Midland Child Support Lawyer

Understanding Child Support in Texas

Child support is one of the most important aspects of family law in Texas. Ensuring that children receive the financial support they need after parents separate or divorce is essential to their well-being. A knowledgeable Midland child support lawyer can guide you through Texas child support laws, help you understand your rights and obligations, and represent you in court proceedings to ensure a fair and enforceable order.

Child support is financial assistance paid by one parent to the other to cover a child’s needs, including housing, food, clothing, education, medical care, and other essential expenses. In Texas, the parent who does not have primary custody (the “noncustodial parent”) is usually the one ordered to pay child support to the custodial parent.

The Texas Family Code sets out guidelines for calculating child support based on a percentage of the noncustodial parent’s net resources. However, courts can deviate from these guidelines if special circumstances exist, such as a child’s medical needs, educational expenses, or a parent’s high income.

To speak with our experienced Midland child support lawyers, call us at (214) 225-6766 or contact us online today. 

How Child Support Is Calculated in Texas

Texas uses statutory guidelines to calculate child support. The standard percentages applied to the noncustodial parent’s net monthly income are:

• 1 child: 20%
• 2 children: 25%
• 3 children: 30%
• 4 children: 35%
• 5 children: 40%

For six or more children, the court sets an appropriate percentage. “Net resources” generally include wages, commissions, bonuses, and self-employment income, but certain deductions such as taxes and health insurance premiums are allowed.

A Midland child support lawyer can help ensure your income is accurately calculated and that any special factors—like extraordinary medical expenses—are properly presented to the court.

Health Insurance and Medical Support

In addition to basic support payments, Texas law requires that medical support for children be addressed. This includes providing health insurance and sometimes dental insurance. The court may order one or both parents to cover health care premiums, out-of-pocket expenses, or uninsured medical costs.

Properly structuring medical support is critical to avoid future disputes. An experienced attorney can help negotiate or litigate the allocation of these costs in a way that protects your child’s health and your finances.

Modifying Child Support Orders

Life circumstances often change after a child support order is established. In Texas, a parent may request a modification if:

• It has been at least three years since the last order and the monthly support differs by at least 20% or $100 from the guideline amount, or
• There has been a material and substantial change in circumstances (such as job loss, significant income change, or a change in custody arrangements).

A Midland child support lawyer can file the appropriate motions, gather supporting evidence, and present your case to the court to seek an increase, decrease, or other adjustment to child support.

Enforcing Child Support Orders

If a parent fails to comply with a child support order, Texas law provides strong enforcement tools. The Office of the Attorney General and private attorneys can pursue actions such as:

• Wage garnishment
• Liens against property
• Interception of tax refunds
• Suspension of driver’s or professional licenses
• Contempt of court proceedings, which may include fines or jail time

If you are owed child support or facing enforcement actions yourself, having legal representation is critical to protect your rights and resolve the dispute effectively.

Addressing Complex Child Support Issues

Not all child support cases are straightforward. Some involve high-income parents, self-employment, hidden income, or disputes over the child’s actual needs. Others may include multiple children from different households or special-needs children requiring extraordinary care.

An experienced Midland child support lawyer can address these complexities by:

• Conducting thorough financial discovery
• Working with experts to value income or business interests
• Advocating for deviations from the standard guidelines when justified
• Ensuring that child support orders are clear, enforceable, and in the child’s best interest

Child Support and Custody

Child support and custody (or “conservatorship” in Texas) are closely related but legally distinct issues. Even if parents share joint managing conservatorship, one parent may still be required to pay support depending on income disparities and parenting time schedules.

If custody arrangements change—for example, if the child begins living primarily with the other parent—a child support order may need to be modified to reflect the new circumstances. Legal guidance ensures that custody and support orders work together appropriately.

How a Midland Child Support Lawyer Can Help

Working with a skilled attorney provides several advantages:

• Clear Guidance: Understanding Texas child support laws and how they apply to your unique situation.
• Accurate Calculations: Ensuring income is properly calculated and deductions or credits are applied.
• Negotiation and Mediation: Resolving disputes through settlement whenever possible to save time and expense.
• Litigation: Representing you in court hearings, trials, or enforcement proceedings when necessary.
• Long-Term Protection: Drafting clear, enforceable orders to reduce the risk of future disputes.

Why Choose Mueller Family Law Group

Mueller Family Law Group provides comprehensive representation in child support matters throughout Midland and surrounding areas. As a dedicated Midland child support lawyer, our focus is on protecting your child’s financial security while safeguarding your rights as a parent. We handle initial child support determinations, modifications, enforcement actions, and complex disputes with professionalism and attention to detail.

By combining in-depth knowledge of Texas Family Code with hands-on experience in local courts, we provide strategic and personalized representation designed to achieve fair, workable outcomes for our clients.

Speak with a Midland Child Support Lawyer

If you are facing a child support dispute, need to modify an existing order, or require enforcement of unpaid support, Mueller Family Law Group can help. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation with an experienced Midland child support lawyer.

To speak with our experienced Midland child support lawyers, call us at (214) 225-6766 or contact us online today.