Houston Child Support Attorney

Helping Clients Get Fair Child Support Payments that Meet Their Needs

Achieving a satisfactory child support order is crucial when you’re going through a divorce. Whether you’re a noncustodial parent who will be paying child support or a custodial parent who needs financial assistance to care for the children, you need fair terms that meet your family’s unique needs. Texas child support guidelines can be complicated and confusing. Child support lawyers like those at Horak Law can help you navigate this complex process and get the results you need.

Whether you’re petitioning for support or requesting modification/termination, contact Horak Law. There are many factors used to determine who pays child support, and the payment amount is calculated by set elements in the Texas Family Code. This information can be extremely complicated, so it’s best to hire an experienced attorney like Matthew Horak to represent you and your interests.

Call (713) 225-8000 to schedule your first consultation, or simply submit an online contact form. Horak Law has offices in Houston and The Woodlands, but we accept clients throughout the State of Texas, including Fort Bend County, Liberty County, Waller County, Montgomery County, Harris County, Galveston County, and Brazoria County.

Who Can Petition for Child Support in Texas?

If a parent qualifies under the Texas Family Code, they can petition for child support payments from the other parent. In fact, the Texas Attorney General reserves the power to open a child support case even if neither parent has ever applied for services for a public benefit such as Medicaid or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). If the child is under temporary or permanent conservatorship with the Department of Family and Protective Services, the court may order both parents to pay for child support.

Any individual can petition for child support if they’re the parent of the child or have legal, physical custody or conservatorship of the child. Even the children themselves can request child support from the court if they are 18 years or older and are capable of managing their own personal finances. Failure to pay child support in time could result in apprehension by law enforcement. The court does allow noncustodial parents to request a dismissal of support payments or a modification if a significant life event has occurred and impacted their ability to provide compensation for payments.
To learn more about petitioning for child support in Texas, or to get started, please speak with our talented legal team right away. We’ll listen carefully to your concerns and help you understand your legal rights and obligations.

How Is Child Support Calculated Under Texas Law?

The State of Texas utilizes the percentage of income model when calculating the amount of child support a parent owes monthly. The court will take into account the parent’s monthly net resources and then apply a percentage of that income to total the child support. This evidence can be obtained by using past-year income tax returns, financial statements, and current pay stubs. Parents who fail to provide adequate documentation will be obligated to pay support based on a standard 40-hour workweek with minimum wage pay.

Income liable to child support payments includes, but is not limited to:

• Rental income
• Capital gains
• Severance
• Wages, salary, or any other income, including tips, overtime, and bonuses
• Self-employed income
• Unemployment benefits
• Disability or worker’s compensation benefits
• Any child support received from another open family law case
• Retirement and/or pension
• Dividends or interest

The required child support net income percentage increases based on the number of shared minor children the parent had with their ex-spouse. These percentage increases include:

• One child = 20%
• Two children = 25%
• Three children = 30%
• Four children = 35%
• Five children = 40%
• Six children or more = No less than 40%

If the parent’s income is not enough to meet the child support payment, then the court will subtract the total child support amount from their available net income. Instead, the court will allocate what is left between the two parties to ensure the child’s needs are adequately met.

What Options Are There for Texas Child Support?

Understanding how much child support you’ll owe is just one-half of the battle. You also need to determine how you will make child support payments, such as what methods of payment are appropriate and how often you will pay. For example, contrary to what some people believe, you do not simply mail the check to your ex-spouse. You’ll need to send the payments to the Office of the Attorney General, which will distribute your payment to your former spouse. You should fully understand your child support obligations, which you can learn by speaking with a trusted Houston child support lawyer like those at Horak Law.

Some common ways for paying according to child support orders in Texas include:

• Check
• Money order
• Walmart Money Gram
• Cash
• Debit or credit card
• Wage withholding
• Automatic bank draft

Talk to our child support attorneys in Houston for help getting your payments set up in a timely manner so you don’t face any legal action in your child support issue. If you need help enforcing a child support order because of missed payments or are being accused of withholding payment, you should contact a Houston child support lawyer immediately for aggressive, confident legal representation.

How Long Do I Have to Pay Child Support in Texas?

Under the Texas Family Code Section 154.001, a parent may be court-ordered to pay child support until the child has turned 18 years old or has graduated high school. Children may be exempt, however, from child support if they are married or pass away. If the parent with physical or legal custody remarries, then the child support order will also be terminated.

Parents of disabled children are obligated to pay child support indefinitely. This type of order requires that the disability exist before the child turns 18. The payment amount may change after the child turns 18, but that is dependent on the cost of the child’s disability and the court’s decision.

If a parent dies before paying the full child support amount, their estate’s funds may be utilized. In some cases, the court will require the paying parent to carry a life insurance policy in case they die, and that policy must include the child as their beneficiary.

Our Harris County child support lawyers can help determine whether you must continue paying child support. We can also help modify child support so you and your child have the financial assistance for your growing needs. We will work tirelessly for your best interest throughout the entire process. Call today for your free consultation.

How Can Child Support Attorneys Help with My Child Support Issues?

Hiring a skilled attorney is crucial when facing child support issues. The well-being of your children is on the line, and you should take every precaution to ensure their best interests are met. If you are a paying parent, you also deserve to have your rights respected, including getting a fair child support order that meets your financial abilities and needs.

Some ways experienced child support lawyers can help include:

• Representing you confidently in Texas courts
• Resolving child support disputes between parents in disagreement
• Accurately presenting the parent’s net monthly income to ensure a fair child support order is achieved
• Arguing for more child support when a receiving parent has increased needs
• Determining whether the custodial or noncustodial parent should be responsible for making child support payments
• Determining a custody arrangement in the best interests of the child, be that a sole managing conservatorship or joint managing conservatorship
• Answering other questions as they arise in the divorce case
• Modifying child support payments when appropriate
• Seeking retroactive child support when necessary
• Enforcing the court order by taking legal action for missed payments
• Offering legal counsel based on years of experience in family law

If you are facing issues with child support payments, you should not have to confront this challenging matter alone. Whether you are paying or receiving child support, these matters will probably have a profound impact on your life. You deserve to have your rights respected and to get a fair decision from the court. A child support attorney can help resolve disputes, answer your questions, and fight for the most favorable results possible in your case.

Should You Hire Our Child Support Lawyer in Houston, TX?

Managing child support and the legal process behind it can be complicated for someone not entirely familiar with the Texas Family Code. That is why we highly encourage you to contact Horak Law for any matters pertaining to child support. Matthew Horak and his legal team represent both debtor parents and those petitioning for child support. We have assisted parents with modifications, terminations, and deviations from the child support schedule.

Our legal team is devoted to getting favorable results for parents and children. We believe that the rights of Texas parents should be respected, including getting the monthly resources they need to have a stable, abundant life. What’s more, each child deserves to have their best interest protected. We will work tirelessly to get you the results you need so you can take care of your children and yourself. We can also handle various family law matters, including child custody, property division, and more.

To learn more about us, call our office today at (713) 225-8000. You can also submit an online contact form to set up your first consultation. Horak Law serves clients in and around both Houston and The Woodlands.