Houston, TX family law attorney Winnie Cheung explains how the amount of child support is determined in Texas. She explains that in Texas, child support is primarily determined by the non-custodial parent’s income and the number of children involved. The process follows a set formula established by the state.

First, the court calculates the parent’s average net monthly income. This includes regular wages as well as any bonuses or additional sources of income. From that total, the court subtracts allowable deductions such as state income taxes, the cost of the child’s health or dental insurance, and any union dues the parent pays.

Once the net income is determined, the court applies a specific percentage based on the number of children. For one child, the standard amount is 20% of the parent’s net income. The percentage increases with each additional child, up to 40%.

She also notes that if the parent is already paying child support for another child from a different relationship, the court takes that obligation into account when determining the new support amount.

Overall, she emphasizes that the child support calculation in Texas is formula-driven but can still vary slightly depending on each parent’s financial circumstances and existing responsibilities.