If you are a parent anticipating a divorce, you are almost certainly aware of the upcoming role of child support. If your children primarily live with your spouse, you will likely need to pay child support. Conversely, if your children live primarily with you, you are set to receive child support. Based on whichever of these camps you fall, you can prepare financially for the responsibility to pay or receive child support.
Either you or your spouse must pay child support, as Texas law mandates parental support for children. This means either providing direct care for them daily or providing financial support. Balancing support between custodial and noncustodial parents involves transferring money from the noncustodial to the custodial parent.
Even if you think you know what the law is in Texas, likely, you don’t. That’s not to say you aren’t an intelligent, well-read individual. You might rely on advice from friends or coworkers who are not well-versed in child support details.
What’s more, the subject of medical support rarely comes up at all when it’s just you and your friend chatting over a cup of coffee. In this day and age, where the debates are many regarding how to pay for health insurance, there is a fair amount of oversight that I have seen in this area.
This blog post and the blog posts to follow are intended to provide information to you to assist you in growing your knowledge base on this critical subject. So much of divorce litigation and negotiation centers around child support, and as a result, the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, would like to go over the subject in some detail with you all.
Working With Your Spouse Allows You to Avoid Receiving a Dictated Amount for Child Support Payments
If you expect to pay child support, relief comes in avoiding a trial where a judge decides. Instead, most divorce cases settle outside of court, often through negotiation. In Texas, most counties require at least one mediation session before going to trial.
Settling before trial allows you and your spouse to negotiate an agreement that considers your family’s specific needs. A judge might not consider all factors that you and your spouse can in negotiations. Therefore, you and your spouse might even agree on no child support payment. While this outcome isn’t likely, it remains a possibility.
With that all said, let’s jump right into our discussion about child support. A great starting point is understanding child support and its meaning for Texas parents.
Child Support: Paying and Receiving it in Texas
The State of Texas does not view child support as anything other than money that goes towards providing for a child’s basic needs. You should not expect child support to fully fund your son’s baseball activities or pay for your daughter’s private school. Child support primarily covers basic needs like shelter, clothing, and food.
Child support represents a minimum support figure for the noncustodial parent, not encompassing all of your child’s costs. As a parent, paying child support should be the beginning, not the end, of your financial contributions each month.
Wage Withholding Orders from the divorce often handle child support, automatically deducting payments from your paycheck. Both parents benefit: the receiver tracks payments online, while the payer avoids timing worries. However, direct payments to your ex are risky due to the lack of an official record, complicating proof of payment.
Part Two of the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC’s series on Child and Medical Support is now up!
In my opinion, a subject as dense and essential as child support requires more than just one blog post. Part two will arrive tomorrow, discussing medical help and non-standard child support payments.
If you have any questions for one of our licensed family law attorneys, please do not hesitate to contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, today. You can access a free-of-charge consultation with just a phone call, where an expert will answer your questions on any subject related to family law.
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If you want to know more about what you can do, CLICK the button below to get your FREE E-book: “16 Steps to Help You Plan & Prepare for Your Texas Divorce“
Other Articles you may be interested in:
- Important Information Explained Regarding Child Support and Medical Support in Texas, Part Three
- Important Information Explained Regarding Child Support and Medical Support in Texas, Part Two
- Texas Child Support Basics
- Texas Child Support Basics, Part Two
- Can my Texas Driver’s License Be Suspended for Not paying Child Support?
- Child Support Modification in Texas (Part 1)
- What do I do if I have overpaid child support in Texas?
- Child Custody Basics in Texas
- Child Support and College Tuition in Texas
- Texas Child Support Appeals
- In Texas, are Child Support and Visitation Connected?
- Texas Child Support – Trust and Annuities
Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC | Tomball, Texas Child Support Lawyers
The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, routinely handles matters that affect children and families. If you have questions regarding child support, it’s essential to speak with one of our Tomball, TX Child Support Lawyers right away to protect your rights.
Our child support lawyersin Tomball, TX, are skilled at listening to your goals during this trying process and developing a strategy to meet those goals. Contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC by calling (281) 810-9760 or submit your contact information in our online form.
Bryan Fagan, a native of Atascocita, Texas, is a dedicated family law attorney inspired by John Grisham’s “The Pelican Brief.” He is the first lawyer in his family, which includes two adopted brothers. Bryan’s commitment to family is personal and professional; he cared for his grandmother with Alzheimer’s while completing his degree and attended the South Texas College of Law at night.
Married with three children, Bryan’s personal experiences enrich his understanding of family dynamics, which is central to his legal practice. He specializes in family law, offering innovative and efficient legal services. A certified member of the College of the State Bar of Texas, Bryan is part of an elite group of legal professionals committed to ongoing education and high-level expertise.
His legal practice covers divorce, custody disputes, property disputes, adoption, paternity, and mediation. Bryan is also experienced in drafting marital property agreements. He leads a team dedicated to complex family law cases and protecting families from false CPS allegations.
Based in Houston, Bryan is active in the Houston Family Law Sector of the Houston Bar Association and various family law groups in Texas. His deep understanding of family values and his professional dedication make him a compassionate advocate for families navigating Texas family law.
