Child Support

Child Support: Child support can be established in a divorce or SAPCR proceeding. The Texas Family Code has guidelines to establish child support. Child support is based on many sources of income, including wages, salaries, bonuses, overtime, rental income, child support received for another child, interest income, etc. Child support is based on a calculated net income of gross earnings less social security, medicare, and withholding for single and one. Union dues and the cost of insuring the child(ren) on a health insurance policy can also be deducted before applying the appropriate percentage. The percentage of net income for one child is 20%, two children is 25%, three children is 30%, etc. If the obligor (person paying child support) owes child support to two different parents, the percentage owed to each will be lower. For example, if an obligor has two children with two different people, he or she will pay 17.5% for each child.

Generally, child support continues until the child has attained the age of 18 years or graduated from high school, whichever is later. There are a few other things that will end a child support obligation, such as marriage, death, emancipation, or if the court finds that the child is 18, but has failed to comply with certain enrollment or attendance requirements. The court cannot order a parent to pay for the child's college. If the parents agree to this in the divorce decree, it is enforceable as a contract.