{"id":376585,"date":"2018-05-18T05:42:41","date_gmt":"2018-05-18T10:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/texas-law\/texas-child-support-calculations.html"},"modified":"2025-03-13T08:56:09","modified_gmt":"2025-03-13T13:56:09","slug":"texas-child-support-calculations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/texas-law\/texas-child-support-calculations.html","title":{"rendered":"Texas Child Support Calculations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Texas Child Support Calculations<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Texas child support guidelines ensure that parents continue to support their minor children after a divorce or legal separation. Generally, the noncustodial parent becomes the obligor, but Texas law lets the court order child support<\/a> from either or both parents.<\/p>\r\n

Courts calculate a child support<\/a> obligation by totaling both parents’ monthly gross incomes and deducting monthly expenses. This net income calculation considers the number of children. It also includes how much time the children spend with each parent.<\/p>\r\n

The Child Support Division<\/a> of the Texas Attorney General’s Office enforces child support orders. The OAG can’t enforce child custody and visitation<\/a> orders. You must contact a family law attorney immediately if you have child custody issues.<\/p>\r\n

What Is Child Support in Texas?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Texas child support laws<\/a> ensure that a child continues to enjoy the same standard of living after parents divorce or separate. To determine how much child support the paying parent owes, courts calculate the needs of the child based on the monthly net resources of both parents.<\/p>\r\n

Parents must provide<\/a> food, clothing, shelter, and basic educational needs for their minor children. This lasts until the child is 18 or graduates from high school. Child support payments may include:<\/p>\r\n