TEXAS CHILD SUPPORT LAWS & REGULATIONS UPDATE 2023
A DECADE OF CHANGE: AN OVERVIEW OF TEXAS’S CHILD SUPPORT LAWS AND REGULATIONS TIMELINE (2013-2023)
Texas’s child support laws have evolved over the last decade to ensure the well-being of children while considering parents’ circumstances.
2013: Child Support Guidelines Update
– Regular updates of child support guidelines to reflect economic realities.
2014: Efficient Payment Disbursement
– Implementation of efficient methods for disbursement of child support payments.
2015: Holistic Child Well-being Focus
– Emphasis on the overall well-being of the child in child support considerations.
2016: Strengthening Enforcement Measures
– Introduction of robust enforcement measures for consistent child support payments.
2017: Income Verification Enhancements
– Introduction of improved income verification methods for accurate calculations.
2018: Simplified Modification Procedures
– Simplification of child support modification procedures for parents’ convenience.
2019: Responsive to Changing Dynamics
– Consideration of changing family dynamics in child support calculations.
2020: Online Resources Accessibility
– Provision of online resources for parents to manage child support cases.
2021: Ongoing Guidelines Review
– Continuous review and updates of child support guidelines.
2022: Shared Parenting Support
– Promotion of shared parenting arrangements for fair support calculations.
Texas’s child support regulations reflect its commitment to children’s well-being and parents’ responsibilities, ensuring equitable and consistent support calculations.
Child support in Texas is very different from other states.
For one, the non-custodial parent is required to provide health insurance, even if the custodial parent has an insurance plan.
This is not calculated in the child support determination. The garnishment of wages is mandatory under Texas law, as this will ensure that payments are being made.
Child support is determined by the number of children with 20% for one child, and up to 45% for six or more children. Child support ends when the child becomes emancipated, married, or turns 18.
Texas authorities will deny licenses, confiscate property and lottery winnings for the non-payment of child support. Non-custodial parents are entitled to see their children and the court will decide a visitation plan if the parents do not agree.
