Does Anyone Know the Child Support Laws?

*** April is quoting the wrong law... Her law applies if ALL THE children he is supporting are yours. Since that's not the case (kids in different households), read below. ***

First piece of advice, don't say, "I want what I'm entitled to." It's not money for YOU, it's money for your CHILD. Your child is entitled, not you...

Anyway, here is the link to the child support code:

http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/FA/content/htm/...

If he is supporting 2 other children, then he'll owe you 16% of his monthly NET INCOME. Make sure you carefully understand what NET income means according to Child Support guidelines...

http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/FA/content/htm/...

Also, be aware that:

TX doesn't include day care expenses in the Child Support calculation (unlike some states).

TX also doesn't take into consideration how much visitation the father exercises or gets. So he could see the child for every court ordered visit or none of them, the child support payment is the same (unlike some states).

TX doesn't take into consideration YOUR income either. This can either be good or bad...

Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful

Direct from the Texas Family Code:

§ 154.125. APPLICATION OF GUIDELINES TO NET RESOURCES OF
$6,000 OR LESS. (a) The guidelines for the support of a child in this section are specifically designed to apply to situations in which the obligor's monthly net resources are $6,000 or less.
(b) If the obligor's monthly net resources are $6,000 or less, the court shall presumptively apply the following schedule in rendering the child support order:

CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES

BASED ON THE MONTHLY NET RESOURCES OF THE OBLIGOR
1 child 20% of Obligor's Net Resources
2 children 25% of Obligor's Net Resources
3 children 30% of Obligor's Net Resources
4 children 35% of Obligor's Net Resources
5 children 40% of Obligor's Net Resources
6+ children Not less than the amount for 5 children

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, § 1, eff. A. 20, 1995.

§ 154.126. APPLICATION OF GUIDELINES TO NET RESOURCES OF
MORE THAN $6,000 MONTHLY.

(a) If the obligor's net resources exceed $6,000 per month, the court shall presumptively apply the percentage guidelines to the first $6,000 of the obligor's net resources. Without further reference to the percentage recommended by these guidelines, the court may order additional amounts of child support as appropriate, depending on the income of the
parties and the proven needs of the child.

(b) The proper calculation of a child support order that
exceeds the presumptive amount established for the first $6,000 of the obligor's net resources requires that the entire amount of the presumptive award be subtracted from the proven total needs of the child. After the presumptive award is subtracted, the court shall allocate between the parties the responsibility to meet the additional needs of the child according to the circumstances of the parties. However, in no event may the obligor be required to pay more child support than the greater of the presumptive amount or the amount equal to 100 percent of the proven needs of the child.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, § 1, eff. A. 20, 1995.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi A.,

I'm not sure what precentage your ex should be paying. But if you go to the General Attorney's website it will tell you everything you need.

Good luck!

C. Roeschen
The Trinity Group
Keller Williams
###-###-####
www.TheTrinityGroup.org
www.ValueMyNeighborhoodOnLine.com
____@____.com

A.,
I dont want to discourage you, but unless you have a LOT of money you really want to throw away, please dont stress yourself out with this, its not worth it. I have an 8 yr old and he has a half brother who is 10 and me and the other woman have spent a fortune and 10 years trying to get him to pay. We both get scraps every once in a while, but nothing to speak of. Texas has thousands upon thousands of cases just your yours and mine, and there is really no way they can enforce it unless he scares really easily. My ex only pays when he wants to and that isnt much at all, if I'm lucky, my son gets maybe 3 or 4 checks a year, and I'm not sure how much the other child gets either. He owes them both way over $20,000 a piece, and they have him paying arrears, but again, we dont see it too often. But anyway, maybe your ex wont be like that and will want to do the right thing. Good Luck with all of it.
If you have any more questions, give me a shout, I've done a lot of reading on the internet about child support and all that. Debbie