Child Support Attorney in Central Texas

Direct Attorney Involvement in Every Child Support Case

Many firms assign family law matters to junior associates or rotate clients between attorneys. That’s not how I work. When you hire me as your child support attorney in Central Texas, I handle your case from intake through final order. I review your financials, develop your strategy, appear in court, and answer your questions directly. That continuity matters, especially when circumstances shift mid-case or enforcement becomes necessary.

My background covers complex, high-stakes family law litigation, not just straightforward support orders. Cases involving contested income, business ownership, self-employment, or multiple prior support obligations require more than plugging numbers into a formula. I bring 29 years of litigation experience to disputes that need it, and I take the same careful approach to cases that appear routine at the outset but become contested.

How Texas Child Support Is Calculated

Texas child support is based on the paying parent’s net monthly resources, not gross income. Net resources are calculated by subtracting allowable deductions from gross income, including federal income taxes, Social Security taxes, and health insurance premiums paid for the children, then multiplying the result by a guideline percentage that varies by the number of children receiving support.

Texas guideline percentages of net monthly resources:

• One child: 20%
• Two children: 25%
• Three children: 30%
• Four children: 35%
• Five or more children: 40%

These percentages apply when the paying parent has no other children for whom support is being paid. Additional dependents can reduce the applicable percentage. Courts in Central Texas have discretion to deviate from these guidelines when the evidence supports it. Factors that may lead a judge to adjust the amount include the child’s age and special needs, how much time each parent has possession of the child, childcare costs, travel expenses for visitation, and the financial resources of both parents. Child support generally continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later, and may extend indefinitely for a child with a qualifying disability.

The Texas Office of the Attorney General Child Support Division handles payment processing and can assist with some enforcement matters. When finances are contested, a dispute is active, or enforcement requires litigation, private legal representation can be beneficial.

Child Support Services for Central Texas Families

I handle the full range of child support matters for clients across Central Texas courts. Each type of case carries its own procedural requirements, and I guide you through what’s specific to your county and your situation.

Establishing a New Order

An initial child support order requires accurate financial documentation, correct application of Texas Family Code guidelines, and, where appropriate, evidence supporting a deviation from the standard calculation. Getting this right from the start can help reduce the need for costly modifications later.

Modifying an Existing Order

Life changes. A significant shift in either parent’s income, a job loss, a change in the custody or possession schedule, or a child’s changed needs can each qualify as a material and substantial change in circumstances. This is the legal standard Texas courts require before modifying a support order. I help you build the record that supports your request.

Enforcing an Order When a Parent Doesn’t Pay

When a parent fails to comply with a child support order, enforcement options under Texas law include wage withholding, liens on property, suspension of driver’s and professional licenses, and contempt of court proceedings. I represent payees pursuing enforcement and can advise payors facing enforcement actions on their options as well.