Full question:
I am getting a divorce from my wife. We have a child together. What factors will the court take into consideration to fix the child support amount in Texas?
- Category: Divorce
- Subcategory: Child Support
- Date:
- State: Texas
Answer:
In Texas, the court may require one or both parents to pay child support based on the specifics of the case. According to Texas Family Code Sec. 154.123, the court can set child support amounts that differ from the standard guidelines if evidence suggests that the guidelines do not serve the child's best interest.
When determining if the guidelines are appropriate, the court considers various factors, including:
- The child's age and needs.
- The parents' ability to contribute to the child's support.
- Financial resources available for the child's support.
- The amount of time each parent spends with the child.
- The net resources of the parent obligated to pay support, including their earning potential.
- Child care expenses incurred for employment.
- If either parent has custody of another child.
- The amount of alimony or spousal maintenance currently paid or received.
- Education expenses beyond high school.
- Benefits like housing or vehicles provided by employers.
- Other deductions from income.
- Health care insurance and uninsured medical expenses.
- Special or extraordinary expenses for the child.
- Travel costs for visitation.
- Cash flow from property or investments.
- Debts assumed by either parent.
- Any other relevant factors that align with the child's best interest.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.