San Antonio Child Support Law Firm

Family Law Attorney

One of the most emotional decisions to be made in a divorce is that of child custody and resultantly child support. Child custody will need to be determined either by consent of the divorcing parties or by the courts if the parties cannot come to an agreement. The spouse that retains custody is known as the custodial parent. Since the custodial parent is generally the one housing and making most of the legal decisions regarding the child(ren), the courts often award child support payments to this parent. Therefore, the non-custodial parent is usually ordered to pay the child support to help cover the costs associated with rearing the common child(ren).

The Texas Family code uses guideline percentages to calculate child support payments. These guidelines are based on the first $6,000 of the non custodial parent’s income. Depending upon the number of children and if there are any proven special needs the guideline percentages are as follows:

• 1 child – 20% of net income
• 2 children – 25% of net income
• 3 children – 30% of net income
• 4 children – 35% of net income
• 5 children – 40% of net income
• 6 or more children – not less than 40% of net income

The best interest of the child is first and foremost in the eyes of the Texas courts. Even if the non-custodial parent moves out of state, they are still required to pay child support. Children need to be as financially stable as they were before the parents divorce. Income that is considered include; salary, commissions, retirement benefits, trusts, dividends, gifts, and various other types of income. From the total income, social security taxes, federal taxes, union dues, and the cost of health insurance for the child are deducted to arrive at the net income the child support payments will be based on. Other factors can affect this amount and as your lawyer, I will inform you of any additional discounts that may apply.

Going through a divorce can turn your life and your children’s lives upside down. The last thing you need is a cold and uncaring lawyer. My Law office, the Law Office of Kathy Orr, is dedicated to helping clients out of the whirlwind of emotions associated with divorce and back onto stable ground. I am a lawyer committed to helping my clients view their divorce not as an ending, but rather as a new beginning. Call or email my office today to begin focusing on a new chapter of your life that is about to begin.