★★★★★
Lisa Marie 3/18/26
“From the very first time I walked into his office, Michael showed compassion and understanding for the unique circumstances of my case, which involved my child and a serious medical condition. He immediately recognized how important my child’s safety and wellbeing were to me.What stood out the most was that he truly listened. He treated our situation with respect, urgency, and care. Michael is also incredibly knowledgeable, and his experience and confidence were evident throughout the entire process. Because of this, I always felt supported and reassured that we were in the best hands.
I’m incredibly grateful for his help and would highly recommend him to anyone looking for an attorney who truly cares about the families he represents.
If I ever need legal help again, he will be the first person I would call.”
Texas Child Support Laws
How the calculation works at the start of your case affects your finances for years. The numbers in your final order compound across the life of the obligation, and errors at the beginning mean thousands of dollars over time. This page walks through how Texas child support is calculated, how it is paid, and when and how it can be modified or enforced.
Michael Ireland & Associates Child Support Lawyers
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How Texas Calculates Child Support
Texas child support starts with the obligor parent’s monthly net resources. Net resources include wages, salary, self-employment income, rental income, retirement and disability benefits, and most other forms of income.[1]
From that gross figure, the court subtracts federal income tax, Social Security tax, state income tax, union dues, and the cost of the child’s health and dental insurance. The federal income tax is calculated as if the obligor were a single person with one exemption.
The court then applies the statutory percentage based on the number of children before the court:
- 1 child: 20 percent of net resources
- 2 children: 25 percent
- 3 children: 30 percent
- 4 children: 35 percent
- 5 children: 40 percent
- 6 or more children: not less than 40 percent
Adjustments apply when the obligor has children from other relationships who are not before the court. The guidelines also apply to net resources up to a statutory cap that the Office of the Attorney General reviews and adjusts periodically. Income above the cap is not automatically included, though a court can order additional support when the proven needs of the child justify it.
When Courts Deviate From the Guidelines
The guidelines are a rebuttable presumption, not a fixed rule. A Texas court can order more or less than the guideline amount when guideline support would not be in the best interest of the child.[2]
Factors that can support a deviation include:
- The age and needs of the child
- The ability of the parents to contribute to the child’s support
- Financial resources available to support the child
- The amount of time each parent has possession of the child
- The amount of any other child support or alimony being paid
- The cost of childcare and travel for visitation
- The child’s special educational, medical, or extracurricular needs
- Provision of a home, automobile, or other significant in-kind support
- Debts assumed by one parent
- Any other reason consistent with the child’s best interest
When a court deviates from the guidelines, the order must include specific findings supporting the deviation. Those findings matter later if either side considers a modification or an appeal.
Medical and Dental Support
Texas requires every child support order to address health and dental insurance for the child in addition to base support.[3] The court will order one parent to provide health insurance if it is reasonably available through employment, and similar rules apply to dental insurance.
When health insurance is not available at a reasonable cost, the court can order cash medical support paid in addition to base child support. Uninsured medical and dental expenses are typically allocated between the parents, often split evenly.
How Child Support Is Paid
Texas pays most child support through an income withholding order.[4] The obligor’s employer withholds the support from each paycheck and sends it to the Texas State Disbursement Unit, which then forwards it to the receiving parent.
Income withholding protects both parents. The obligor has a clean record of payment. The receiving parent does not have to chase money each month. In limited situations, the parents can agree to direct payment, but that arrangement carries real risk if disputes arise later.
Modifying a Texas Child Support Order
Texas allows modification of an existing child support order in two situations. The first is a material and substantial change in the circumstances of the child or a parent since the prior order.[5]
The second route is the three-year rule. A request made at least three years after the prior order qualifies when the current guideline calculation would differ from the existing order by 20 percent or $100.
Common reasons for a modification include a parent’s job change, a raise or pay cut, or a change in the child’s needs. A modification can adjust the amount up or down. The standard is what the court can now order under current circumstances, not whether the prior order was fair when entered.
Enforcement and Back Child Support
When child support is not paid, Texas gives the receiving parent and the court substantial tools to enforce the order. Wage garnishment, liens on bank accounts and real property, and interception of state and federal tax refunds are routine. Other tools include suspension of driver’s and professional licenses, denial of passport renewal, and contempt of court that can carry jail time.
Back child support and arrearages accrue interest and do not disappear over time. They survive the child’s eighteenth birthday and follow the obligor until paid in full. Enforcement can be brought by the receiving parent or by the Texas Office of the Attorney General’s Child Support Division.
If you are behind on payments, talking to a lawyer early can change what is on the table. Limited defenses exist, payment arrangements are sometimes accepted, and modification routes can stop the bleed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Texas uses guideline percentages tied to the obligor’s monthly net resources. The percentage starts at 20 percent for one child and steps up to at least 40 percent for six or more. The court can deviate from the guidelines when justified by the child’s best interest.
Net resources include wages, salary, self-employment income, rental income, retirement and disability benefits, and most other income. From that, the court subtracts federal and state income taxes, Social Security, union dues, and the cost of the child’s health and dental insurance. The figure is calculated monthly.
Texas child support generally continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever comes later. Support can also continue indefinitely for a child with a qualifying disability that began before the child turned 18.
Yes, in two situations. The first is a material and substantial change in circumstances since the order was entered. The second is the three-year rule: it has been three or more years since the order, and the current guideline calculation would differ by at least 20 percent or $100.
You have enforcement options through the court and the Texas Office of the Attorney General. Tools include wage withholding, license suspension, contempt of court, liens, and tax-refund interception. Acting early protects your position and limits how far the arrears can grow.
Yes. The obligation continues until the court modifies it. Filing for a modification quickly is important, because the court can typically modify support back to the date the modification was filed, not the date you lost the job.
The court can impute income to a parent who is intentionally underemployed or hiding income. Building that evidence requires careful work: tax returns, lifestyle analysis, bank records, and business documentation. The real income figure can be established, but it takes effort.
How Michael Ireland & Associates Helps Texas Families With Child Support
Michael Ireland & Associates represents Texas clients in child support matters from initial calculations to modifications, enforcement, and complex income disputes. The firm acts as a steady guide throughout the process. Clients get a clear view of where the case stands, what comes next, and what each decision means for the long-term picture.
Michael Ireland leads the firm as a Board-Certified Family Law Specialist. The team handles the full range of Texas child support matters, including cases involving self-employed obligors, high-net-worth families, multiple-family situations, military pay, and enforcement of back support. The firm brings the same disciplined approach to every case: clarity about what Texas law requires, honest answers about specific risks, and a clear path forward.
What working with the firm looks like:
- An initial consultation with an attorney so you can ask questions and understand your situation before deciding anything.
- A clear strategy and roadmap built around your goals and the specific facts of your case.
- Direct, candid communication. Honest assessments of risk and timing. No guarantees about specific results.
- Disciplined preparation. Careful documentation, organized financials, and a case file that holds up to scrutiny.
Schedule a Consultation
A child support order shapes your finances and your child’s financial security for years. The numbers compound across the life of the obligation. The difference between a well-prepared case and a rushed one shows up in every paycheck after the order is signed. The Michael Ireland & Associates team explains how Texas law applies to your specific facts and what a sound process for your situation would involve.
To start the conversation, contact us online.