Short answer: Texas calculates child support using statutory guidelines based on the paying parent’s net monthly resources and the number of children before the court. For one child, the guideline amount is generally 20% of net monthly resources, rising with each additional child. Below, attorney Monica A. Hinojosa of Hinojosa Law Office, P.C. explains how the calculation works in Texas family courts. Se habla español.
The Texas Child Support Guidelines
Texas law sets guideline percentages that apply to the paying parent’s (the “obligor’s”) net monthly resources:
- 1 child: 20% of net monthly resources
- 2 children: 25%
- 3 children: 30%
- 4 children: 35%
- 5 children: 40%
- 6 or more children: not less than 40%
These percentages are applied to the obligor’s net monthly resources, up to a cap the state adjusts periodically (currently the first $9,200 of net monthly resources). Amounts above the cap are ordered only when the child’s proven needs justify it.
What Counts as “Net Resources”?
Net resources are not the same as take-home pay. The court generally starts with all sources of income — wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, and certain benefits — and then subtracts items such as:
- Social Security taxes and federal income tax (based on a single person claiming one exemption);
- State income tax (Texas has none);
- Union dues; and
- The cost of the child’s health and dental insurance.
Texas does not have a state income tax, which affects how net resources are figured here compared with other states.
Adjustments for Other Children
If the paying parent has a legal duty to support other children who are not part of the current case, the guideline percentage is reduced according to a statutory multiple-family table. Establishing these adjustments correctly can meaningfully change the monthly amount.
Medical and Dental Support
In Texas, child support orders also address medical support and dental support for the child. These are ordered in addition to the base child support and are typically handled through the parents’ insurance and cash medical support.
Can a Court Order a Different Amount?
The guideline amount is presumed to be in the child’s best interest, but a court can order more or less if the evidence shows a different amount is appropriate. Factors can include the child’s specific needs, the parents’ circumstances, the amount of time each parent has the child (possession and access), and childcare or educational expenses. Learn more about how these issues fit together on our child custody page.
Modifying an Existing Child Support Order
Child support can be modified when circumstances have materially changed — for example, a significant change in income or in the needs of the child — or under other conditions allowed by Texas law. A modification generally requires a new court order; the amount does not change automatically.
How Hinojosa Law Office, P.C. Can Help
Whether you are establishing, responding to, or modifying child support — often alongside a divorce or custody matter — attorney Monica A. Hinojosa helps East Houston families understand the numbers and protect their children’s interests, in English and Spanish.
Hinojosa Law Office, P.C.
540 Uvalde Rd, Suite D, Houston, TX 77015
Phone: 713-455-3575
Houston child support lawyer · Contact us
This article provides general information about Texas law and is not legal advice. Child support calculations depend on your specific facts and can change with the law; please consult an attorney about your situation.