How is child support calculated in Texas?

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Texas has established child support guidelines, which are presumed to be the appropriate level of support to be paid by the noncustodial parent.  Under the guidelines, child support is set based on the "net resources" of the noncustodial parent (called the "obligor") and the number of children supported.  The term "net resources" includes all of the obligor's income (i.e. wages, salary, commissions, tips, bonuses, self-employment income, rental income, interest, capital gains, pensions, retirement income, social security, unemployment compensation, etc.), from which the court must deduct the following:

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• Social security taxes;               

• Federal income tax based on the tax rate for a single person claiming one personal exemption and the standard

• deduction;

• State income tax;

• Union dues; and

• Expenses for health insurance coverage for the obligor's child(ren).

 

In some cases, the court may deviate from the presumed guideline amount based on specific circumstances, such as special needs of the child(ren), or any number of special or unusual circumstances.  Also, it is possible that the court may impute income to an obligor deemed to be voluntarily unemployed or underemployed.

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Contact Pederson Law office to determine your options regarding child support whether you are the custodial or non-custodial parent of your children.