8 bell pepper halves with the beef mixture, then top with the shredded cheddar cheese. 6. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted.
BACKPACK BEES
PEACH SANDCASTLE SCHOOL TWINS
MELON MOON
MUSTARD OLYMPICS
VACATION ZUCCHINI
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HOW RECENT LEGISLATION IMPACTS CHILD SUPPORT IN GEORGIA
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THE ROLE OF A GROWTH MINDSET IN OVERCOMING CHALLENGES HOW A RESOLUTION-FOCUSED ATTORNEY CAN BENEFIT YOUR DIVORCE CASE
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QUESTION AND ANSWERS LEGENDARY STUFFED PEPPERS
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THE TRUTH ABOUT FRANCE’S MARIE ANTOINETTE
While France may be known for its artwork, culture, and cuisine, the French Revolution was anything but beautiful, cultured, or tasteful. Instead, it was a brutal, vengeful affair, culminating in the ruthless execution of the French royal family and the end of their royal line. One of the most famous characters from this brutal time was the French queen, Marie Antoinette. She became a symbol for all complaints levied against the French throne, from extravagant spending to their brutal crackdowns on dissent, even though she wasn’t the actual perpetrator. In the end, it didn’t matter. Marie Antoinette, at age 37, was beheaded by guillotine in October 1793. Here are three true facts about Marie Antoinette. CAKE: NOT ON THE MENU Although many ascribe the infamous words, “Let them eat cake,” to Marie Antoinette, she likely never uttered them at all. Many other royals, including the French noblewoman Marie Therese more than a century earlier, had been credited with uttering the notorious sentence. So, someone else had likely said it before the French Revolution ever happened. F acts A bout the L ate F rench Q ueen M arie A ntoinette HEADLESS OF STATE
YOUNG NEWLYWEDS Talk about a crowded household: Marie Antoinette was the 11th daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Francis I, the head of the powerful and influential Habsburg dynasty. She did not spend many years at home, however, because she was just 14 years old when she married the future king of France, Louis XVI. FAUX FARMER Despite her regal estate and lavish lifestyle, one of Marie Antoinette’s favorite pastimes was pretending to work as a farmer. She had an entire fake farm built on the grounds of her palace in Versailles, where she and other noblewomen would dress in costumes and pretend to be sheepherders and milkmaids.
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