Denton County Child Support Attorneys
Experienced Legal Guidance for Child Support Agreements in Collin County & Tarrant County
Child support cases involve two very sensitive issues: family and finances. While both parents may want what's best for their child, there are often disputes regarding a parent's ability to pay and the amount of support requested.
Our Denton, Collin, and Tarrant County child support attorneys understand how important it is that your children receive the financial support that they deserve. We work closely with you to help make the process as stress-free as possible and to ensure that your case receives a favorable outcome.
If your paperwork is submitted incorrectly or is incomplete, it can easily get lost in the system. Leave all the legal details to us, including paperwork and documents! Our child support attorneys in Denton, Collin, and Tarrant County can help to make sure all documents and paperwork are filed correctly and in a timely manner.
Make sure you have the best possible chance of getting the outcome you need. Call (940) 293-2313 to speak with a child support attorney!
We have helped families just like yours through all types of divorce and family law-related matters. Find out how one of our Board-Certified Family Law Specialists can help you.
How Is Child Support Calculated in Texas?
In Texas, the amount of child support is determined by the court based on specific factors. When parents do not live together—either following a divorce or because they're separated or not married—the non-custodial parent is required to make ongoing child support payments until the child turns 18 years old.
Child support in TX can be determined based on, but not limited to:
- The number of children involved
- The net income of the non-custodial parent
- Basic living expenses for the child/children
- Expenses for the child/children's health care
- Expenses for the child/children's educational needs
Net resources include, but are not limited to:
- Spousal maintenance
- Self-employment income
- Social Security or disability benefits
- Worker's compensation
- Retirement benefits
- All wage and salary income (including tips and overtime)
Social security taxes, federal income taxes, state income taxes, union dues, and the cost of health insurance or cash medical support are deducted from the Obligor's resources to determine the Obligor's net resources. These deductions are calculated using the Texas Attorney General’s Tax Charts.
Do I Have to Pay Child Support if I'm Unemployed?
It is a common misconception that if the Obligor (the person paying child support) does not have a job, then they cannot be ordered to pay child support. If the Obligor is unemployed, then the court can order child support based on minimum wage. The amount will be calculated the same way as if the Obligor was employed.
If you have lost your job and have court-ordered child support payments, then the court needs to be made aware of your situation, even if you and your ex-spouse have reached an agreement. Your child support attorney can help you file for a modification of child support to either put it on hold or greatly reduce the amount while you remain unemployed.
This modified order is temporary until you find a new job. Once you find new employment, you will have to modify the order once again to reflect your new income.
You should also note that the court will not allow an indefinite amount of time to not pay any child support while hunting for a new job. Be sure to keep extremely accurate and detailed records regarding your job hunt process, as you may need to submit them to the judge as proof that you are indeed searching for a job and not putting off paying child support.
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We are from California and we needed a local probate attorney. After calling around and speaking with 3 different attorneys, we settled on Coker, Robb & Cannon, Family Lawyers. Tyler Livingston and his staff were amazing and very efficient. Even though we are in California, he kept us up to date. He settled our case in 5 months and we are extremely grateful for the service we received. If you are looking for a highly-skilled, affordable attorney, this is the firm we recommend.- Helena R.
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Mr. Pax did an excellent job with my divorce from the consult to final disposition. He made the process easier than I expected, since I was moving during the divorce process. He always had time to answer questions and set appropriate expectations. He and the staff worked around my sometimes odd schedule to get things done. I found everyone I interacted with to be friendly, professional and courteous. I would recommend them to anyone else needing a divorce attorney.- Patricia
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I had a nasty divorce going with my ex-wife who was using one of the High Power Dallas Lawyers that was intent on making things difficult and costing both of us most of the money we were fighting over. Duane was able to calm me down and came up with an idea for the settlement that not only saved me and the ex money, but actually made his fees LESS EXPENSIVE!!! You will not hear of that many times with any lawyer. I would recommend him for a simple divorce or a complex one with all of the circumstances that always make things difficult. He just has a way of working things out with all parties that make so much sense the case gets settled and everyone gets what they want.- Jay N.
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Coker Law Firm represented me in my modification case. They were very informative and helpful throughout the entire process. They were also very patient and very persistent when opposing counsel was slow to respond. With their help, I was able to resolve my modification to my approval without compromising. I would recommend their services to anyone needing a family law firm.- Catherine
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I was more than taken care of by this law firm. My attorney Shelby Hart believed in my case since day one. My situation was far from easy, I was trying to move out of state with my son to start a family with my husband. His father wanted to restrict me to the county I currently lived it. I was turned away by another attorney because she said there was no way I had a chance. But when I called Shelby he was nothing but uplifting, positive, and honest about the risk and chances but was reassuring of my chance and possibilities. He never gave up and found all kinds of ways to make this happen for me. He was always keeping me informed and allowed me to make any and all final decisions. Ashley Leverett, his parallel was always so helpful and on top of everything. She was also very sympathetic with me and gave good advice as well has helped me along the way with getting all my documents together. Even down to billing and payments, Georgia was always pleasant to work with on arranging and making my payments as well as answering any questions I had. Shelby, Ashley, and I won the case and I am completely moved in with my husband, son and newest member on the way! We are so happy and grateful for all the help we got at Coker!- Piper S.
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Coker, Robb & Cannon, Family Lawyers helped us with our first Will document 15 years ago and helped us to update it recently. We were leaving the country and needed the documents done quickly. They asked all the important questions and completed the documents in a timely manner. We would trust Coker, Robb, & Cannon with all of our family concerns.- Laura
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I’ve consulted with Duane L. Coker, and the Coker, Robb & Cannon, Family Lawyers team, on a couple occasions. The team there has always been exceptional and Duane’s advice spot on. Since my experience, I’ve referred several of my clients there for their family law matters and they’ve all reported that they’ve been well-served and that the customer service they’ve received from the staff has been top notch!- Mary
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I have used Duane Coker for several legal issues over the past seven years. Each time he was always honest with his advice and very aggressive in pursuing my best interest in the situation. I would highly recommend him to anyone.- Ted
When Does Child Support End in Texas?
A common question about child support is "Does child support automatically end at 18?" In Texas, child support ends when the child is emancipated, which happens automatically when the child turns 18 years old. In some rare cases, a child can be emancipated at a younger age, such as by getting a full-time job or joining the military.
Do you need legal counsel for a child support case? Reach out to our team for guidance! The team at Coker, Robb & Cannon has been delivering effective child support solutions to families for over 20 years. Our Denton child support lawyers are committed to helping you resolve your child support matter as promptly and as effectively as possible. We have offices in Denton, Frisco, and Fort Worth to better serve you. We offer financing to help with retainer fees. Click here to see your options.
Is Child Support Tax Deductible in Texas?
No, child support is not tax deductible because it is not considered income. If you are paying child support, then you will not be able to deduct those expenses from your taxes. While you can deduct items such as alimony and other costs related to the care of your child, child support is not considered income and cannot be taxed in that way.
If you are going through a divorce, are seeking to establish child support, or would like to request a review of your existing child support obligations, Coker, Robb & Cannon, Family Lawyers can help. We've been working with clients across Denton, Collin, and Tarrant County since 1998.
Recommended Reading on Child Support Law:
- Child Support and Taxes
- How Can I Change a Child Support Order?
- How to Get an Up-to-Date Record of Your Texas Child Support Account
Call us today at (940) 293-2313 to schedule a consultation.
Why Choose Coker, Robb & Cannon, Family Lawyers?
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Video Consultations & Meetings Available
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Voted Best Family Law Firm & Best Law Firm in Denton County
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Working Hard to Achieve the Best Results Possible
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Deeply Committed to Listening & Helping You