09/30/2026
Wondering how child support actually gets calculated in Texas? The state uses a percentage of the paying parent's net monthly resources, starting at 20 percent for one child and increasing with each additional child. Net resources isn't the same as gross pay. It's calculated after specific deductions like taxes and union dues, and there's a cap on how much income factors into the guideline number.
Judges can and do deviate from the guideline amount when a child's proven needs call for more, or when a parent's resources fall below the cap. None of this happens in a vacuum, since the formula interacts with custody arrangements, health insurance obligations, and more.
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