REDUCING CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS DURING COVID-19. WHAT CAN I DO? With so many Texans out of work or experiencing a decrease in hours and pay in light of Coronavirus (COVID-19), many individuals my seek modification of their child support order. The Texas Family Code provides, if “the circumstances of [a] child or a person affected…
SUBSTANCE ABUSE CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF CUSTODY IN TEXAS Many children in Texas are affected by parents who abuse drugs or alcohol, or both. The concern is the impact substance abuse has on children. The Children’s Bureau says that a parent with substance use disorder may be ineffective or inconsistent at parenting due to:•…
PARENTS CANNOT DENY VISITATION DUE TO UNPAID CHILD SUPPORT TEXAS Family Code 154.011: SUPPORT NOT CONDITIONED ON POSSESSION OR ACCESS. A COURT MAY NOT RENDER AN ORDER THAT CONDITIONS THE PAYMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT ON WHETHER A MANAGING CONSERVATOR ALLOWS A POSSESSORY CONSERVATOR TO HAVE POSSESSION OF OR ACCESS TO A CHILD. A Custodial Parent…
HOW IS COMMUNITY PROPERTY DIVIDED BETWEEN SPOUSES IN A TEXAS DIVORCE? While both spouses are entitled to community property, it isn’t the case that the spouses just get half of everything. Instead, Texas courts divide property in a “just and fair manner.”A couple can voluntarily agree to this division or a court can make a…
WHAT NONCUSTODIAL PARENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHILD SUPPORT As a noncustodial parent, here is a breakdown of what you need to know about child support: If you receive a court summons in the mail, it is important that you attend the scheduled court appearance. If you fail to show, the family court can make…
WHAT DOES TEXAS CONSIDER AN “UNFIT” PARENT Parents in Texas who are getting a divorce may want to become familiar with matters related to child custody. This includes understanding what an “unfit parent” may be, along with how Texas legally defines and determines who an unfit parent is. There is a broad definition of unfit…
In Texas, the parent who pays child support is referred to as the ‘obligor.’ Under state law the obligor’s child support payments will be based on several different factors, including: Net Income (Financial Resources): The most important factor in determining child support in Texas is the financial means of the obligor. The higher a non-custodial parent’s…
Child Custody Terms The State of Texas no longer officially refers to child custody as child custody but, instead, uses the term conservatorship, and there are two types of conservatorship, which include both the managing conservator and the possessory conservator. The managing conservator is the parent who has the right and responsibility to make important…
