Dallas Child Support Attorney
Providing Financial Support for Your Children
When children are involved in a divorce, the court will address a number of issues to ensure that they are provided for after the dissolution of their parent's marriage. Among these matters, child support is one of the most significant. Child support is the court-ordered financial support to account for the costs of raising a child.
Determining child support can be tricky and the needs of one family may not align with the needs of another. If you are facing a child support dispute or need guidance on establishing a child support order, Mathur Law Offices, P.C. is ready to help you.
Which Parent Is Required to Pay Child Support?
In most cases, the court requires the noncustodial parent to pay child support. However, if the circumstances warrant it, both parents may have to pay a certain amount of child support regardless.
In Texas, there are clear statutory guidelines as to how these payments will be calculated. Parents are free to pay more than the state's guideline amount, however, they cannot agree amongst themselves to pay less. In all cases, the court must approve the payments.
How Is Child Support Calculated in Texas?
Texas uses uniform, statewide guidelines to calculate child support. Usually, the noncustodial parent will be ordered to pay a monthly child support amount that is based on the Texas child support guideline formula, which considers both parents' income, and the number of children who need to be supported.
Income includes a broad range of financial sources, it includes salary, wages, tips, commissions, overtime, bonuses, unemployment benefits, workers' compensation awards, Social Security disability, gifts, prizes, alimony etc. All of these sources are calculated to determine gross income.
The net income is then calculated after subtracting certain expenses from the parent's gross income such as state and federal income tax, and insurance premiums for the children among other deductions.
Once the net income is determined, it is applied to the number of children that need support:
- 1 child = 20%
- 2 children = 25%
- 3 children = 30%
- 4 children = 35%
- 5 children = 40%
Most child support orders are enforceable until the child turns 18, but the court may require the payments to continue until the child graduates from high school. Other factors like mental disabilities, marriage of the child, and military involvement can also affect child support
While some cases may be straightforward and resolved amicably, others may involve disputes or conflict that requires the attention of a skilled child support attorney.
At the Mathur Law Offices, P.C., our legal team has successfully handled many child support cases and we are prepared to represent your best interests, no matter what your case may entail.
Enforcement & Modification to Child Support
There may be times when one parent fails to pay child support. As child support is a binding court order, anyone who violates the terms can be subject to repercussions. Our legal team represents parties looking to enforce child support orders through various measures, including wage garnishment awarded by the court, or parties looking to defend themselves against negative penalties.
As changes to your financial situation may be sufficient grounds for a modification of an existing order, our Dallas family law attorneys can also help you petition for a modification to your child support arrangement.
Contact an Experienced Dallas Divorce Lawyer Today
The Mathur Law Offices, P.C. is dedicated to zealously representing our clients, walking them through their process step-by-step, and fighting to obtain the most favorable resolution possible. As child support is a serious matter that family law courts pay close attention to, it is in your best interests to have a proven, experienced attorney on your side.
If you would like to learn more about child support and how our firm can help, please contact the Mathur Law Offices, P.C. as soon as possible.