Who has to pay child support and how is it calculated?
From a legal standpoint, of course both parents are financially responsible for any children that are a product of the marriage. However, when it comes to child support, the non-custodial parent is the one who will owe child support to the custodial parent. That just means that the parent who is not living with the children is the one that will have to pay the child support. With regards to how child support is calculated, in Texas, it is based on a statutory formula based on income. Of course there are other factors which are taken into consideration such as the ability of both parents to financially contribute, the needs of the children, and the financial resources available for the support of the children. The statutory guidelines are as follows, which are based on the obligated party’s first $6000.00 of income:
- 1 child: 20% of Obligor’s Income
- 2 children: 25% of Obligor’s Income
- 3 children: 30% of Obligor’s Income
- 4 children: 35% of Obligor’s Income
- 5 children: 40% of Obligor’s Income
- 5+ children: Not less than amount for 5 children.
It’s time to take hold of your rights, and you can do so by contacting a Spring family lawyer at Garg & Associates immediately to schedule an initial consultation. Please contact our office to see how we can assist you. Learn more about our Areas of Practice.
