Child Support Attorneys Serving Central Texas
James & Newberry is ready to assist you with your child support needs. Whether you want to establish child support, modify an existing order, or address enforcement, we are here to serve as your family law attorneys and provide practical legal guidance, discuss options, and determine what to do next.
Talk to a Child Support AttorneyWhat is Child Support?
Child support is a court-ordered payment intended to help meet a child’s needs. The amount may depend on the paying parent’s net resources, the number of children included in the case, whether that parent has a legal duty to support other children, and other circumstances the court is permitted to consider. A support order may also address health insurance, dental coverage, and uninsured medical expenses.
How James & Newberry Can Help You
Child support matters can involve more than determining a monthly payment. You may need to establish support, respond to a request, modify an existing order, or enforce an order that is not being followed. James & Newberry provides personalized family law representation and helps you understand your rights, options, and the steps you’ll need to take.
Establishing Child Support
We help parents establish child support as part of a new custody or family law case. Our attorneys can explain how the court calculates support and what factors may affect the amount.
Child Support Modifications
Changes in income and resources, employment, family circumstances, or a child's needs may affect an existing support order. We can help you determine whether you may have grounds to request a child support modification and guide you through the process.
Responding to Child Support Requests
If the other parent has requested child support or you have received legal documents related to support, we can help review the request, explain what it may mean for you, and help you respond appropriately.
Child Support Enforcement
If a parent does not follow an existing child support order, enforcement may be necessary, so we help you understand your legal options and take appropriate steps to address unpaid or missed support.
Child Support Disputes
Disagreements may arise over income, expenses, payment history, or the amount of support being requested. Our attorneys can review the disputed issues and discuss whether negotiation, mediation, or court action may be appropriate.
How is Child Support Calculated in Texas?
Texas uses statutory guidelines to help courts determine child support in many cases. Under Texas Family Code §154.125, the court generally uses guideline percentages based on the obligor's monthly net income and resources, and the number of children requiring support. The calculation may also include other factors, such as additional children the obligor has a legal duty to support and certain allowable deductions.
These percentages are set out in Texas Family Code §154.125. The Office of the Attorney General also distinguishes the low-income calculation in its official child support calculator.
Texas Guideline Percentages
The chart is a helpful reference, but it will not tell every parent exactly what they may pay. Different percentages can apply when the paying parent supports other children or has less than $1,000 in monthly net resources. Other details may also affect the court’s calculation.
Is There a Cap on Child Support Guidelines?
Texas raised the monthly net-resource limit to $11,700 on September 1, 2025. Even if the paying parent has more than that in net resources, the standard percentage is usually figured on $11,700. The judge may look beyond the guideline amount if there is evidence that the child has additional needs.
What Counts as Income for Child Support?
The court may consider more than a parent's regular paycheck when determining resources available for child support. Salary, hourly wages, bonuses, overtime, commissions, investment income, retirement income, and other resources may factor into the calculation. Financial records can help establish a parent's income and resources. Depending on the circumstances, these may include:
- Pay stubs
- W-2 forms
- Tax returns
- Employment records
- Records of bonuses or commissions
- Bank, investment, or retirement records when relevant
- Other financial documentation related to the parent’s resources
What Deductions Affect Child Support?
The number on your paycheck before deductions is not the number used to calculate child support. Only certain deductions count under Texas law, such as applicable taxes, union dues, and the cost of health or dental coverage for the child. Money withheld for other reasons may still be included in your net resources.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Support
Child support can raise many questions, especially when income and resources, custody, or family circumstances change. Below, we answer some common questions to help you better understand Texas child support guidelines and your legal options.
What If a Parent Has Other Children?
Having a legal duty to support children from another relationship can affect the child support calculation. Texas law provides specific guidelines for situations involving additional children so that the final percentage may differ from the basic guideline amount.
What If a Parent Is Unemployed or Underemployed?
A parent's unemployment or reduced income does not automatically eliminate a child support obligation. When appropriate, a court may consider a parent's earning capacity and whether the parent is intentionally unemployed or underemployed.
Because the court's determination depends on the facts of the case, parents facing employment changes should seek legal advice before assuming how those changes will affect child support.
Can Child Support Be Higher Than the Guideline Amount?
The Texas guidelines do not necessarily place an absolute limit on what a parent may be ordered to pay. In certain circumstances, a court may consider factors such as a child's medical needs, educational expenses, extracurricular activities, or other needs when determining whether additional support is appropriate.
Can I Modify My Child Support Order?
A Texas court may consider modifying child support after a material and substantial change in circumstances. In some cases, modification may also be requested when at least three years have passed, and the amount under the current guidelines would differ from the existing order by either 20% or $100. Exceptions can apply, including when the existing amount resulted from an agreement that differed from the guidelines. An attorney can review the order and the changes that have occurred since it was entered.
Other Practice Areas:
Child Support Representation Across Central Texas
From its New Braunfels office, James & Newberry works with parents in Comal, Guadalupe, and Hays counties. Some are trying to put a child support order in place, while others have questions about a request, an existing order, or payments that have not been made.
- New Braunfels
- Bulverde
- Canyon Lake
- Spring Branch
- Garden Ridge
- Comal County
- Hays County
- Guadalupe County
- Surrounding Central Texas communities
Talk With a Child Support Attorney
You may be unsure what should count as income, whether the current amount can be changed, or what to do when an order is not being followed. Contact James & Newberry to share what is happening and discuss whether our attorneys may be able to assist.
Contact Our Team Today
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