How is Child Support Calculated?

Whether you are a parent who is paying child support or a parent who is receiving child support, you may have questions about how the payments are calculated and how much is owed. Child support is an ongoing, periodic payment made by a non-custodial parent following the end of a marriage or other relationship. These payments help financially provide for that parent’s child or children and ensure their basic needs are met. The parent who makes these payments is referred to as an obligor, while the parent receiving the payments is called an obligee. In Texas, child support payments are typically calculated using a percentage model. For one child, the child support payment is usually 20 percent of the obligor’s net monthly income. For each additional child, another 5 percent is added. For example, an obligor with three children would pay 30 percent of their net monthly income. However, there are circumstances and considerations that can change these calculations and the amount owed. For example, there are federal deductions and mandatory deductions that are sometimes applied to the income calculations. Considerations should also be made while calculating child support for things like the child or children’s health and dental insurance. It is important to get help from an attorney to calculate child support and speak with them about options and special circumstances whether you are the parent who is paying or who is receiving the child support payments. At Sandoval Law Firm we understand the stress of dealing with divorce, child custody and domestic violence. Our firm consists of founding attorney Raul Sandoval Jr. and a dedicated support staff. Mr. Sandoval earned his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law. Since that time, he has been practicing family law in the Austin area, as well as teaching seminars, classes and other forms of professional development.