Help is available for parents and family members supporting children during and after a parent's incarceration. Our attorneys are experienced in all aspects of family law and will guide you through each step of the process, ensuring you have the information you need to make wise decisions and prepare for the future. She focuses on creative, interest-based negotiations to help clients achieve their goals without unnecessary expenses or disputes. Sarah Aminzadeh Milinsky is dedicated to using problem-solving techniques, such as Collaborative Divorce, to handle family law and Child Custody Pros Guide divorce cases efficiently and with minimal conflict. This offset amount is not determined exclusively by the Texas child support percentage of net incom
If the court does not order a monthly child support obligation but the parents share equal parenting time, the court may order the higher-earning parent to pay offset child support to the lower-earning parent. When parents participate in a 50/50 possession schedule but are not on equal playing fields (i.e., there is a significant disparity in the parents’ income), courts will likely establish a monthly child support obligation. If each parent has the children for an equal amount of time, isn’t each parent paying the same amount to house and feed them? For example, if the custodial parent has the children 65% of the time, the courts assume that that parent is bearing 65% of the everyday expenses of the childre
For this reason, if you are having trouble making payments, you should discuss the possibility of modifying your order to an affordable amount with a skilled child support lawyer today. Felony charges may also be issued for first-time offenders who owe over $5,000 for non-payment of at least a year. In addition to the above collection methods for unpaid child support, a prosecutor can decide to file criminal charges against individuals who fail to make their required payments. One way to challenge a request to
Child Custody Pros Guide decrease the amount of child support is to show the court that the alleged change in circumstances is not involuntary. For this reason, parents often want to challenge requests for child support modifications. If you are receiving child support, a decrease in support can affect your ability to provide and care for your chil
Understanding different custody types is crucial for co-parents navigating post-divorce or post-separation arrangements. The specific process depends on the jurisdiction and the circumstances. They consider factors like each co-parent's willingness and ability to care for the child. Unfortunately, the other parent was not involved in the child’s life in any way up to that point.
Factors to Consider Before Deciding
If circumstances change meaningfully—a parent relocates, loses employment stability, develops health problems, or the child’s needs shift—you can petition for modification. This doesn’t mean custody in every case, but it does mean the court starts from a presumption that your child benefits from relationships with both parents. Gender doesn’t determine custody outcomes—parental involvement, stability, and demonstrated commitment to the child do. In contested situations, the court decides based on the child’s best interests rather than what either Child Custody Pros Guide parent prefer
For example, if a parent purposely quits working or works only part-time when they could work full-time, their choice to lower their income should not warrant a child support modification. For instance, a short time away from work that causes a temporary loss of income will likely not suffice in justifying a modification. Establishing paternity may require bringing legal action so a court can mandate a DNA test, as well as certain other steps if the father will not voluntarily admit paternit
Discover a safer way to access child support resources! The Child Support Division works closely with Texas employers, community organizations and Child Custody Pros Guide other state agencies to serve Texas families. Each year, we collect more child support than any state in the U.S.—but our work won’t be done until every child receives the support they need and deserve.
Plain-language legal information for victims of abu
Types of visitation orders
Such decisions may include choice of a child's school, physician, medical treatments, orthodontic treatment, counseling, psychotherapy and religion. Legal custody involves the division of rights between the parents to make important life decisions relating to their minor children. The U.S. Supreme Court has recognized that parents have a fundamental liberty interest in the care, custody, and control of their children. While child custody is primarily governed by state law, federal statutes such as the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act (28 U.S.C. § 1738A) and the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (adopted in most states) regulate interstate custody disputes.
Joint physical custody
Virtual visits are often part of a parenting plan or court order. The physical and legal custody of the child may be "sole" or "joint." In a situation where neither parent would be deemed an appropriate caretaker for a child, custody would be given to a foster care cente