Texas Child Support Attorneys
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Child Support Lawyer in Texas
No matter the state of their parents’ relationship, every child deserves to have the support of both of their parents. That’s what child support is all about. It is money that is sent from the noncustodial parent to the custodial parent in order to pay for things that the children need.
The financial support from the noncustodial parent goes toward supporting the children. That can mean providing them with a safe home, food to eat, a good school, or access to extracurricular activities. The amount of financial support will be determined during the divorce either through mediation with your Texas child support attorney or by the court.
Child Support Amounts
Calculating the amount of child support depends on quite a few different factors. Some charts help courts decide how much the noncustodial parent should be expected to pay. First, the judge will calculate the total resources that each parent has. This includes their salary and other income, interest, net rental income, and any pensions or social security income.
In rare cases, the noncustodial parent is intentionally underemployed and earning much less than they could. If the court suspects that this is the case, they can order child support based on the earning potential of the obligor rather than what they are actually taking home. The state of Texas does not want parents to be able to avoid caring for their children to the best of their ability.
The amount of child support depends on many factors. These include the age of the child, the child’s needs, and the parents’ capacity. Typically, one child is entitled to 20% of their parent’s resources, and every additional child means an additional five percent.
Determining the amount of child support is something that is done in court. Child support is legally ordered, which means that if the noncustodial parent is not paying it, the custodial parent can pursue them legally. In many cases, the child support can be garnished directly from the obligor’s wages, so that the money is sent straight to the custodial parent.
Ensuring Correct Payments
If there are any issues collecting child support, your lawyer can help you. A Texas child support lawyer can help you get the money that you are entitled to on behalf of your children. Money is usually paid to the Texas Disbursement Unit and then sent to the other parent, so you do not need to worry about needing to work directly with the other parent on this.
If you are the parent paying child support, you want to be sure that you are completing all of your obligations and that you have a good record of that. When you partner with a Texas child support lawyer, you know that your children are being cared for and that you are paying an amount of child support that is fair and comfortable for you.
The goal of a child support attorney in Texas is not to punish either parent. Child support is not dependent on your parenting quality, and it is not connected to visitation rights. Child support is also not meant to pay for the wants of the custodial parent. Instead, it is simply a way to ensure that both parents are contributing equally to the financial needs of their children.
Regardless of the situation of the parents, we believe that all parents want what is best for their children, and to provide them the opportunity to grow up and become successful adults. Paying child support is one way that noncustodial parents can contribute to this goal. If you are working on determining a child support agreement, a good Texas child support lawyer can help you. Give us a call today.
