In short: In Texas, child support is meant to cover a child’s basic needs, including food, clothing, housing, utilities, and school costs. The custodial parent decides how the money is spent as long as it benefits the child. Medical and dental insurance are handled as separate support obligations.
Cuando a un progenitor se le ordena pagar una pensión alimenticia, a menudo piensa que puede decidir exactamente cómo gastar el dinero en su hijo. Pero no es así. En Texas, el progenitor que tiene la custodia puede utilizar el dinero de la manutención como considere oportuno, siempre que se cubran las necesidades básicas del menor. Muchos se preguntan qué cubre legalmente la pensión alimenticia.
In this article, our Fort Worth family law attorney explains the basics of child support in Texas. We’ll start by discussing what child support covers and then move on to what it doesn’t, such as medical and dental insurance.
¿Qué es la pensión alimenticia en Texas?
In Texas, child support is money that a non-custodial parent (or the visitation parent) pays to the custodial parent to help cover the cost of raising their child. Simply stated, if you have the child more often than not, you will likely receive child support. If you spend less time with the child than the other parent, you will likely pay child support.
Most of the time, child support is ordered by a family court judge after a divorce or separation, in which case it is non-voluntary and non-negotiable. Child support is generally paid until the child turns 18 or graduates high school (whichever occurs later).
¿Cuánto tiene que pagar de manutención?
The Texas Family Code, Chapter 154, outlines how child support is calculated. It uses a formula, which is based on the non-custodial parent’s net monthly income and how many children are in need of support. Here’s the breakdown:
* 1 child: 20 percent of the non-custodial parent’s net monthly income
* 2 children: 25 percent of the non-custodial parent’s net monthly income
* 3 children: 30 percent of the non-custodial parent’s net monthly income
* 4 children: 35 percent of the non-custodial parent’s net monthly income
* 5 or more children: 40 percent of the non-custodial parent’s net monthly income
It’s important to note that a judge can order the non-custodial parent to pay above or below the guidelines. For example, if a child has extraordinary needs (such as a disability or special needs), the court can order more child support than what the guideline dictates. Likewise, the court can order less than the guideline if the non-custodial parent has extenuating financial hardships.
¿Qué cubre la pensión alimenticia en Texas?
The Texas Family Code does not specify exactly what child support is supposed to cover other than minimum basic needs. This would include:
* Food;
* Clothing and shoes;
* Housing and Utilities (rent or mortgage payments);
* Education costs, including school supplies, lunch money, etc.
However, nothing says child support cannot be used to cover other things, such as the child’s extracurricular activities, vacations, or sports programs. No government agency watches or dictates how child support money is spent. As long as the money is benefitting the child, it is generally not considered a misuse of funds.
¿Qué no cubre la pensión alimenticia?
En Texas, la manutención de los hijos no cubre la manutención médica o dental. Se trata de obligaciones independientes. Normalmente, el progenitor que paga la manutención también paga el seguro médico del niño. Así que es probable que el progenitor que no tiene la custodia pague la manutención de los hijos y la manutención médica. Sin embargo, si el progenitor custodio proporciona el seguro médico, es posible que se ordene al progenitor no custodio que pague al otro progenitor el coste de la cobertura del seguro médico ("manutención médica en efectivo").
¿Puedo especificar lo que quiero que cubra mi pensión alimenticia?
Posiblemente, si todos están de acuerdo y el juez cree que es lo mejor para el niño. Algunos padres incluyen disposiciones específicas en la sentencia final de divorcio o en la orden de custodia de los hijos para que la pensión alimenticia cubra gastos adicionales como guardería, actividades extraescolares, colegio privado, programas deportivos, universidad, etc. Las órdenes pueden adaptarse a las necesidades particulares de la familia. Esto es especialmente útil si, por ejemplo, las actividades extraescolares son importantes para ambos progenitores.
¿Y si no me gusta cómo se gasta mi ex la pensión alimenticia?
The worst thing you can do if you disagree with how child support is being spent is to stop paying. You will be in violation of the court’s order, which will only create problems for you and make the situation worse.
However, if you have proof that the money is being spent on something other than the child, such as drugs or gambling, then you should contact an experienced family lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer can help you get a court order to modify the child support or child custody agreement to protect your child if there truly is neglect.
¿Necesita ayuda con una disputa de manutención infantil en Fort Worth?
Las disputas sobre la manutención de los hijos son comunes en Fort Worth y el Condado de Tarrant. Si usted está involucrado en una disputa de manutención de los hijos, lo mejor es consultar con un abogado de derecho de familia con conocimientos. Un abogado con experiencia puede revisar el hecho de su caso y situación y ayudarle a entender sus derechos y opciones bajo la ley de Texas.
The attorneys at Varghese Summersett Family Law Group have more than 30 years of combined experience handling divorce and child custody cases in Tarrant County. Call 817-900-3220 to schedule a consultation.
