Denton Child Support Lawyer

Both Sides of Child Support, Handled by Attorneys Who Know Denton County Courts

Child support proceedings touch your finances and your family at the same time, which makes the attorney you choose consequential in ways that go well beyond the initial order. At Goline & Roland Law Firm, PLLC, we represent parents on both sides of these disputes: parents seeking to establish or enforce a support order and parents facing modification requests or enforcement actions. Our attorneys bring over three decades of combined family law experience and regularly appear in Denton County district and family courts on child support matters, so we know the local process from petition through hearing.

We serve clients throughout Denton County and the broader Dallas-Fort Worth area. When you work with us, you’re not getting a one-size-fits-all approach. We listen to your circumstances, analyze what the Texas Family Code allows, and build a strategy grounded in accurate financial information and local court knowledge. Flexible consultation options, including night and weekend appointments, are available to fit your schedule.

Call (940) 400-0475 or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation with our family law attorneys.

How Texas Calculates Child Support

Texas child support is calculated on the noncustodial parent’s net resources, not gross income. Under the Texas Family Code, net resources are gross income minus federal income taxes, Social Security taxes, union dues, and the cost of the child’s health insurance. Parents who don’t pay Social Security taxes may also deduct nondiscretionary retirement contributions. Net resources include wages, salary, overtime, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, rental income, Social Security benefits, disability benefits, and workers’ compensation payments.

Once net resources are established, the Texas Family Code sets a statutory percentage table:

• One child: 20%
• Two children: 25%
• Three children: 30%
• Four children: 35%
• Five children: 40%
• Six or more children: at least 40%

These percentages are starting points. Courts may deviate based on the child’s age and needs, extraordinary educational or medical expenses, parenting time distribution, the custodial parent’s income, and additional deviation factors enumerated in the Texas Family Code. If a paying parent is unemployed at the time of the order, Texas courts can calculate support based on minimum wage. The obligation doesn’t disappear with job loss.

Our legal team analyzes all relevant financial data to identify adjustments warranted by your specific situation. We handle cases involving self-employed parents, parents with fluctuating income, and children with special medical or educational needs, where the numbers on a tax return don’t tell the full story.

Establishing a New Child Support Order in Denton County

Many parents come to us before any order is in place and want to know what to expect when child support is first established. The process typically begins with a petition filed in a Denton County district court or through the Texas Attorney General’s Child Support Division, depending on your circumstances. We help parents understand which path fits their situation, how the Texas guidelines will apply, and what information they need to gather so the court has an accurate picture of each parent’s finances and the child’s needs.

An initial child support order can be established as part of a divorce, a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (SAPCR), or an independent petition, including by a parent who was never married to the other parent once parentage is established.

When we assist with a new case, we review issues such as health insurance and uninsured medical expenses and how parenting time may affect the amount of support requested. Parents working through a divorce or a SAPCR often have questions about how child support fits with conservatorship and possession orders. By addressing these topics together, we can help create a plan that works for day-to-day life. For self-employed parents, those with fluctuating income, or families with children who have special medical or educational needs, we take additional time to organize documents and explain to the court why a guideline order may not be appropriate. Our goal is a support order that is sustainable for both parents and grounded in accurate financial information, not a calculation that ignores your actual circumstances.

The Child Support Modification Process in Texas

As circumstances change, it may become necessary to modify a child support order. Under the Texas Family Code, a court may grant a modification if there has been a substantial and continuing material change in circumstances since the last order, or if at least three years have passed since the order was last set and the current amount differs from guideline support by at least 20 percent or $100 per month. Common grounds include job loss, a significant increase or decrease in either parent’s income, changes in the child’s needs, changes in custody or possession arrangements, and extraordinary medical expenses.

We help clients gather pay stubs, tax returns, childcare receipts, and other records so the court has a clear picture of the current situation. Preparing this documentation before filing can avoid delays and make your request easier for the judge to evaluate.

Key considerations when seeking a child support modification include:

• Evaluating the reasons for the modification, such as job loss, unforeseen medical expenses, or changes in custody arrangements
• Documenting significant changes in income or expenses with proper financial records and statements
• Understanding the filing process and ensuring compliance with all procedural requirements
• Negotiating with the other parent or their counsel to reach an agreement outside court when possible
• Preparing for a court hearing if an agreement can’t be reached, including compiling necessary evidence and testimony

Where to File a Child Support Modification Petition in Denton County

A modification petition must generally be filed in the court that issued the original order. If the child has lived in a different Texas county for at least six months, the filing party can request a transfer to that county’s court, but the original court handles the initial filing. Interstate and international cases introduce additional legal complexity beyond the standard Texas modification process.

In Denton County, filing in the right place matters. Paperwork sent to the wrong court can be rejected or delayed, which affects your timeline and your child’s support. We walk clients through completing the correct forms, arranging service on the other party, and tracking deadlines set by the local court. When a case needs to be transferred to another Texas county, we coordinate that request so the receiving court has everything it needs to proceed without interruption to child support.

Can Child Support Be Modified Without Going to Court?

No. A child support order is a court order and can only be changed by a judge. Even when both parents agree on new terms, a judge must approve the modification and can deny an agreed petition if it doesn’t meet the best-interest-of-the-child standard. Informal agreements to pay a different amount than the court order directs aren’t legally enforceable and don’t protect either parent from enforcement of the original order.

That makes thorough petition preparation essential. We help clients anticipate court expectations and prepare a well-documented petition that gives the judge the information needed to evaluate the requested change, including in cases where both parents are in agreement.

Child Support Enforcement in Denton County

Even a well-drafted order is only useful if support is actually paid, and many parents contact us when the other parent has fallen behind. Enforcement remedies available in Texas include income withholding orders, property liens, interception of tax refunds and other state or federal payments, suspension of driver’s and professional licenses, and contempt of court proceedings that can result in jail time. In Denton County, these actions can be initiated through the court that issued the original order or with the assistance of the Texas Attorney General’s Child Support Division.

Child support ordered through Denton County district courts is paid and tracked through the Texas State Disbursement Unit. SDU records serve as the authoritative evidence in enforcement proceedings, which is why documentation matters from the very first payment.

When we evaluate an enforcement case, we review the payment history, any informal agreements made between the parties, and whether circumstances such as unemployment or health challenges might affect the court’s response. We help you decide whether to request a hearing, negotiate a repayment schedule, or pursue other remedies that protect your child without unnecessary conflict. For parents accused of nonpayment, we provide guidance on documenting payments that may not have gone through the State Disbursement Unit registry and on seeking a modification when the current order is no longer affordable. Our focus is on long-term, sustainable approaches that address the child’s needs and comply with Texas law, not short-term fixes that lead to repeated courthouse appearances.

Why Local Knowledge of Denton County Courts Matters

Because we regularly appear in Denton County courts on child support matters, we can explain the usual timelines, the documentation local judges find most persuasive, and how to address the court clearly and effectively. That familiarity shapes how we structure petitions, what we emphasize in financial disclosures, and how we prepare clients for each setting. Clients throughout Denton County and the surrounding Dallas-Fort Worth area count on that knowledge when it matters most.

Call (940) 400-0475 or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation with a Denton child support lawyer today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Can File a Child Support Modification Petition in Texas?

A parent can file a modification petition with the court that issued the original order. A person who isn’t the child’s parent may also file under certain circumstances, including if they are named as a party in the current order, have been caring for and supervising the child for a qualifying period, or are a legally approved relative of the child. We assist clients in completing and filing modification petitions, gathering documentation, and preparing for hearings or negotiations.

What Fees Are Associated with Filing a Modification Petition?

You must pay a filing fee and, if the other parent must be served with notice of your petition, a service fee. These fees vary by county. If you can’t afford them, you can petition the judge to waive the fees by completing the appropriate form. Waivers are evaluated based on income and financial hardship. There may also be costs involved in gathering documentation or retaining experts to support your petition.

How Long Does It Take to Modify a Child Support Order?

Once a petition is filed, parties may wait several weeks to several months for a hearing, depending on the court’s docket and whether additional documentation or negotiation is needed. Providing complete and accurate financial records from the outset can reduce delays and help the court evaluate your request more efficiently.

What Happens If a Parent Refuses to Pay Child Support?

Nonpayment of child support in Texas can result in wage garnishment, property liens, tax refund interception, suspension of driver’s and professional licenses, and contempt of court proceedings that can lead to jail time. Enforcement actions can be pursued through the originating court or through the Texas Attorney General’s Child Support Division. We help navigate these enforcement actions, advocating for fair and workable payment plans that meet judicial requirements while accounting for the paying parent’s financial circumstances.

Is Mediation an Option for Child Support Disputes?

Yes. Mediation is an available option for child support disputes and can produce custom agreements that traditional court proceedings might not. Any mediated agreement must still be approved and entered by the court before it becomes enforceable. We advocate for mediation when it’s appropriate as a way to reach sustainable arrangements while reducing conflict, and we prepare clients to engage constructively in the process.

What Happens If the Paying Parent Loses Their Job?

Job loss doesn’t suspend or eliminate a child support obligation. If the paying parent stops making payments, arrears accumulate and enforcement can follow. Texas courts can calculate a temporary support amount based on minimum wage if a parent is unemployed at the time of a hearing. The paying parent should seek a formal modification promptly rather than stopping payments and should document job search efforts throughout. We help parents in this situation file for modification while managing any enforcement risk during the transition.

When Does Child Support End in Texas?

In Texas, child support generally continues until a child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later. Support may be extended indefinitely if the child has a qualifying disability that prevents self-support. It terminates earlier upon the child’s emancipation or enlistment in military service. If your situation is approaching one of these milestones, we can help you understand what steps, if any, are needed to formally conclude the obligation.

Don’t wait to get started on your case. Contact our firm online or call (940) 400-0475 to speak with a Denton child support attorney today.