Texas and Child Support Guidelines and Calculations
At first glance, Texas child support appears to be fairly simple--the noncustodial parent pays an amount determined under a formula based on his or her income and the number of children and the best interest of the children. The parent who does not have primary custody of the children will normally pay a fixed percentage of "net monthly resources" up to the first $7,500 of income. Nevertheless, there is plenty of room for argument in divorce or paternity cases that involve a parent's obligation to pay child support. To learn about our ability to best represent your interests effectively, contact an experienced and aggressive family law and child support attorney at Bertolino LLP in our Austin or Houston or San Antonio office.
Unlike many other states, Texas makes no allowance for the custodial parent's income--the Texas Child Support Calculator determines the amount of the noncustodial parent's support obligation without regard to the earnings of the primary custodial parent. Nevertheless, our child support law still specifies factors that can result in an increase or decrease of the guidelines amount, and the applicability of these factors to your case can be the subject of considerable dispute in mediation or a Family Court hearing. These factors can include:
- Voluntary unemployment or underemployment
- Disproportionate share of the marital debts
- Responsibility for the support of a child by a different relationship
- Responsibility for another child's college tuition and expenses
- Travel expenses associated with parenting time or visitation
- Any special needs or expenses of the child to be supported
Another common situation that can generate disputes arises when the parent paying child support is self-employed or works in an occupation that is subject to periods of layoff or sporadic income. In those cases, each parent might have a different view of the amount of the paying parent's "net monthly resources" available for paying child support. Another common situation is child support arrears or past dur child support, which is often times prosecuted by the Texas Attorney General Office (AG), and may subject the obligor to contempt of court, fines, and even jail time.
Whether you are in the position of paying or receiving child support, our lawyers' experience with the Texas Family Code and in contested divorce or paternity proceedings can help you best resolve your child support issues on favorable terms. We can also represent you in situations involving the need to modify or enforce a child support decree. And we can assit obligors with Attorney General prosection for retroactiove child support. For additional information about the options available in your specific circumstances, contact an Austin child custody attorney or a Houston child custody attorney at Bertolino LLP.
For more relevant information regarding Child Support, be sure to visit our Child Custody Information Center.
Contact a Texas Child Support Lawyer at Bertolino LLP
No matter what child custody problems you might be facing, the child custody attorneys at Bertolino LLP have the legal knowledge and practical experience that can help resolve your issue. Contact us in Austin, Houston or San Antonio to learn more about your options. Bertolino LLP maintains offices in Austin, Houston and San Antonio. To reach an attorney in the Austin office, call 512.476.5757. For the Houston office, call 713.225.7474. You may also contact the firm by e-mail.
