Do you need assistance with a child support matter in Austin, TX? Our Austin child support lawyers can help you with legal representation. You can count on Kazen Family Law & Divorce Lawyers for securing child support or obtaining a fair payment amount. Call our law offices in Austin, Texas, to schedule a free consultation today at (512) 236-1315.
Our attorneys have over 19 years of experience when it comes to helping families resolve sensitive family law matters. We know that although Texas has child support guidelines, they aren’t always set in stone.
Clients like you have trusted us to protect their interests since we started our law firm in 2005. You can also trust that we know how to handle even the most complex case. Contact us today for more information.
Most parents want to put their child’s needs first. Still, as a parent, it can be difficult to work out who pays for what your child needs–especially in the midst of a contentious divorce. Emotions tend to run high even in the most amicable situations.
Our Austin family lawyers at Kazen Family Law & Divorce Lawyers can help. We know that it can be overwhelming when you’re navigating sensitive issues involving child support and custody.
When you hire our top-rated attorneys, you’ll have a supportive team to:
To learn more, call our Austin family law attorneys to arrange a free consultation today.
Until a child turns 18, both parents are required to support them financially under Texas family laws. Parents who are married must jointly support their children. Two parents who have never married are also obligated to support their children.
One parent may be ordered to make cash payments to the child’s other parent, often to the custodial parent with primary child custody. The court can also order parents to provide medical and dental insurance. However, note that child support obligations aren’t conditioned on whether a parent has possession of, or access to, the child. Each parent is obligated to support their child regardless of custody arrangements.
The obligation to support a child doesn’t end just because two parents divorce. Support obligations, however, do become more complex. It’s also possible that Texas family judges will order a parent to pay retroactive support if they haven’t supported the child in the past.
Yes. Family law judges can issue temporary orders requiring parents to pay child support before a divorce is finalized. Generally, the interim payments stop when the divorce decree is finalized.
While all parents are required to support their children, child support obligations don’t last indefinitely.
Parents in Texas may be required to pay child support until:
Parents of disabled children may be required to provide financial support indefinitely, especially if the child is unable to support themselves.
When determining how much a parent will pay in child support after a divorce, the goal is typically to ensure that the child enjoys the same standard of living as they did prior to the divorce.
Texas has detailed guidelines that determine how child support obligations and rights are determined. The courts begin by evaluating the financial resources of the noncustodial parent’s income. The guidelines generally apply when the parent’s net monthly income is no more than $7,000 (the $7,000 amount is adjusted from time to time).
The following amounts are subtracted from the basic income level:
All of the parent’s resources are considered, considering any money the parent is actually receiving.
That includes:
Parents will be required to provide documentation about their resources. That documentation includes income tax returns, pay stubs and financial statements.
Once the court determines the parent’s financial resources, the court will apply a percentage based on the number of children to be supported. Generally, the more children involved, the higher that percentage will be. Courts also consider whether the parent is paying child support from children of a prior marriage.
Courts have discretion in determining how a parent must pay child support, whether via:
In the end, the goal is to ensure that the paying parent complies with the final child support order.
Generally speaking, child support obligations are based on the paying parent’s financial resources and the number of children to be supported. However, there are situations where the parent’s financial resources are difficult to identify.
Courts have broad discretion to consider a wide variety of factors, including the parent’s:
Typically, these factors are relevant in situations where the parent is unemployed or underemployed. Of course, when a parent actively tries to evade their fair child support obligations, the situation becomes much more complicated. It will be critical to hire an experienced Austin child support attorney who can protect your family.
Our team at Kazen Family Law & Divorce Lawyers is prepared to help your family resolve even the most complicated issues. Contact our child support lawyers in Austin today to learn more about your legal options.
Depending on your child’s age, child support obligations could continue for years or even more than a decade. A lot of different things can happen during that time.
Because the law recognizes that circumstances do change, parents and Texas can request modification of a final child support order in certain situations. That said, only the court can modify a child support arrangement under Texas law. You can’t simply agree to changes with your child’s co-parent.
You can request modification based on the following:
As a parent, you can request a review of child support obligations and rights every three years.
Obtaining modification of an existing child support order can be complicated. If your circumstances have changed, contact our law firm in Austin today. We can stand by your side and help you throughout the entire process.
Courts in Texas take child support obligations seriously. Failure to pay can carry a wide range of penalties.
Depending on the situation, courts can penalize non-compliant parents by:
You can also file a lawsuit against the non-compliant parent. Non-compliant parents can face contempt of court charges and even jail time.
When dealing with child support matters, it’s critical to have an experienced Austin child support lawyer by your side. While Texas guidelines will guide the process, disputes often arise. Fortunately, our lawyers understand the child support laws inside and out. Contact our legal team at Kazen Family Law & Divorce Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today at (512) 236-1315.
Kazen Family Law & Divorce Lawyers
609 W 9th St Suite 101, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 236-1315
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