Determining Child Support
If you receive a regular paycheck, anyone can use your W-2 form, the Texas child support worksheet and a calculator to quickly determine what your child support payments will be. However, if your earnings fluctuate, your possession schedule differs from a standard possession order, if you are a high wage-earner, or if your children have special needs which require more financial support, calculating child support payments can be very complex.
At The Haston Law Firm in Houston, Texas, we pride ourselves on our ability to handle even the most complex child support matters. We represent both payers and receivers of child support in North Houston and other nearby communities.
Complex Child Support Issues
Some of the issues most common issues in complex child support are:
- When the paying party (the obligor) owns a business or has a jointly owned company, he or she may have control over how money flows into personal accounts, W-2 forms and tax returns. This makes it possible for the obligor to manipulate his or her income.
- When the obligor is paid bonuses and commissions, earnings may fluctuate and determining a fair amount of child support may be difficult.
If you can't figure out what someone makes, you can impute income based on the person's lifestyle and monthly expenses such as mortgage, house and other monthly payments.
What if My Child Has Needs That Go Beyond Standard Child Support Guidelines?
If a child has additional needs that go beyond what the normal amount of child support will cover, then the court will look at the total pr oven needs of the child and determine how those needs can be met. Where there is a shortfall in support, the court will look at all relevant factors, including the comparative incomes of the parties.
If a child is permanently disabled, a court may order that a parent continue to pay child support even after the child has turned 18, as long as that disability continues. However, a parent must invoke the power of the court to continue this support before the child turns 18.
Learn about child support modifications.
Schedule an Attorney Consultation
To schedule a consultation with Houston lawyer Craig Haston about complex child support issues, call 866-470-4816 or fill out the contact form on this Web site.
