Pearland Child Support Attorneys

Child support is one of the most contested financial issues in any family law matter, and the stakes are high on both sides. Whether you’re seeking to establish a fair order, enforce one that’s being ignored, or modify terms that no longer reflect your circumstances, The Dieye Firm represents parents throughout Pearland, Harris County, and surrounding areas at every stage of the process.

Papa Dieye leads the firm’s child support practice, bringing 20+ years of family law experience to cases involving divorce, custody disputes, and situations where parents were never married. We represent both paying and receiving parents and approach each case with an individualized strategy rather than a formula. Clients work directly with their attorney throughout, not just with support staff.

Essential Elements of Child Support in Texas

Child support exists to ensure children’s basic needs are met regardless of the parents’ relationship or living arrangements. Both parents carry a legal duty to financially support their children under Texas law, and that duty belongs to the child, not the other parent. This means a biological parent can be ordered to pay support even when the child is being raised by a grandparent or another non-parent.

Child support in Texas covers a range of essential needs:

• Food, clothing, and housing
• Medical and dental care
• Educational expenses
• Stability in day-to-day living arrangements

Support amounts are determined based on the paying parent’s net monthly resources and the number of children being supported. The court’s overriding concern is the child’s best interest, and that standard applies whether the case is straightforward or complex.

Who Pays Child Support in Texas

In Texas, the non-custodial parent, the party without the exclusive right to designate the child’s primary residence, typically pays child support. The custodial parent is expected to apply those funds to the child’s care and maintenance. That said, every family’s situation is different.

With court approval, parents may agree to forgo a formal support order, particularly when possession time is divided equally and both parents earn comparable incomes. Courts also account for a child’s special needs, healthcare costs, and education expenses. The goal in every case is an arrangement that genuinely serves the child, not one that simply fits a template.

How Texas Calculates Child Support

Texas bases child support on the obligor’s net monthly resources, not gross income. Net resources equal total income from all sources minus specific allowed deductions: federal income tax, Social Security taxes, union dues, and the cost of the child’s health insurance premiums. Because Texas has no state income tax, no state tax deduction applies. The resulting figure is what the percentage guidelines are applied to.

Income Counted Toward Net Resources

Income sources counted toward net resources include:

• Wages, salary, overtime, commissions, tips, and bonuses
• Self-employment income and net rental income
• Dividends, retirement benefits, and trust income
• Social Security benefits (excluding SSI), severance pay, and spousal maintenance
• Most other income actually received

Effective September 1, 2025, the cap on net monthly resources subject to the guideline calculation rose from $9,200 to $11,700 under Texas Family Code § 154.125. Courts may order additional support above the guideline amount if the child’s proven needs exceed what the formula produces.

Percentage Schedule by Number of Children

Once net resources are determined, the court applies the following percentages:

• One child: 20%
• Two children: 25%
• Three children: 30%
• Four children: 35%
• Five children: 40%
• Six or more children: not less than 40%

An obligor who supports children from other relationships may qualify for a reduced percentage. For example, a parent with two children from different households may pay 17.5% rather than the standard 20%. Courts also retain discretion to deviate from the guidelines when the evidence shows the guideline amount doesn’t serve the child’s best interests.

When Child Support Ends in Texas

Child support in Texas continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever date is later. A child with a disability requiring substantial care and personal supervision may be eligible for support beyond age 18.

Reaching adulthood doesn’t erase unpaid obligations. If a parent owes arrears, payments continue until the full debt is satisfied, and terminating parental rights doesn’t extinguish the duty to pay outstanding arrears. Other events that may end a support obligation before age 18 include the child’s marriage, death, or legal removal of disabilities of minority.

Options for Making Child Support Payments in Texas

Texas allows child support to be paid through several methods:

• Direct payment between parents: Cash, check, or electronic transfer such as Venmo or PayPal is permitted when parties have a cooperative relationship. The paying parent should always note that the transfer is for child support to protect both parties in the event of a dispute.
• State Disbursement Unit: Payments routed through this agency are tracked by the state, creating a reliable record if a dispute arises later.
• Wage withholding: This is the default method ordered by Texas courts. Unless the parties agree otherwise or the court finds good cause to deviate, support is withheld directly from the obligor’s paycheck.
• OAG online portal: Parents may pay online through the Texas child support portal, where the Office of the Attorney General maintains payment account records.

Regardless of the method used, keeping thorough records of every payment protects both parents and helps resolve future disagreements quickly.

Modifying a Child Support Order in Texas

Life changes, and child support orders can be updated to reflect those changes. There are two pathways to modification in Texas. The first applies when at least three years have passed since the order was entered or last modified and the monthly support amount would differ by at least 20% or $100 under current guidelines. The second is available at any time upon showing a material and substantial change in circumstances.

Qualifying changes include a significant shift in the obligor’s income, the addition of other children the obligor is legally responsible for, changes in health insurance coverage, or changes in the child’s living arrangements. Parents whose existing orders were based on income near the old $9,200 cap should also consider whether the September 2025 update, raising that ceiling to $11,700 in net monthly resources, warrants a review. Existing orders don’t update automatically; a formal modification request is required. Modifications also apply prospectively only, meaning courts won’t retroactively adjust amounts already paid or past due.

Under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA), which has been enacted in every U.S. state, child support orders can be enforced and modified across state lines. Relocating doesn’t eliminate or pause a parent’s obligation.

Enforcing Child Support Orders in Pearland

When a parent stops paying, there are meaningful tools available. The Texas Office of the Attorney General Child Support Division can pursue enforcement through wage garnishment, tax refund interception, liens on bank accounts and real property, suspension of driver’s and professional licenses, credit bureau reporting, lottery prize interception, and civil or criminal contempt proceedings. Contempt findings can result in fines for each missed payment or jail time for repeat offenders.

A custodial parent can request OAG enforcement or pursue enforcement directly through the court that issued the original order. A paying parent facing financial hardship should act before falling behind. Stopping payments without a court order, even based on an informal agreement with the other parent, provides no legal protection. The right move is to file for a formal modification promptly.

Child Support Representation from The Dieye Firm

Navigating child support, whether you’re establishing an order for the first time, responding to one, seeking a modification, or fighting to collect what’s owed, requires a clear strategy and an attorney who knows your case. We develop approaches tailored to each client’s financial situation and family circumstances, and our team’s experience across different cultures and legal systems informs a perspective that matters in a diverse community like Pearland.

We assist clients on both sides of child support matters, including:

• Evaluating financial circumstances to determine appropriate support amounts
• Negotiating support agreements that reflect the child’s actual needs
• Explaining how calculation factors apply to a specific situation
• Guiding modification proceedings when circumstances change
• Pursuing or defending against enforcement actions

Clients have direct access to their attorney from start to finish, not just when a crisis arises.