Accurate calculation. Aggressive enforcement.
Child support is a statutory right designed for the enrichment of the child, not a penalty against the obligor. Whether establishing an initial order, seeking a modification, or enforcing payment, we ensure the math aligns with current Texas Family Code caps and allowable deductions.
Calculate standard guideline support.
Use this tool to estimate the monthly obligation. It automatically adjusts the percentage based on the statutory multi-family matrix (if the obligor supports other children) and enforces the maximum net resources cap.
Enter average monthly income after strict allowable statutory deductions are removed.
How many children are currently before the court in this specific suit?
How many other children does the obligor have a legal duty to support?
This estimate is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. It reflects Texas Family Code §§ 154.125 and 154.129 using the statutory net-resources cap of $11,700 (effective September 1, 2025). Actual orders depend on factors a court may consider, including health-insurance and dental costs, possession schedules, and the proven needs of the child. For an analysis of your specific situation, speak with a Busby & Lee attorney.
Finding the true baseline for support obligations.
Texas law calculates child support based on "net monthly resources," subject to a statutory cap periodically adjusted for inflation by the Attorney General. The formula begins by establishing total gross income, dividing by 12, and then stripping away strictly defined deductions.
Gross Resources
- Wage & Salary Overtime, tips, bonuses, and commissions.
- Passive Income Interest, dividends, and royalty income.
- Business Income Self-employment and net rental income.
- Benefits & Payouts Severance, retirement, pensions, and trust income.
- Gains & Support Capital gains, Social Security, unemployment, and disability.
Do Not Include
- Capital Returns Return of principal or capital on a note.
- Business Debts Accounts receivable.
- State Aid Benefits paid through TANF.
- Foster Support Foster care payments.
- Spousal Income A new spouse's net income is strictly excluded.
Subtract from Gross
- Federal Taxes Federal income taxes (calculated for a single person).
- Social Taxes Social Security taxes.
- State & Dues State income taxes and union dues.
- Insurance Costs Cost of the child’s health and dental insurance.
- Medical Support Cash medical support payments.
Standard Texas percentages based on net resources.
Once your net monthly resources are established, the court applies standard percentages based on the number of children before the court. These percentages apply directly to net resources up to the current statutory cap. (If the obligor has a legal duty to support other children from a different relationship, these percentages are slightly reduced).
One Child
Two Children
Three Children
Four Children
Five or More
Navigating changes in circumstances.
Child support orders are not set in stone, but they also do not adapt automatically. Below is how Texas courts calculate support under the 2025–2026 guidelines, when an order can be changed, and how special circumstances are handled.
What is the new Texas child support cap for 2025–2026?
Texas applies guideline percentages only up to a statutory ceiling on the paying parent’s monthly net resources. Effective September 1, 2025, that cap rose for the first time since 2019.
Income above the cap is generally excluded from the guideline formula, though a court may order additional support if the child has proven needs that exceed the guideline amount.
How much is child support in Texas?
Support is a percentage of the paying parent’s monthly net resources, based on the number of children before the court. At the $11,700 cap, the guideline maximums are:
| Children | % of Net Resources | Max at $11,700 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 child | 20% | $2,340 |
| 2 children | 25% | $2,925 |
| 3 children | 30% | $3,510 |
| 4 children | 35% | $4,095 |
| 5 children | 40% | $4,680 |
| 6+ children | Not less than 40% | Not less than $4,680 |
The percentage is reduced when the paying parent has a legal duty to support other children — for example, support for one child can drop from 20% to 17.5% when there is one other child in another household.
What counts toward “net resources”?
- Federal income tax (at the single-person rate, one exemption).
- Social Security and Medicare (FICA) taxes.
- Union dues.
- The cost of the child’s health and dental insurance.
Voluntary 401(k) contributions, car payments, and similar personal expenses are not deducted. A new spouse’s income, TANF benefits, and foster-care payments are excluded from income entirely.
Do you offer free consultations for child support issues?
We offer two distinct consultation paths. Because complex child support collections and modifications require precise mathematical and legal analysis, standard fees apply unless your arrears have already been confirmed by a judge.
Documented Cases
To qualify for a complimentary case evaluation, you must provide two documents prior to the meeting: 1) A signed Order Confirming Arrears and 2) The underlying Child Support Order. With these in hand, we can immediately assess enforcement options at no cost.
Unconfirmed Arrears
If you do not have a prior order confirming the exact arrearage amount, our standard consultation fee applies. This covers the time required to review your payment history, run statutory interest calculations, and outline the legal steps required to confirm the debt.
When can child support be modified?
Do not expect automatic increases or decreases when incomes change — including from the 2025 cap increase. To modify support, you must file a petition with the family court or request a review through the Office of the Attorney General. A court may modify an order when either condition is met:
- It has been at least three years since the order was rendered or last modified, and the amount under current guidelines would differ by 20% or $100 from the existing order; or
- There has been a material and substantial change in circumstances since the last order, regardless of how much time has passed.
For higher earners whose support was set under the old $9,200 cap, the increase to $11,700 can by itself satisfy the 20%-or-$100 threshold.
Can a judge deviate from the standard percentages?
- Extraordinary educational, health-care, or other needs of the child.
- Cost of travel for exercising possession.
- Child-care expenses needed for employment.
- Intentional unemployment or underemployment of the paying parent, and any imputed income.
- Benefits furnished by an employer, such as a vehicle or housing.
- Proven needs of a child whose paying parent earns above the $11,700 cap.
What factors is a judge NOT allowed to consider?
- A history of voluntary payments above the guideline amount.
- The sex of the paying parent, the recipient parent, or the child.
- The marital status of the child’s parents.
When does child support end in Texas?
Support generally continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later. It may continue indefinitely for a child who is disabled and unable to support themselves.
Secure your child's financial future.
We appear regularly in Harris County family and district courts regarding complex child support calculations, modifications, and enforcement matters. Contact us to schedule an evaluation of your case.
