Holiday Parenting Schedules and Georgia’s New Child Support Parenting Time Adjustment

Current as of November 14, 2026.

The holidays are when many Georgia parents look closely at their parenting plan: who has Thanksgiving, how winter break is split and where the children wake up on December 25. This year there is another reason to read the schedule carefully. Since January 1, 2026, the number of court-ordered parenting days in that schedule plays a direct role in how Georgia calculates child support. The Georgia Child Support Commission explains that the change replaced the old parenting time deviation with a parenting time adjustment that uses a formula.

What changed

Before 2026, a judge could choose to lower support to reflect time a child spent with the noncustodial parent, but that was a discretionary deviation. Under the amended guidelines, the adjustment is calculated whenever there is court-ordered parenting time. If there is no court order awarding parenting time, support is calculated without it. Georgia also replaced its low-income deviation with a low-income adjustment on the same date.

Why your holiday schedule matters

The adjustment counts the parenting days set by the court order, not an informal arrangement between parents. Holiday and school-break provisions are part of that court-ordered schedule, so they can affect the yearly count. The Child Support Commission has noted that the noncustodial parent cannot be credited with more than 182.5 days, or half the year.

Who it affects

The new guidelines apply when support is calculated, such as in a new divorce, a new support case or a modification. An existing order generally stays in effect as written until a court changes it. If your current order was entered before January 1, 2026, the new adjustment does not rewrite it on its own.

Practical steps

Pull out your parenting plan and count the days it actually gives each parent, including holidays and school breaks. Keep a simple calendar of the time the children actually spend in each home, since disagreements often start there. The Child Support Commission’s online calculator is the official tool for Georgia worksheets. If you are negotiating a new parenting plan this season, remember that the schedule you agree to may also shape the support calculation. You can find more Georgia guidance on our divorce and family law blog.

What Georgia law says

Georgia’s child support guidelines are in O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15. Senate Bill 454, signed in 2024, updated the guidelines in phases: a new basic child support table and a VA disability credit took effect July 1, 2024, and the parenting time adjustment and low-income adjustment took effect January 1, 2026. This is general information about Georgia law, not legal advice about any individual case.

Source: Georgia Child Support Commission.

Call us today, at (770) 840-9098 to speak with Attorney Ned Ogueri.

Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Results may vary depending on the specific facts and circumstances of your case.