When parents separate or divorce, making sure children are financially supported becomes one of the most important, and sometimes challenging, issues to navigate. Child support in Texas is calculated using percentage guidelines applied to the paying parent’s net monthly resources, as set forth in Chapter 154 of the Texas Family Code.
As of September 1, 2025, Texas increased the child support cap from $9,200 to $11,700 in monthly net resources, meaning parents can now pay or receive significantly higher guideline support amounts. For one child, the guideline amount is 20% of net resources up to $2,340 per month, with percentages increasing for additional children.
At Varghese Summersett, our Denton child support lawyers understand that child support matters affect both parents’ financial stability and play a critical role in ensuring their child’s needs are met. Our team has extensive experience navigating Denton County family courts and handling every aspect of child support. We’ve successfully established, modified, and enforced child support orders to ensure that children are properly supported and financial responsibilities are fairly divided between parents.
In this article, we explain what you need to know about child support in Denton County — from how it’s calculated, to when and how to seek modifications, to enforcing unpaid obligations.
Child Support in Denton
Child support is a financial obligation — usually court-ordered — requiring one or both parents to contribute toward the costs of raising a child. In Texas, and specifically in Denton County, child support typically continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever comes later.
There are, however, certain situations that may end child support earlier. These include the child becoming emancipated, enlisting in the military, getting married (with emancipation), passing away, or if a court-ordered genetic test determines the paying parent is not the biological parent.
In some cases, child support can extend indefinitely — particularly when a child has a disability that began before the age of 18 and prevents them from becoming self-sufficient.
The Texas Family Code provides baseline guidelines for calculating child support based on a percentage of the paying parent’s net income. However, the court has the discretion to adjust this amount. If the guideline support is not sufficient to meet the child’s needs — such as in cases involving high medical or educational expenses — the court can increase the obligation. Conversely, if the amount is too burdensome given the parent’s financial circumstances, the court may approve a lower amount.
A Denton Child support lawyer can help you determine whether guideline or adjusted support is most appropriate for your case, and ensure your child’s financial needs are addressed fairly under the law.
How Child Support Is Calculated in Texas
Texas uses a straightforward percentage-based guideline system under Section 154.125 of the Texas Family Code. The court calculates child support by determining the paying parent’s net monthly resources, then applying the appropriate percentage based on the number of children before the court.
Net resources include all income from wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, rental income, interest, dividends, and most other sources of regular income. The court subtracts certain items to reach net resources: federal income tax based on a single person claiming one personal exemption and the standard deduction, Social Security taxes, union dues, and the cost of health insurance for the child.
The guideline percentages applied to net monthly resources are:
- 1 child: 20% (maximum $2,340/month under the new cap)
- 2 children: 25% (maximum $2,925/month)
- 3 children: 30% (maximum $3,510/month)
- 4 children: 35% (maximum $4,095/month)
- 5 children: 40% (maximum $4,680/month)
- 6+ children: Not less than the amount for 5 children
These percentages apply to the first $11,700 of monthly net resources. For parents earning above this cap, the court has discretion to order additional support based on the proven needs of the child and the financial circumstances of both parents.
The 2025 Child Support Cap Increase: What It Means for Denton Parents
The September 1, 2025, increase in the child support cap represents the most significant update to Texas child support guidelines in years. The cap rose from $9,200 to $11,700 in monthly net resources — a 27% increase that directly impacts both new orders and modifications of existing orders.
For parents paying child support, this means potentially higher monthly obligations if your income falls within or above the new cap. A parent with one child and net resources of $11,700 or more now pays $2,340 per month in guideline support, compared to $1,840 under the previous cap.
For parents receiving support, the increase provides opportunity to seek modifications if the other parent’s income has risen or if the existing order was based on the lower cap. However, modifications still require either a material and substantial change in circumstances or a three-year review showing the current order differs by at least 20% or $100 from the guideline amount.
Denton County courts have quickly adopted the new guidelines, and judges expect attorneys to apply the current cap in all new cases and modification proceedings filed after September 1, 2025. If you have an existing order based on the old cap and circumstances have changed, consulting with a Denton child support lawyer about potential modification is essential.
What Child Support Covers in Texas
Child support is intended to cover the child’s basic needs including housing, food, clothing, and general living expenses. The paying parent’s obligation helps maintain the child’s standard of living across both households.
Beyond basic support, Texas courts can order additional provisions for specific expenses. Medical support typically requires the paying parent to maintain health insurance for the child if available at reasonable cost through employment. Courts also frequently order parents to share uninsured medical expenses, with the typical split being 50/50 or proportionate to each parent’s income.
Child care expenses necessary for the custodial parent to work or attend school can be added to the basic support obligation. Educational expenses, including private school tuition or extracurricular activities, may be addressed in the support order if both parents agree or if the court finds such expenses appropriate given the parents’ financial circumstances.
Child support does not automatically cover college expenses. Parents can agree to include college support provisions in their orders, but Texas courts cannot require parents to pay for adult children’s college education absent an agreement or specific circumstances.
Establishing Child Support in Denton County
Child support establishment occurs through different procedures depending on whether parents are married, divorced, or never married. In divorce cases, child support becomes part of the final decree. For parents who were never married, either parent can file a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (SAPCR) to establish paternity, custody, visitation, and child support.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office also establishes child support through administrative proceedings when a parent receives state assistance or requests their services. Administrative establishment avoids court proceedings in uncontested cases but provides less flexibility for parents seeking arrangements outside the standard guidelines.
Denton County courts require financial documentation supporting income claims. W-2s, tax returns, pay stubs, business records for self-employed parents, and other proof of income and deductions all become essential to calculating appropriate support amounts. Incomplete or inaccurate financial disclosure can result in incorrect support orders that require later modification.
When parents have shared custody with substantial visitation time, Texas law allows for adjusted support calculations under Section 154.129. Multiple factors affect these calculations including the percentage of time each parent has physical possession of the child and each parent’s net resources. Shared custody calculations often generate disputes requiring experienced legal representation to protect your interests.
Modifying Child Support Orders
Child support orders can be modified when circumstances change substantially. Section 156.401 of the Texas Family Code establishes two primary grounds for modification: a material and substantial change in circumstances since the current order, or a three-year review where the current order differs from guideline amounts by at least 20% or $100.
Material and Substantial Changes
Changes that may justify modification include significant income increases or decreases for either parent, changes in the child’s needs such as medical conditions or educational requirements, changes in custody or possession schedules, or birth of additional children to the paying parent in a subsequent relationship.
Job loss, reduction in work hours, disability, or other circumstances affecting earning capacity can support modification requests to reduce support. However, Texas courts distinguish between voluntary and involuntary income changes. Voluntarily quitting a job or taking lower-paying employment without good reason rarely justifies reduced support obligations.
Income increases for the paying parent provide grounds for custodial parents to seek increased support, particularly when the increase pushes income above the previous cap or substantially changes the financial picture since the original order.
Three-Year Reviews
Either parent can request review and modification of an existing order if three years have passed since the current order was established or last modified, and the monthly support amount differs by at least 20% or $100 from the amount calculated using current guideline percentages.
The three-year review provides an opportunity to adjust support based on the 2025 cap increase. If your order was established before September 1, 2025, and applying the new guidelines results in a difference of at least 20% or $100, you may qualify for modification without proving additional changed circumstances.
The Modification Process
Modifications require filing a Petition to Modify the Parent-Child Relationship with the court that issued the original order or with the court in the county where the child resides. The petition must allege specific facts supporting either material and substantial change or eligibility for three-year review.
Both parents must provide updated financial information including current income documentation, health insurance costs, and other relevant financial details. The court evaluates whether modification is warranted and, if so, recalculates support using current guidelines and circumstances.
Temporary orders during the modification process can maintain the status quo or adjust support pending final hearing if emergency circumstances exist. Modifications are typically effective from the date of filing, not retroactively, making prompt action essential when circumstances change.
Enforcing Child Support in Texas
Texas provides numerous enforcement mechanisms when parents fail to pay court-ordered support. The Office of the Attorney General Child Support Division handles enforcement for parents receiving state assistance and offers enforcement services to other parents upon request.
Income Withholding
Section 154.007 requires employers to withhold child support from wages when presented with a valid withholding order. Income withholding provides automatic, reliable payment and is mandatory in virtually all Texas child support orders unless both parents agree to an alternative arrangement and the court approves.
Employers must implement withholding orders promptly and forward withheld amounts to the State Disbursement Unit, which processes and distributes payments to the custodial parent. Employers who fail to comply with withholding orders face liability for unpaid amounts plus potential penalties.
Contempt of Court
When parents willfully fail to pay support despite having the ability to do so, the custodial parent can file a Motion for Enforcement seeking contempt findings. Courts can impose jail time for contempt, with sentences up to six months per violation. The threat of incarceration often motivates payment of arrearages or establishment of payment plans.
Contempt proceedings require proof that the paying parent had the ability to pay but willfully refused. Genuine inability to pay due to unemployment, disability, or other circumstances beyond the parent’s control provides defense against contempt but does not eliminate the obligation — arrearages continue accruing.
License Suspension
Texas can suspend professional licenses, driver’s licenses, and recreational licenses for parents delinquent in child support. The Attorney General’s Office notifies parents before suspension and provides opportunities to establish payment plans avoiding suspension.
License suspension creates significant leverage for enforcement since most people need driver’s licenses for employment and professional licenses for their livelihood. Payment arrangements or lump-sum payments often follow suspension notices.
Additional Enforcement Tools
Other enforcement mechanisms include intercepting federal and state tax refunds, placing liens on property, garnishing bank accounts, reporting delinquencies to credit bureaus, and denying passport applications for substantial arrearages. These tools work collectively to encourage compliance with support obligations.
Dealing with Child Support Arrears
Child support arrearages — past-due amounts — cannot be retroactively reduced or forgiven by Texas courts even when circumstances change. Once support accrues under a valid order, the obligation becomes a judgment debt that remains enforceable indefinitely.
Parents facing substantial arrearages have several options. Payment plans allow gradual repayment through installments in addition to current support obligations. Courts can approve reasonable payment schedules considering the parent’s income and ability to pay.
In some cases, parents genuinely cannot pay current support plus arrearages without creating financial hardship. While this doesn’t eliminate the debt, courts may adjust payment plans to amounts the parent can reasonably afford while maintaining basic living expenses.
Parents who believe they made payments not properly credited should gather proof of payment — cancelled checks, money order receipts, bank statements showing withdrawals or transfers — and request accounting corrections. The State Disbursement Unit maintains payment records, but errors occur and documentation proving payment becomes essential.
Statute of limitations does not apply to child support arrearages. Unlike most debts that become unenforceable after a certain time period, child support obligations remain enforceable throughout the parent’s lifetime and even beyond through claims against estates.
Special Circumstances in Child Support Cases
Self-Employment and Variable Income
Calculating support for self-employed parents or those with variable income creates challenges. Courts typically examine multiple years of tax returns and financial records to determine average income. Self-employed parents must provide profit and loss statements, business tax returns, bank statements, and other documentation proving actual income available for support.
Some paying parents attempt to minimize reported income through business expense claims or other means. Courts scrutinize self-employment income carefully and may impute income based on earning capacity rather than reported income when evidence suggests income manipulation.
High-Income Parents
For parents with net resources exceeding $11,700 monthly, courts consider the child’s proven needs and both parents’ financial circumstances to determine appropriate support above the guideline cap. Evidence of the child’s lifestyle, educational needs, extracurricular activities, and other expenses becomes relevant.
High-income cases often involve disputes about what constitutes reasonable expenses for children and what amounts simply reflect the custodial parent’s desired lifestyle rather than the child’s needs. Detailed financial evidence and expert testimony sometimes become necessary in these cases.
Deviation from Guidelines
Courts can deviate from guideline percentages when applying them would be unjust or inappropriate under the circumstances. Section 154.123 lists factors courts consider including the age and needs of the child, ability of parents to contribute to support, childcare expenses, whether either parent has custody of other children, amount of time the child spends with each parent, and any other relevant factors.
Successfully arguing for deviation requires substantial evidence and clear demonstration that guideline amounts would not serve the child’s best interest. Courts presume guideline amounts are appropriate, and the party seeking deviation bears the burden of overcoming this presumption.
The Importance of Hiring a Denton Child Support Lawyer
Child support cases involve complex calculations, detailed financial disclosure, and significant long-term financial impact. Even seemingly straightforward cases can present issues requiring legal expertise to protect your interests and ensure fair outcomes.
Denton County has specific local rules and procedures that vary from other Texas counties. Experienced Denton child support attorneys understand local court expectations, judge preferences, and effective strategies for negotiation and litigation in Denton County courts.
The 2025 guideline changes make legal counsel especially valuable. Determining how the new cap applies to your situation, whether existing orders should be modified, and how to properly calculate support under current law requires knowledge that develops through handling numerous child support cases under the updated guidelines.
Self-representation in child support matters often results in unfavorable outcomes. Parents who don’t understand income calculations may agree to incorrect support amounts. Those unfamiliar with enforcement procedures may fail to collect owed support or face enforcement actions without raising available defenses. Mistakes in child support proceedings create obligations or losses affecting your finances for years.
Our Denton child support lawyers provide comprehensive representation from initial consultations through final orders and post-decree modifications. We gather financial documentation, calculate appropriate support amounts under current guidelines, negotiate with opposing parties, present evidence at hearings, and ensure orders accurately reflect the law and protect your rights.
Common FAQs About Child Support in Denton
How much child support will I pay or receive? The amount depends on the paying parent’s net monthly resources and the number of children. Under 2025 guidelines, percentages range from 20% for one child to 40% for five children, applied to net resources up to $11,700 monthly. Courts can order additional support above the cap based on the child’s needs and parents’ circumstances.
Can child support be changed after it’s ordered? Yes, either parent can request modification based on material and substantial changes in circumstances or through three-year review when the current order differs from guidelines by at least 20% or $100. Modifications require court approval and typically take effect from the filing date forward, not retroactively.
What if my ex doesn’t pay child support? Multiple enforcement options exist including income withholding, contempt proceedings, license suspension, tax refund interception, bank account garnishment, and liens on property. The Attorney General’s Office provides enforcement services, or you can pursue enforcement through a private attorney.
Does child support cover college expenses? Guideline child support typically terminates when the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later. Child support doesn’t automatically cover college costs unless parents agreed to such provisions in their orders or specific circumstances apply.
Do you have to have been married to receive or pay child support? Child support is based on the legal responsibility of a parent to financially support their child — not marital status. Whether the parents were married, living together, or never in a relationship, once paternity is established, the non-custodial parent can be ordered to pay child support. Here’s how it typically works:
- If paternity is acknowledged or established through the court, the court can issue a support order.
- Child support can be determined as part of a custody case or a standalone support case filed by a parent or the Office of the Attorney General.
What happens if I lose my job? Losing employment doesn’t automatically reduce your child support obligation. You must file for modification and prove the income loss constitutes a material and substantial change in circumstances. Support continues accruing at the ordered amount until the court grants modification, so prompt action is essential.
Can I get back child support forgiven? Texas law does not allow courts to retroactively reduce or forgive child support arrearages except in very limited circumstances such as proving the debt was based on an invalid order. Arrearages remain enforceable and continue accruing interest until paid in full.
How long does child support last? Support generally continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later. For disabled children unable to support themselves, support can continue indefinitely if established before the child turns 18.
When to Contact a Denton Child Support Lawyer
Contact a Denton child support lawyer when you need to establish child support, modify an existing order, enforce unpaid support, or defend against enforcement actions. The earlier you involve experienced counsel, the better positioned you’ll be to achieve favorable outcomes.
If you’re going through divorce or paternity proceedings, establishing appropriate child support from the beginning prevents future disputes and ensures accuracy. Incorrect initial orders lead to modification proceedings that could have been avoided with proper representation during establishment.
When circumstances change significantly — income increases or decreases, custody arrangements change, or children’s needs evolve — consult an attorney promptly about modification. Delays in seeking modification allow incorrect support amounts to accrue, creating arrearages that cannot be retroactively adjusted.
If you’re facing enforcement actions, immediate legal consultation becomes essential. Contempt proceedings can result in jail time, and license suspensions create serious hardships. An attorney can negotiate payment plans, raise available defenses, and work toward resolutions avoiding the harshest consequences.
Don’t wait until problems become crises. Early legal advice often prevents issues from escalating and protects both your rights and your children’s interests throughout the child support process.
Why Choose Varghese Summersett
Varghese Summersett brings decades of combined experience handling child support matters throughout Denton County and North Texas. Our family law team stays current with the latest statutory changes including the 2025 guideline updates and understands how these changes affect our clients’ cases.
Our team of Denton County child support lawyers have successfully represented parents in child support establishment, modification, and enforcement proceedings. We understand that child support cases involve more than just numbers—they affect your relationship with your children and your financial stability for years to come.
Our approach combines thorough preparation with strategic advocacy. We gather comprehensive financial documentation, calculate accurate support amounts under current guidelines, and present compelling evidence supporting our clients’ positions. When negotiation produces fair outcomes, we work toward settlement. When litigation becomes necessary, we provide aggressive courtroom representation protecting your interests.
We also recognize that many child support disputes stem from communication breakdowns or misunderstandings about obligations and rights. When appropriate, we work toward resolutions that minimize conflict while ensuring orders reflect accurate financial information and properly support children’s needs.
Speak to a Denton Child Support Lawyer Today
Child support matters affect your financial future and your children’s well-being. Whether you need to establish support, modify an existing order, enforce unpaid obligations, or defend against enforcement actions, experienced legal representation makes a significant difference in outcomes.
The 2025 guideline changes create both opportunities and challenges for Denton parents. Understanding how the increased cap applies to your situation requires knowledge of current law and experience with local court procedures.
Call Varghese Summersett today at 817-202-2220 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our experienced Denton child support attorneys. We’ll review your circumstances, explain your options under current law, and develop a strategy protecting your interests while ensuring your children receive appropriate support.
