Southlake Child Support Attorneys
Protecting the Best Interests of Your Children
Child support is one of the most hotly contested issues in divorce and custody proceedings. If you are facing a divorce, you probably have many questions about how child support will work. Will you have to pay child support? How much will you have to pay? How will child support be calculated? Are there ways to lower the amount you owe? We can help you find answers to these questions and more.
Need to speak with a Southlake child support attorney? Contact us online or call (817) 697-0180 to schedule an appointment.
How Is Child Support Calculated in Texas?
Texas uses a formula to calculate child support. The formula takes into account both parents' income, filing status, and the number of children they have together. The parents' annual income is then divided based on the percentage of responsibility each parent has for supporting their children.
Parents who earn similar salaries can have very different child support obligations. For example, two parents who earn $50,000 per year each would have a child support obligation of $1,500 per month if they have one child. However, if they have two children together, the parents' child support obligation would increase to $2,500 per month.
How Do We Calculate Child Support?
The Texas child support guidelines use the following formula to calculate support:
- First, the parents' annual gross incomes are determined.
- Next, the parents' incomes are divided based on their percentage of responsibility for supporting the child(ren).
- Finally, the parents' support obligation is determined by applying the child support guidelines.
The guidelines take the following factors into consideration:
- The number of children
- The parents' annual incomes
- The parents' filing status (i.e., married, separated, etc.)
For example, consider a situation where a father has two children with his ex-wife and earns $60,000 per year, while the mother earns $40,000 per year. Based on their incomes, the mother's share of the annual income is 40% ($40,000 / $100,000), while the father's share is 60% ($60,000 / $100,000). Based on this, the mother's child support obligation would be 40% of the father's support obligation, or $2,400 per year. Meanwhile, the father's child support obligation would be $3,600 per year.
Does Texas Require Parents to Pay Child Support?
Yes. In Texas, both parents are required to financially support their children after a divorce or custody case.
Read more about child support in Texas.
Is There a Cap on Child Support in Texas?
Yes. In Texas child support laws, there is a cap on the amount of support that must be paid. The amount of the cap varies based on the number of children the parents have together, and on their incomes.
The Texas child support cap is based on the following formula:
- First, the parents' annual incomes are determined.
- Next, the parents' incomes are divided based on their percentage of responsibility for supporting the child(ren).
- Finally, the parent's support obligation is determined by applying the child support guidelines.
The Texas child support cap is based on the following formula:
- First, the parents' annual incomes are determined.
- Next, the parents' incomes are divided based on their percentage of responsibility for supporting the child(ren).
- Finally, the parent's support obligation is determined by applying the child support guidelines.
The Texas child support cap is based on the following formula:
- First, the parents' annual incomes are determined.
- Next, the parents' incomes are divided based on their percentage of responsibility for supporting the child(ren).
- Finally, the parent's support obligation is determined by applying the child support guidelines.
Does Texas Have a Mandatory Exhaustion Period for Child Support?
Yes, Texas has a mandatory exhaustion period for child support. This means that parents have to wait a certain period of time before they can file for a modification.
Need to speak with a Southlake child support attorney? Contact us online or call (817) 697-0180 to schedule an appointment.