As a family law attorney, I understand that life circumstances can change unexpectedly. I also understand that these changes can drastically impact the financial dynamics of families. One area where this change often manifests is in child support arrangements. Whether due to a job loss, a significant increase in income, or changes in the needs
Child Support
Affirmative Defenses: Voluntary Relinquishment
Let me start out by saying that I in no way shape or form advocate for not paying your court ordered child support. If you have been ordered to pay monthly child support for the benefit of your children, you need to pay it. But, there are situations where legally you may be required…
Child Support: What your Children Deserve
It’s not a secret that children are expensive. Making the effort to make sure their needs are met can often mean that you as a parent must go without. In a situation where parents are unmarried or divorced, it is even more important to make sure that both of you are on the same page…
Child Support During COVID-19
One consequence of COVID-19 is that many people have lost their jobs. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, over 1 million Texans have filed for unemployment. If you’ve lost your job or are on reduced hours, where does that leave your child support obligation? The short answer is you still owe the full amount ordered…
Behind on child support payments? Your stimulus check could be affected.
Most of the country is under a lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic. A lot of people are out of work, barely making ends meet, and are struggling to collect unemployment. There was a great relief when the President announced that every tax-paying citizen would receive a stimulus check in this time of crisis. However,…
Blake Griffin’s child support and reason #1,522 not to live in California
Reports surfaced today that pro-NBA player Blake Griffin has reached a settlement deal with his ex-girlfriend Brynn Cameron to pay child support of $258,000 PER MONTH for their two children. (See reports here from TotalProSports and here from TMZ.) The lawsuit, pending in California, alleges that Griffin ousted Cameron and the kids from his…
A place to look for hidden money
I read an article in the Fall 2017 Family Lawyer Magazine (yes, I’m behind on my reading pile) that talks about away to hide income – at the IRS. Husband owed wife spousal support, which was calculated on his actual net income. After receiving a raise, Husband increased his federal withholding taxes above the amount…
When can private school tuition be ordered?
The Texas Family Code awards child support based on the monthly net resources of the obligor. Tex. Fam. Code §§154.125-.126. The calculation of net resources includes 100 percent of all wages and salary income and other compensation for personal services (including commissions, overtime pay, tips and bonuses). Tex. Fam. Code §154.062(b)(1).
The Texas Family code…
Texas Child Support 101: The Basics of Net Resources+ PART TWO
This is part 2 in a two-part series on the basics of net resources for calculation of child support.
Deemed Income
Deemed Income is a term we get from Texas Family Code Section 154.067:
“Deemed Income
(a) When appropriate, in order to determine the net resources available for child support, the court may assign a…
Texas Child Support 101: The Basics of Net Resources PART 1
This is Part 1 in a two-part series on the basics of net resources for the calculation of child support.
To calculate current child support, courts must (1) determine the amount of the obligor’s income available for support (“net resources”), apply the child-support guidelines to the obligor’s net resources to determine guideline support, and (3)…