Texas Divorce Laws - Child Support Laws in Texas

A court may order either or both parents to support a child in the manner specified by court order. Payments, once ordered, are due until the child is 18 years of age or until graduation from high school, whichever occurs later. Payments may also terminate according to child support laws in Texas when a child is emancipated through marriage, through removal of the disabilities of minority by court order, or by other operation of law. The death of a child terminates support, or may be temporarily suspended based on disability.

Texas divorce laws empower courts to order either or both parents to make periodic payments for the support of a child in a proceeding in which the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services is named temporary managing conservator. In a proceeding in which the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services is named permanent managing conservator of a child whose parents' rights have not been terminated, the court shall order each parent that is financially able to make periodic payments for the support of the child.

If neither parent has physical possession or conservatorship of a child under definitions provided by Texas divorce laws, the court may render an order providing that a non-parent or agency having physical possession may receive, hold, or disburse child support payments for the benefit of the child. Texas divorce laws are explicit - the state interest is protected.

Child support laws in Texas - Paternity under Texas divorce laws

Today, DNA testing is common place and widely accepted to be over 99% accurate. Texas divorce laws recognize DNA testing and incorporate results to determine liability for payments.

Unique provisions of Texas Divorce Laws

• When determining Texas child support, Texas divorce laws may require interactive testing of all parties.
• For most child support payment faq, Texas divorce laws authorize assistant AGs to represent only a state interest rather than joint interests shared with a parent that receives past due payments.
• As a Texas child support calculator, guidelines may or may not be mandatory in all circumstances.