During a divorce, or child custody dispute, some of the most pressing issues to decide are:
- Whether Child support should be awarded?
- If so, to whom?
- How much child support should be awarded?
Usually in Texas, the parent who does not permanently reside with a child will have the duty to provide child support, unless both parents agree otherwise. The Texas Family Code sets forth guidelines for the calculation of child support, which is a percentage of the parent’s monthly net income, starting at 20 percent for one child. If the obligor parent has the duty to support other children from another relationship, this percentage will be reduced accordingly. These guidelines will apply in all but exceptional cases.
Similarly, one parent will also be obligated to provide health insurance coverage for the child. If the residential parent has health insurance on the child, the other parent will generally be required to reimburse him or her for the actual cost of maintaining the insurance. Parents will be equally responsible for most uninsured medical expenses (like co-pays).
We can help you with these and many other child support issues, such as:
- Payment of back Child Support
- Establishment of Child Support upon Separation/Divorce.
- Increase of Child Support Payments.