Calculating and Modifying Child Support in Texas Texas child support Texas calculates the amount of child support owed by using a percentage of the non-custodial parent’s income. Unlike states that use the income shares model to calculate child support, the percentage model does not take into account the income of the custodial parent. When calculating…
What is the Maximum Amount of Child Support That Can Be Ordered? What are the Statutory Guidelines? When the person being ordered to pay child support’s monthly resources are less than $8,550 a month there are presumptive amounts of child support set out in the family code and the court has the discretion to look…
Child Custody – The Child’s Best Interest “In the child’s best interest” is a common term used in child custody cases. The default presumption in Texas courts is that joint managing conservatorship will be the best interest of the child(ren). This means that both parents share equally in important decisions such as health and education….
What does “Full Custody” really mean? The Texas Family Code addresses custody of a child in three different ways: (1) whether a parent has the ability to make decisions related to the child, (2) when each parent has the right to possession of the child, and (3) child support and medical support for the child….
How Long Does It Take To Get A Divorce In Texas? In reality there really is no such thing as a quickie divorce in Texas. Our state requires a minimum 60-day waiting period between filing and finalizing a divorce. Additionally, due to the legal complexities involved in divorce, most couples find it takes longer than…
WHY MEDIATION IS INVALUABLE IN A DIVORCE CASE Divorce is difficult, but mediation can help resolve contested issues that otherwise have reached an impasse. Mediation reduces costs and time of a divorce, minimizes the stress and helps to reach the best decisions in an amicable environment. Reducing Costs and Time Texas Courts usually carry heavy…
NEGOTIATING A DIVORCE USING COLLABORATIVE LAW Deciding to end a marriage is not easy, but when couples do make the decision, their aim is to work out a settlement agreement that suits their individual and mutual aims while dealing with one another respectfully. When there are children involved, it is even more important to be…
CAN A CHILD DECIDE WHO THEY WANT TO LIVE WITH IN A DIVORCE CASE? Many couples in Texas may be under the misconception that when a child reaches a certain age they can decide which parent they want to live with in the event of a divorce. However, this is not the case. There are…
ELIGIBILITY FOR SPOUSAL SUPPORT A spouse requesting post-divorce support in Texas must be eligible to receive spousal maintenance before a court can grant the request. The court cannot award spousal maintenance to a non-eligible spouse on its own. However, parties are free to agree and contract for post-divorce support even when the court would not…
WHAT TO DO IF YOU OVERPAID CHILD SUPPORT Child support is designed to ensure that both parents are contributing to the financial needs of any shared children they might have. In cases where a paying parent overpays child support, it is possible to recover the excess support, though this depends on a number of factors….
