San Antonio Child Support Lawyer

How Much Will You Be Paying For Child Support in Texas?

Every parent is obligated to financially support their child – even if the parents are unmarried or divorced. Calculating and awarding child support is an integral part of a divorce if you have children with your spouse. You’ll also face this situation if you and the other parent of your child are not married.

Regardless of the circumstances of your situation, our child support lawyer 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.

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 amount of 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

Modifying & Enforcing Child Support

If the child support order you agreed to years ago no longer reflects your needs or ability to pay, you can request a modification. The process can be difficult, and ultimately, a court will usually only amend child support payments if it is in the child’s best interest. Our child support lawyer in San Antonio can help you petition for a modification or defend against a modification request from the other parent.

Our firm can also help you enforce a child support order that the other parent is violating. If the other parent of your child is failing to make their payments on time and in full, you can take legal action to hold them liable. If they are found in contempt of court, they could face serious penalties.