Establishing Child Support
The person entitled to receive child support is called the obligee. The person who is obligated to pay child support is called the obligor. The person who has primary possession is often the obligee as they are the person with whom the child lives with, incurs most of the living expense and who has primary possession of the child(ren).
The Attorney General uses a formula that is typically referred to as the child support guidelines. This formula is used to determine how much the obligor will pay the obligee in child support each month. It is important that you understand that it is “guidelines” that determine child support. Each case is different and unique.
The monthly child support calculators found online must give you a ballpark of what you will pay in child support. Working with your attorney will help you determine the actual amount you will pay based on the guidelines.
What is Child Support?
Child support is the money a parent pays the other parent to help with the cost of raising a child. These costs include housing, child care, clothing, food, school supplies, and extracurricular activities.
How is Child Support Calculated in Texas?
Child support is calculated on the obligor’s net resources. Net resources include employment income, income from investments, self-employment income, retirement benefits, most social security benefits, VA disability, unemployment, and workers’ compensation benefits.
When does Child Support end in Texas?
Child support laws end either when the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later. In some cases if a child is disabled and the court has deemed the child is disabled, child support may go indefinitely.
If the child is with me 50 percent of the time, can I still have to pay child support?
Yes. Child support in Texas is calculated based on the income of both parents. If one parent makes more than the other, child support could be calculated based on an offset. There are so many factors, that it is best to allow the team at the Denis Law Group to help you navigate and determine what the offset is, how it works, and if you have to pay.
Taking the necessary steps to protect your child’s future is essential in ensuring that your child receives the financial support they need to thrive. Establishing child support will help ensure things for your child like school clothes, food, extracurricular activities, and a safe home.
Hiring the experts at the Denis Law Group will help you gain the financial support your child deserves.