Whether you are currently preparing for the divorce process or want to change your child support order after making payments for years, it is vital to understand different factors that could affect how much you owe. Courts go over the income of each party, but it is important to familiarize yourself with other factors that could impact how much child support you have to pay or receive.
Failing to pay child support on time can generate serious repercussions, and it is pivotal to plan ahead and make sure you do not become delinquent.
Income and child support
The Texas Constitution and Statutes states that courts look at the monthly income of each parent when calculating child support. Examples of resources that courts look at include wages, self-employment earnings, rental income and interest. Unemployment benefits, retirement, Social Security, income from trusts and disability benefits can also influence how much support a parent owes.
Other factors that can affect child support
Aside from each parent’s income, courts might look at many other factors, such as additional financial resources, how much time each party spends with the child and other children that either parent has to care for. Alimony, academic expenses, employment benefits, travel costs associated with spending time with a child and debt can play a role in how much support becomes due.
Sometimes, a parent’s income changes significantly due to the loss of their job or some other unexpected problem. In these instances, modifying a child support order could become a possibility.