Keller Child Support Lawyer | Schedule a Consultation

If you’re facing a child support matter in Keller, you need an attorney who understands both the Texas guidelines and the realities of raising children in today’s economy. Whether you’re seeking to establish a new support order, modify an existing one, or enforce payments that have fallen behind, the stakes are high for both you and your children.

At Varghese Summersett, our family law attorneys help Keller parents protect their children’s financial futures. We handle child support cases in the Tarrant County family courts and understand how local judges apply Texas law in these sensitive matters. A child support order affects your family for years. Getting it right from the start matters.

Why Keller Families Trust Our Child Support Attorneys

Our family law team includes attorneys who have handled hundreds of child support matters across Tarrant County. Lead family law attorney Christy Dunn, a graduate of Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, brings years of experience representing parents on both sides of support disputes. Our 70-member team across four Texas offices provides the resources to thoroughly investigate income, handle complex asset situations, and present compelling arguments in court.

We’ve helped parents in high-income cases where support exceeds the statutory guidelines, self-employed parents whose income requires careful documentation, and families where one parent is deliberately avoiding their financial obligations. Our attorneys appear regularly in the Tarrant County family courts located in downtown Fort Worth, giving us insight into how local judges handle discretionary decisions in child support cases. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, but our experience informs our approach to every case.

How Texas Calculates Child Support

Texas uses a percentage-of-income model to calculate child support. Under Texas Family Code Chapter 154, the court looks at the paying parent’s net monthly resources and applies a percentage based on the number of children.

For one child, the guideline amount is 20% of net resources. For two children, it’s 25%. Three children results in a 30% guideline, four children means 35%, and five or more children triggers a 40% guideline. These percentages assume the paying parent has no other children to support. When there are children from other relationships, the percentages adjust downward.

Net resources include more than just wages. The calculation encompasses salary, commissions, overtime, tips, bonuses, self-employment income, interest, dividends, rental income, severance pay, retirement benefits, trust income, annuities, capital gains, and social security benefits. The court subtracts federal income taxes, social security taxes, state income tax (if applicable), union dues, and health insurance premiums for the child.

The Child Support Cap in Texas

Texas caps the net resources considered for guideline child support. As of September 2023, the cap applies to the first $9,200 in monthly net resources. This means the maximum guideline support for one child is $1,840 per month. However, if the paying parent earns above this cap, the court can order additional support if the child’s proven needs require it.

In Keller, where many families have above-average incomes, above-guideline child support is common. Our attorneys know how to document a child’s actual needs, including private school tuition, extracurricular activities, travel for visitation, medical expenses, and the lifestyle the child enjoyed during the marriage. We present this evidence effectively to justify support orders that reflect your child’s true financial requirements.

Establishing a Child Support Order in Keller

Child support can be established through a divorce proceeding, a suit affecting the parent-child relationship (SAPCR), or through the Office of the Attorney General’s Child Support Division. The method that’s right for your family depends on your specific circumstances.

If you’re going through a divorce with children, child support will be addressed as part of your final decree. The court considers income, custody arrangements, health insurance, and the children’s specific needs when setting the order. If you were never married to your child’s other parent, a SAPCR establishes paternity, custody, visitation, and support in a single proceeding.

Keller families often prefer private court proceedings rather than going through the Attorney General’s office because private litigation allows for more individualized attention and faster resolution. Our attorneys file child support cases in the Tarrant County district courts, where we can advocate for orders that address your specific situation rather than relying on standardized calculations.

Income Verification and Discovery

Accurate income determination is the foundation of a fair child support order. When the other parent is a W-2 employee, verification is relatively straightforward. We subpoena pay stubs, tax returns, and employment records to establish their actual earnings.

Self-employed parents present greater challenges. Business owners can sometimes manipulate their reported income by running personal expenses through their business, paying themselves below-market salaries, or deferring income. Our attorneys use forensic accounting techniques, business record subpoenas, and depositions to uncover true earning capacity.

We also address situations where a parent is voluntarily underemployed. Under Texas law, if someone deliberately reduces their income to avoid child support obligations, the court can impute income based on their earning potential. We’ve handled cases where parents claimed unemployment while working under the table, took lower-paying jobs to spite their ex-spouse, or simply refused to seek employment. The law provides tools to address these situations.

Modifying Child Support Orders

Child support orders aren’t permanent. Life changes, and the law recognizes that support orders should reflect current circumstances. Under Texas Family Code Section 156.401, you can request a modification if there has been a material and substantial change in circumstances or if it has been three years since the last order and the new amount would differ by at least 20% or $100.

Common reasons for modification include job loss, significant income increases or decreases, changes in the child’s needs (such as starting private school or developing special needs), changes in custody arrangements, or the paying parent’s other child support obligations changing.

If you need to modify a Keller child support order, timing matters. Back-support modifications only take effect from the date you file your motion. If you lose your job in January but don’t file for modification until June, you still owe the original amount for those five months. Contact our office as soon as your circumstances change to protect your rights.

Enforcing Child Support in Tarrant County

When a parent falls behind on child support, Texas law provides powerful enforcement mechanisms. Our child support enforcement attorneys help custodial parents collect what they’re owed and protect their children’s financial security.

Enforcement options include wage withholding orders that require employers to deduct support directly from paychecks, contempt of court proceedings that can result in jail time for willful non-payment, liens on real property, suspension of driver’s licenses and professional licenses, interception of tax refunds, and reporting to credit bureaus.

In Tarrant County, enforcement actions are handled either through the IV-D Court (if the Attorney General is involved) or through private motions for enforcement in the district court that issued the original order. Private enforcement often moves faster and allows for more aggressive pursuit of arrearages. If you haven’t received the support your children deserve, we can help you explore your options.

What to Do First in a Child Support Matter

Whether you’re establishing, modifying, or enforcing child support, taking the right steps early protects your interests. Here’s what we recommend for Keller parents:

• Gather financial documents. Collect pay stubs, tax returns for the past three years, bank statements, and records of any other income sources. If you’re self-employed or the other parent is, gather business records as well.
• Document your child’s expenses. Keep receipts and records of daycare, medical expenses, school costs, extracurricular activities, and other child-related spending. This evidence helps establish the child’s actual needs.
• Keep communication records. Save text messages, emails, and other communications with your co-parent about financial matters, visitation, and the children’s needs.
• Don’t agree to informal arrangements. Verbal agreements to accept less support or skip payments aren’t enforceable and can create confusion later. Any changes to support should go through the court.
• Contact an attorney before making major decisions. Quitting a job, moving, or making other significant life changes can affect your child support case. Get legal advice first.

Use our Texas Child Support Calculator to estimate what guideline support might look like in your situation. Remember that the calculator provides estimates only. An attorney can help you understand how your specific circumstances might affect the final order.

Child Support and Custody Connections

Child support and child custody are legally separate issues, but they often intersect. The amount of time each parent spends with the children can affect support calculations. Texas allows for offsets when both parents have the children for substantial periods.

If you have questions about how your custody arrangement affects support, or if you need to address both issues together, our attorneys can help. We handle comprehensive family law matters, including divorce, custody, and support in the same proceeding when appropriate. Learn more about custody matters on our Keller divorce lawyers page.

The Tarrant County Family Court Process

Keller residents handle family court matters in the Tarrant County Family Courts located in Fort Worth. The process typically follows these stages:

First, your attorney files a petition (for original orders) or motion (for modifications and enforcement). The other parent receives formal notice and has time to respond. In contested cases, the court may order temporary support while the case is pending.

Discovery follows, where both sides exchange financial information. This is where self-employment income, hidden assets, and earning capacity disputes get resolved. Depositions, document requests, and interrogatories are common discovery tools in child support cases.

Most cases settle through negotiation or mediation before trial. Mediation is required in Tarrant County family cases and often produces agreements that both parties can accept. If settlement isn’t possible, the case proceeds to trial where a judge hears evidence and issues an order.

Throughout this process, our attorneys advocate for outcomes that serve your children’s best interests while protecting your financial rights. We prepare every case as if it’s going to trial, which often motivates the other side to negotiate reasonably.

What to Expect From Varghese Summersett

When you work with our family law team on a Keller child support matter, you get attorneys who understand both the law and the local courts. We begin with a consultation where we learn about your situation, explain your options, and develop a strategy tailored to your goals.

Communication matters in family law cases. We keep you informed throughout the process, return calls promptly, and make sure you understand what’s happening at every stage. Child support cases can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re worried about providing for your children. We provide the guidance and advocacy you need to move forward with confidence.

Our team has the resources to handle complex cases involving high incomes, self-employment, interstate issues, and enforcement of substantial arrearages. We also handle straightforward matters efficiently, recognizing that not every case requires aggressive litigation.

Have more questions? Watch our video series where our attorneys answer common questions: Fort Worth Family Law – Ask Our Lawyer

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does child support last in Texas?

Child support generally continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later. If the child is still in high school at 18, support continues until graduation or the end of the school year when they turn 19. Support can extend indefinitely for children with disabilities who require lifelong care.

Can child support be waived in Texas?

Parents cannot waive child support because it belongs to the child, not the parents. However, in limited circumstances, courts may approve agreements where no support is paid if the children’s needs are adequately met through other means and the arrangement serves the children’s best interests.

What happens if the other parent hides income?

Texas courts take income hiding seriously. Through discovery, we can subpoena bank records, tax returns, and business documents to uncover true income. Courts can impute income based on lifestyle evidence, historical earnings, and earning capacity. Hiding income can also result in sanctions and attorney’s fee awards.

Can child support be changed if I lose my job?

Yes, job loss can be grounds for modification if it represents a material and substantial change in circumstances. However, you must file a modification motion promptly. The court will look at whether the job loss was voluntary, whether you’re actively seeking new employment, and what your earning capacity is. Don’t wait to file.

How does child support work with 50/50 custody?

Even with equal possession time, the higher-earning parent typically pays some support to the lower-earning parent. Texas law allows for offsets in these situations, but the goal remains ensuring both households can provide adequately for the children. Courts consider each parent’s income and the children’s needs when crafting these orders.

If you’re dealing with a child support matter in Keller, don’t face it alone. Our family law attorneys are ready to listen to your concerns, explain your options, and fight for an outcome that protects your children’s future. Call (817) 203-2220 to schedule a consultation with a Keller child support lawyer today.