If you need to establish, change, or enforce child support in Houston, Hinojosa Law Office, P.C. can help. Led by attorney Monica A. Hinojosa, our family-law firm serves parents in East Houston and across the greater Houston area with compassionate, practical guidance. Se habla español.
How Child Support Works in Texas
In Texas, both parents have a duty to support their children. Child support is typically paid by the parent who does not have the primary right to determine the child’s residence, and it is intended to help meet the child’s needs. The Texas Family Code provides guidelines that courts generally follow when setting support.
Texas Child-Support Guidelines
Under the state guidelines, child support is usually calculated as a percentage of the paying parent’s monthly net resources:
- 1 child — 20% of net resources
- 2 children — 25%
- 3 children — 30%
- 4 children — 35%
- 5 children — 40%
- 6 or more children — not less than 40%
These percentages apply up to a statutory cap on the amount of net resources used in the calculation, which the Texas Attorney General adjusts periodically. A court can order support above or below the guideline amount when the evidence supports it.
How “Net Resources” Are Calculated
Net resources generally include wages, salary, commissions, tips, self-employment income, and certain other income, minus items such as federal income tax (for a single person), Social Security taxes, union dues, and the cost of the child’s health and dental insurance. Determining net resources accurately is often where support disputes begin, and it is an area where careful preparation matters.
Medical and Dental Support
In addition to base child support, Texas orders typically require a parent to provide medical and dental support for the child — often through health and dental insurance, or through cash medical support when insurance is not available at a reasonable cost.
Modifying Child Support
Child-support orders can be modified when circumstances change. A Texas court may consider a modification when there has been a material and substantial change in circumstances, or when it has been at least three years since the order was set and the guideline amount would differ by a set threshold. If your income or the child’s needs have changed, we can review your options. Learn more about modifying a Texas order.
Enforcing a Child-Support Order
When a parent falls behind on support, Texas law provides several enforcement tools, including income (wage) withholding, contempt of court, liens on property, and suspension of certain licenses. We help parents pursue enforcement of unpaid support, and we also represent parents responding to enforcement actions.
Related Family-Law Matters
Child support often arises alongside custody and divorce. See our Houston child-custody and Houston divorce pages, our spousal support page, or our family-law services overview.
How Hinojosa Law Office, P.C. Helps
Attorney Monica A. Hinojosa provides personalized guidance on establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support, with clear communication at every step. We serve families throughout Houston, including the East Houston, Northshore, and Uvalde Road communities, in English and Spanish.
Meet attorney Monica A. Hinojosa, the Houston family-law attorney at Hinojosa Law Office, P.C.
Schedule a Consultation
To discuss child support with a Houston family-law attorney, contact Hinojosa Law Office, P.C. today.
Hinojosa Law Office, P.C.
540 Uvalde Rd, Suite D, Houston, TX 77015
Phone: 713-455-3575
Contact us · Home
This page provides general information about Texas child-support law and is not legal advice. Every situation is unique; please consult an attorney about your specific circumstances.