Texas Child Support Enforcement Laws

Texas courts can use several remedies, often at the same time, to collect what is owed. The right mix depends on why the other parent is not paying.

• Wage withholding. A court can order the paying parent’s employer to deduct support directly from each paycheck. ^[2]
• Cumulative money judgment. The court can confirm the total arrears and enter a judgment for the full past-due amount plus interest. ^[3]
• Liens on property, such as real estate, bank accounts, or a personal injury settlement.
• License suspension. The state can suspend a driver’s, professional, or hunting and fishing license for serious delinquency. ^[4]
• Interception of tax refunds and lottery winnings.

Contempt for Willful Nonpayment

The strongest remedy is a contempt finding, which applies when a parent could pay but chooses not to. A court can enforce any provision of a support order by contempt.

Contempt can be coercive or punitive. Coercive contempt can mean jail until the parent pays or agrees to a workable plan. A contempt record also strengthens future enforcement if nonpayment continues.

When a court finds a parent failed to pay, it generally must order that parent to cover your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs, though the court can waive this for good cause.[5] That waiver option narrows significantly if the parent is held in contempt and owes $20,000 or more in arrears. That shifts the cost of enforcement onto the parent who caused it.

How to File a Motion for Enforcement

You enforce an order by filing a motion for enforcement in the court with continuing, exclusive jurisdiction. That is almost always the court that issued your original order. Here is how the process usually unfolds.

1. Pull your order and payment records. Gather a certified copy of the order and a clear log of what was due, what was paid, and what is missing.
2. File the motion for enforcement. The motion must state each missed payment with the date and amount, so the other parent has clear notice.
3. Serve the other parent. The other parent must be served and given notice of the hearing so they can respond.
4. Attend the enforcement hearing. The judge reviews the record, hears any defense, and decides which remedies apply.
5. Collect through the court’s order. The court can order withholding, a judgment, a payment plan, or contempt to secure payment.

Deadlines for Enforcing Child Support

Texas gives you a long window to collect, but the deadlines differ by remedy. ^[6]

• For contempt, you must file within two years after the child becomes an adult or the order ends.
• For a money judgment on arrears, you have until the tenth anniversary after the order ends.

Because the contempt window closes first, waiting can cost you your most powerful remedy. Filing early keeps every option on the table.

Attorney General or Private Attorney

You have two paths to enforce child support in Texas. Each has tradeoffs worth weighing for your situation.

The Texas Child Support Division of the Attorney General can withhold wages, suspend licenses, and intercept refunds at no direct cost. It handles a large volume of cases, so timing and personal attention can vary.

A private attorney can file your motion directly and press for faster, case-specific remedies. That often means quicker contempt findings, tailored payment plans, and recovery of your attorney’s fees.

Common Defenses You May Face

The other parent can raise defenses, and knowing them helps you prepare. A judge will test each one against the payment record.

• Proof that payments were actually made, so accurate records matter.
• A genuine inability to pay despite real effort, which can affect contempt but not the debt.
• Time that the child actually lived with the paying parent, which may offset some amounts.

Michael Ireland & Associates represents Texas parents on both sides of enforcement, from collecting overdue support to responding to a motion filed against you. Enforcement is not just paperwork: you have to prove each missed payment and tie your request to the right remedy.

Michael Ireland leads the firm as a Board-Certified Family Law Specialist recognized by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. The team handles enforcement across Bexar, Comal, and Victoria counties, including wage withholding, arrears judgments, contempt, and defense against enforcement. You get clarity about what Texas law allows, an honest read on your record, and a clear path forward.

What working with the firm looks like:

• A clear read on your position. An honest assessment of what the payment record shows and which remedies fit before you file.
• Preparation that holds up. An organized arrears log, a documented timeline, and evidence a judge can act on quickly.
• A path toward agreement where possible. A workable payment plan when it serves your child, with courtroom enforcement ready when it does not.
• Direct, candid communication. Clear updates and honest assessments of risk and timing, with no guarantees about specific results.

Enforce a Child Support Order in Texas

Your child is owed this support, and you do not have to chase it alone. We can help you document the arrears and pursue the remedies that fit your case. Bring a copy of your order and a record of what was paid and missed to your first meeting.

Michael Ireland and Associates meets clients at three locations across San Antonio, New Braunfels, and Victoria.

Call (830) 357-7437 to schedule a consultation and take the next step toward the support your child is owed.

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