How Does Child Support Work in Texas?
Child support in Texas is typically paid by the non-custodial parent and is based on that parent’s net monthly income. Courts consider wages, bonuses, and other income, with caps that limit standard calculations. Support generally lasts until the child turns 18 or graduates high school and is enforced through wage withholding, penalties, and court orders.
Parents in Texas often feel overwhelmed and confused when trying to understand how child support works. Questions about how much support will be ordered, who pays, and how long payments last can create stress during an already difficult family situation. Many parents worry about whether support will truly cover a child’s needs or whether payments will be fair based on income. Changes like divorce, separation, or a custody dispute can make the financial uncertainty even more intense. Without clear information, it is easy to feel unprepared or powerless.
The frustration increases because Texas child support rules are strict and mistakes can have long term consequences. Falling behind on payments can lead to wage garnishment, license suspension, or even jail time. On the other hand, accepting an incorrect support amount can strain finances for years. Understanding the system is critical to protecting both your child and your future.
In this article, you will discover how child support works in Texas, how payments are calculated and enforced, and how a child support attorney can help you protect your rights and your child’s best interests.
Who Pays Child Support and When Does It End
The non-custodial parent usually pays child support to the custodial parent. The non-custodial parent is the one who has the child less than 50% of the time.
However, Texas courts can order either parent or both parents to pay support depending on your specific situation. The decision depends on income, custody time, and your child’s needs.
Child support ends when:
- Your child turns 18 or graduates high school (whichever happens later)
- Your child gets married before age 18
- Your child dies
- A court declares your child emancipated
- Your child’s disability is removed (if support was extended for disability)
There’s one important exception. If your child has a disability that prevents them from supporting themselves, the court can order support to continue indefinitely.
How Is Child Support Calculated in Texas
Texas uses specific guidelines to calculate child support based on the paying parent’s “net resources.” Net resources means your monthly income after certain deductions are taken out.
The court presumes these guidelines are in your child’s best interest. This means the judge will usually follow the formula unless there’s a good reason not to.
Net Resources
Your net resources include all forms of income you receive each month. This goes beyond just your regular paycheck from your job.
Income that counts as resources:
- Wages, salary, tips, overtime pay, and bonuses
- Self-employment income and business profits
- Interest from savings accounts and investments
- Retirement benefits and pension payments
- Social Security benefits (except SSI)
- Unemployment compensation
- VA disability benefits
Deductions allowed from your income:
- Social Security and Medicare taxes
- Federal income tax (calculated as a single person with one exemption)
- State income tax if you pay it
- Union dues
- Health insurance premiums you pay for your child
Guideline Percentages
Once your monthly net resources are calculated, the court applies a percentage based on how many children need support.
- 1 child: 20% of net resources
- 2 children: 25% of net resources
- 3 children: 30% of net resources
- 4 children: 35% of net resources
- 5 children: 40% of net resources
- 6+ children: At least 40% of net resources
Cap and Maximum Child Support
As of September 2025, Texas caps child support calculations at $11,700 per month in net resources. This creates maximum monthly payments under the guidelines.
| Number of Children | Percentage | Maximum Monthly Payment |
| 1 child | 20% | $2,340 |
| 2 children | 25% | $2,925 |
| 3 children | 30% | $3,510 |
| 4 children | 35% | $4,095 |
| 5 children | 40% | $4,680 |
If you earn more than $11,700 monthly, the court can order additional support above these amounts. The receiving parent must prove your child has specific needs requiring more money.
Minimum Support and Low Income Rules
If your net monthly resources are very limited, the court may apply different rules. In low-income cases, courts may still order a monthly child support payment unless the parent is incarcerated or unable to work.
The court will look at your ability to earn income, not just your current income. If you’re unemployed but capable of working, you might still owe support based on minimum wage.
Multiple Families Adjustments
When you have children from different relationships, the guidelines adjust downward. These calculations get complex quickly.
The Texas Attorney General provides an online calculator to help estimate support when multiple families are involved. You should use this tool to get a rough idea of what you might owe.
Overtime, Bonuses, and Self-Employment
Variable income from overtime or bonuses gets averaged over time to determine a fair monthly amount. Courts typically look at your income history over 12-24 months.
If you’re self-employed or own a business, courts scrutinize your claimed expenses carefully. Personal expenses paid through your business may be added back to your income for support calculations.
Does 50/50 Custody Change Child Support
Having equal time with your child doesn’t automatically eliminate child support in Texas. The court still considers both parents’ incomes and your child’s needs.
If one parent earns significantly more than the other, they’ll likely pay support to ensure your child has similar living standards in both homes. This helps maintain consistency for your child.
Offset Child Support Examples
In 50/50 custody cases, courts sometimes calculate what each parent would owe and order the difference.
Example scenario: If you would owe $1,800 monthly and the other parent would owe $700 monthly, you’d pay $1,100 ($1,800 – $700 = $1,100) to the other parent.
What Does Child Support Cover in Texas
Child support covers your child’s basic needs like housing, food, clothing, and healthcare. It doesn’t automatically include extras like private school tuition or expensive activities.
The receiving parent has discretion in how they spend child support money, as long as it benefits your child. You cannot demand receipts or control how the money is used.
If you want specific expenses like private school or extracurricular activities covered separately, you must negotiate these costs and include them in your court order.
Medical and Dental Support
Every Texas child support order must include medical and dental support provisions. This is separate from your monthly support payment.
One parent must provide health insurance if it’s available at a reasonable cost. Reasonable cost means the premium doesn’t exceed 9% of that parent’s annual income.
If insurance isn’t available at reasonable cost, the court may order cash medical support payments instead. Uninsured medical and dental expenses are typically split 50/50 between parents unless the court orders otherwise.
How to Get a Child Support Order
You can establish child support through the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) or by hiring a private attorney. At Frank Vendt Child Custody & Divorce Attorneys, we help Fort Bend County families navigate the private court process.
Establish Paternity
For unmarried parents, you must legally establish fatherhood first. This can happen voluntarily by signing an Acknowledgment of Paternity form or through court-ordered genetic testing.
Establish a Court Order
Child support orders are created through family law cases including:
- Divorce proceedings: If you’re married to the other parent
- SAPCR cases: Suit Affecting Parent-Child Relationship for unmarried parents
- Paternity cases: To establish fatherhood and support
- Modification cases: To change existing orders
Collecting Through the Texas SDU
Nearly all Texas child support payments go through the State Disbursement Unit (SDU). This creates an official payment record for both parents.
Most collections happen through Income Withholding Orders that automatically deduct support from the paying parent’s paycheck. This ensures consistent, timely payments.
What Happens if Payments Are Missed
Child support is a court order, and failing to pay has serious consequences. Texas has many tools to enforce support orders and collect past-due amounts.
Enforcement Tools and Penalties
When you fall behind on support, the court or OAG can take several enforcement actions:
- License suspension: Driver’s, professional, hunting, and fishing licenses
- Credit reporting: Unpaid support damages your credit score
- Asset seizure: Liens on bank accounts, property, and investments
- Tax refund intercept: Federal and state refunds seized for support
- Contempt of court: Fines and possible jail time
- Passport denial: If you owe more than $2,500 in back support
Retroactive Child Support
Texas courts can order back support for up to four years before your case was filed. The court presumes four years of back support is appropriate unless you prove you were not avoiding your obligation.
This means even if you’ve never paid support, you could owe thousands in back payments when an order is finally established.
Can Child Support Be Modified?
You can change your support amount, but only through a formal court modification process. Informal agreements with the other parent aren’t legally enforceable and won’t protect you.
Three-Year Rule and Material Change
To modify support, you must prove one of two things:
A modification may be appropriate if a significant amount of time has passed since your last order and the newly calculated support amount differs materially from the current order.
Material change: There’s been a significant change in circumstances like job loss, substantial income change, or new children you’re legally obligated to support.
Unemployment and Incarceration
Losing your job doesn’t automatically reduce your support obligation. Courts may still expect you to pay based on minimum wage unless you prove you cannot work.
If you’re incarcerated for more than 180 days, the OAG will review your case for possible temporary adjustment. However, if you’re jailed for not paying support or family violence, your support won’t be reduced.
SSDI and SSI
Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) counts as income for child support calculations. If your child receives derivative SSDI benefits because of your disability, that amount may credit toward your monthly obligation.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) doesn’t count as income for support purposes because it’s need-based assistance.
Get Started with a Consultation
Texas child support laws can be complex, especially when dealing with variable income, multiple children, or modification requests. The attorneys at Frank Vendt Child Custody & Divorce Attorneys understand these complexities and help families in Richmond, Sugar Land, and throughout Fort Bend County.
We frequently assist small business owners with income calculations and high-asset families whose support needs exceed standard guidelines. Every family’s situation is unique, making personalized legal advice essential for protecting your rights and your child’s financial security.
Texas Child Support FAQs
How Much Is Child Support if I Make $2,000 a Week?
If you earn $2,000 weekly, your monthly gross income is approximately $8,667. After deductions, your net resources would be around $6,500-$7,000, resulting in roughly $1,300-$1,400 monthly support for one child.
Who Pays Child Support in 50/50 Custody?
Even with equal custody time, the higher-earning parent typically pays support to the lower-earning parent to equalize your child’s living standards between homes.
What Is the Minimum Child Support in Texas?
Texas has no statutory minimum; courts may set low monthly support only when the paying parent is incarcerated or unable to work.
Do Overtime and Bonuses Count Toward Child Support?
Yes, overtime and bonus income are included in net resources for calculating support, though courts may average this income over time for consistency.
Does Child Support Cover Extracurricular Activities or Private School?
Basic child support doesn’t automatically cover extras like private school or expensive activities. You must negotiate these costs separately and include them in your court order.
How Does Texas Handle Self-Employed Income for Child Support?
Courts examine tax returns, bank statements, and business records, often adding back personal expenses paid by the business to determine your true available income.
Can We Agree to Forgive Back Child Support?
No, parents cannot privately forgive past-due support (arrears) because this money belongs to the child and state. Only courts can forgive arrears in very limited circumstances.
How Do I Stop Income Withholding When My Child Graduates?
You must file a motion to terminate withholding with the court. Employers cannot stop withholding without receiving a new court order, even after your child turns 18.
Can I Withhold Visitation if the Other Parent Doesn’t Pay?
No, you cannot deny court-ordered visitation for non-payment of support. Visitation and support are separate legal issues, and withholding visitation could result in enforcement action against you.
What Changed Recently in Texas Child Support Law?
The net resources cap for calculating support increased to $11,700 monthly in September 2025. Texas periodically reviews these guidelines; consult the Texas Attorney General’s office for the most current review schedule.
Contact Frank Vendt Child Custody & Divorce Lawyers Today
Understanding how Texas child support works requires knowledge of complex state laws and local court procedures. At Frank Vendt Child Custody & Divorce Attorneys, we bring years of experience providing child support services to families in Fort Bend County, helping them establish fair and accurate support orders.
Whether you need to establish support for the first time, modify an existing order, or defend against an unfair request, our team provides clear guidance tailored to your unique situation. We serve clients throughout Richmond, Rosenberg, Katy, Sugar Land, and surrounding communities.
Schedule a confidential consultation today to discuss your child support questions and learn how we can help protect your family’s financial future.
