Child Support for High Income Parents

Child support is a critical issue in many Woodlands divorce cases. We previously discussed how the child support guidelines function in a situation where the parent paying child support has net resources below $7,500 per month. If you have more than $7,500 per month in net resources then your Woodlands Divorce Attorney must analyze additional facts to determine how much child support you may pay or receive. Call us at (832) 592-7913 today if you need help with your child support issue.

The Family Code
  1. If the obligor’s net resources exceed $7,500, the court shall presumptively apply the percentage guidelines to the portion of the obligor’s net resources that does not exceed that amount. Without further reference to the percentage recommended by these guidelines, the court may order additional amounts of child support as appropriate, depending on the income of the parties and the proven needs of the child.
  2. The proper calculation of a child support order that exceeds the presumptive amount established for the portion of the obligor’s net resources provided by Section154.125(a) requires that the entire amount of the presumptive award be subtracted from the proven total needs of the child. After the presumptive award is subtracted, the court shall allocate between the parties the responsibility to meet the additional needs of the child according to the circumstances of the parties. However, in no event may the obligor be required to pay more child support than the greater of the presumptive amount or the amount equal to 100 percent of the proven needs of the child.
How Does it Work?

The court must first determine what the proven needs of the child are. If the needs of the child exceed the presumptive award determined from applying the guidelines to the first $7,500 of net resources, then the court must subtract the presumptive award from those needs. The presumptive award for a single child would be 20% of the first $7,500 of the obligor’s net monthly resources, or $1,500. Any support ordered in excess of $1,500 may only be based on the unmet needs of the child. The court may consider the circumstances of the parties in allocating the burden of meeting the child’s needs in its support order.

About The Author

The Woodlands Divorce Resource is here to help you with your divorce, child custody, or other family law issue in Montgomery County or Harris County. Many of our visitors come from the areas of The Woodlands, Conroe, Oak Ridge North, Cut and Shoot, and other communities in the Montgomery County area or Houston and North Harris County. If you need legal assistance with your family law issue call (832) 592-7913 to speak with a divorce lawyer in The Woodlands, TX today and protect your rights.

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