How Child Support Guidelines Work
Child support is to make certain both parents contribute financially to a child’s upbringing.
Child support in Texas is a legal obligation established by a court for one parent to provide financial support to the other parent for the care and upbringing of their child(ren) following a divorce, separation, or if the parents were never married. This financial support is intended to help cover basic expenses such as food, clothing, shelter, education, and medical care.
Key Points about Child Support in Texas:
- Calculation of Child Support:
- Texas uses a standard guideline to calculate the amount of child support, typically based on a percentage of the non-custodial parent’s income.
- For one child, the guideline is generally 20% of the non-custodial parent’s net resources. The percentage increases with the number of children (25% for two children, 30% for three, and so on, up to a maximum of 40% for five or more children).
- Defining Net Resources:
- Net resources generally include wages, salaries, bonuses, overtime pay, and income from other sources, minus certain deductions such as social security taxes, income taxes, health insurance for the child, and non-discretionary retirement contributions.
- Duration of Child Support:
- Child support in Texas typically continues until the child turns 18 years old or graduates from high school, whichever is later. It can also end early if the child becomes emancipated or if the custodial parent agrees to terminate support.
- Modification and Enforcement:
- Child support orders can be modified if there is a significant change in circumstances, such as a change in income, job loss, or changes in the needs of the child.
- Texas has enforcement mechanisms in place for when a parent fails to pay child support, including wage garnishment, withholding of tax refunds, and even potential jail time for non-payment.
- Health Insurance and Additional Expenses:
- In addition to the basic support payment, the court may also order the non-custodial parent to contribute to the child’s health insurance or cover additional expenses, such as childcare costs, education expenses, or medical costs not covered by insurance.
- Modification Requests:
- Either parent can file a request with the court to modify the child support if they believe that a change in circumstances warrants an adjustment in the support amount.
- Legal Assistance:
- It can be beneficial for parents to seek legal advice or representation when navigating child support issues, as the laws and processes can be complex.
If you have specific questions about child support in Texas or a particular situation, it may be helpful to consult with a family law attorney in Texas for personalized legal advice. At the Denis Law Group, we understand which sources of income should be considered when calculating child support payments.
Each case is unique, and each case needs to have someone who understands when a deviation is appropriate or how the uniqueness of the case needs to be considered. Book your consultation with the Denis Law Group today, we look forward to meeting with you and learning about your case.