Lawyers in Rockwall and Wylie Handle Child Support Issues

North Texas attorneys pursue fair resolutions for parents   

When parents of minors do not live together, child support orders are intended to establish an appropriate division of financial responsibility. However, existing relationship problems and other factors can breed distrust, and there are fathers and mothers who are unwilling to provide their fair share when it comes to the cost of raising a child. At Grob & Associates Law Firm PC in Rockwall and Wylie, our knowledgeable family lawyers offer skillful representation in North Texas child support negotiations and disputes. Whatever your situation entails, we have the knowledge and experience to advocate effectively for a proper outcome.   

Child support under Texas law

Child support in Texas refers to court-ordered payments from one parent to another that are designed to cover a child's living expenses, including food, housing and education. Typically, child support is provided through periodic payments, though lump-sum amounts, annuities or property set-asides can be included within a particular arrangement. Responsibility for medical and dental expenses can also be part of the order. The Texas Family Code makes support mandatory until the child turns 18 or graduates high school, whichever is later. Support might continue into legal adulthood for disabled sons and daughters. For calculations of basic support, courts use state guidelines based on the parents’ net income, capped at $9,200 monthly in 2025. Child custody orders influence support amounts, since an obligor is assumed to be supporting the children while they reside together. Accordingly, a shift in custody terms where a child increases their time in one home can justify a corresponding adjustment to child support terms. 

Circumstances that trigger child support obligations

All parents have a duty to provide financial support their children. Courts set forth and enforce child support obligations under the following circumstances:

• Divorce or separation
• Unwed mother’s petition for support
• Unwed father’s petition for child custody or visitation

Divorce decrees contain terms for child support, but language concerning child support obligations in a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement will not be enforced. When a child is born outside of a marriage, a determination of paternity must be made before a court can order the putative father to pay support. Such fathers who want a relationship with their children must establish paternity to have court-ordered contact, but that order will come with a child support obligation.

Different types of child support agreements

Under Texas Family Code § 154.124, parents may negotiate child support terms, but they are subject to judicial oversight. The court retains the right to amend terms that are adverse to the children’s best interests. 

Parents can negotiate a settlement that covers:

• Educational expenses, such as private school tuition
• Higher education support
• Amounts for enrichment activities
• Special needs expenses
• Medical coverage
• Retroactive support

A cooperative approach balances parental autonomy with the court’s duty to protect children, while reducing dependency on the court. 

Consequences for parents who do not pay child support

Willful nonpayment of child support in Texas leads to severe penalties. Family Code enforcement provisions include the following potential sanctions for nonpaying parents:

• Property liens 
• Wage garnishment
• Tax refund intercept
• Professional, sporting, and driver’s license suspensions 
• Contempt of court charges with possible jail time or fines

Criminal nonsupport is a felony if an obligor’s arrears exceed $20,000. Parents who cannot manage payments should consult a family law attorney about a possible modification of the support order.

Contact a Texas family law attorney to discuss a child support issue

Grob & Associates Law Firm PC represents parents throughout North Texas in child support matters. For a consultation to discuss your specific situation, please call 972-777-5701 or contact us online. Our offices are in Rockwall and Wylie.