San Antonio Child Support Attorneys
How Much Will You Be Paying for Child Support in Texas?
Every parent is obligated to financially support their child—even if they are unmarried or divorced. Calculating and awarding child support is integral to a divorce if you have children with your spouse. You’ll also face this situation if you and your child's other parent are not married.
Regardless of your situation, our child support attorney in San Antonio is here to help. At The Law Office of Derek S. Ritchie, PLLC, we put years of legal experience to work for parents navigating the murky waters of a child support dispute. When you choose our family law firm, you can rest assured that your case is in good hands.
Discuss your case today by contacting us at (210) 702-2203. Your initial consultation is free of charge.
The Legal Process for Obtaining Child Support
Seeking child support in Texas involves a defined process that varies depending on the parents' marital status.
Below, we discuss the steps involved based on the circumstances.
Divorce Proceedings
A child support order can be included as part of the proceedings when a couple is getting divorced. This order outlines the financial responsibilities of each parent towards their child.
Unmarried Parents and Paternity Establishment
For unmarried parents, establishing paternity is necessary before the court can issue a child support order. Paternity determines the legal father of the child. If there's a disagreement about paternity, the court may require the alleged father to undergo a paternity test to confirm biological ties.
Biological parents can establish paternity voluntarily by completing an Acknowledgement of Paternity form. Both parents sign this form and legally recognize the child's father without a court order.
Once paternity is established, one of the parents can submit a form for child support.
Calculating Child Support in Texas
In Texas, your custody order will directly impact the amount of child support you pay or receive. Most of the time, it’s the non-custodial parent—the parent who spends the least time with the child—who is required to pay child support.
Child support awards are calculated based on the non-custodial parent’s income. Parents can agree to pay more than the amount calculated by the state’s guidelines and formula, but they cannot arrange to pay less. If the parents cannot agree on an amount, the court will decide and order payments.
The state’s child support guidelines are as follows:
- 1 child: 20% of paying parent’s net resources
- 2 children: 25% of paying parent’s net resources
- 3 children: 30% of paying parent’s net resources
- 4 children: 35% of paying parent’s net resources
- 5 children: 40% of paying parent’s net resources
- 6+ children: not less than the amount for 5 children
Why Choose The Law Office of Derek S. Ritchie, PLLC?
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Work Directly With Your Attorneys
Derek and his team will work directly with you through every step of your case. It’s important to us that your case receives highly personalized attention. You instilled your trust in us and we will work to meet and exceed your expectations.
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We Fight to Win
We’re competitive by nature and have a versatile legal style. We always seek an amicable outcome among different parties. We’re also prepared and ready to take your case to trial.
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Complimentary Consultations
We strive to create an environment where you feel safe and protected. We recommend starting with a complimentary consultation to review your case together. Evening and weekend consultations are available by appointment only.