In Texas, Child Support is based on the paying parent’s income. There is a maximum amount of child support that’s presumed to be in the child’s best interests under the Texas Family Code. This “maximum child support” under the guidelines is presumed the highest child support allowed, absent unique medical other other circumstances.
The Attorney General’s office is tasked with analyzing inflation rates every six years and calculating maximum guideline child support numbers. The next maximum child support increase is coming September 1, 2019. See this recent announcement of the income increase posted in the Texas Register by the Attorney General.
The maximum net resources before this increase is $8,550. That’s the maximum monthly net “income” a court should consider when calculating guideline child support. That means that maximum child support for one child, at the 20% rate for one child before the court and no other children for the payor, would be $1,710 per month. Health Insurance is separate and in addition to child support payments. See Texas Family Code 154.125. The more children in a case the higher the percentage grows, by 5% per child.
The new maximum net income amount will go up from $8,550 to $9,200 per month starting with all child support cases decided after September 1, 2019. The new maximum amount for one child, 20% of this new maximum net income number, would be $1,840 per month. That’s an increase of $130 per month!
This means that for those high income earners, i.e., anyone making over $12,100 each month will likely pay more if their child support case is decided after September 1, 2019.
Anyone with an old child support order containing the old “max child support” may be entitled to an increase. Check your old Orders and consult a local child support attorney to see if the cost of returning to court warrant a modification case.