Child Support in Houston
Your children have the right to be taken care of, no matter what happens between their parents. We help you get a fair child support order, collect what is owed, and modify it the right way when life changes.
What your children need, backed by an order that actually works
In Texas, child support is not improvised or shouted out in an argument: it follows general guidelines based on a percentage of the paying parent's net income, and that percentage increases with the number of children. As a general rule, the obligation lasts until a child reaches adulthood or finishes high school, and it can last longer when a child lives with a disability. Every family is different, and as part of our family law practice we review which numbers actually apply to your case.
We also know the Houston reality: a lot of people work for themselves — construction, kitchens, cleaning — and get paid in cash. That does not erase the obligation. The Harris County family courts in downtown Houston can determine what a parent really earns even without pay stubs, and once an order is signed, wage withholding goes straight to the employer so the payment arrives month after month.
And if you are on the other side — you lost your job, changed employers, or a handshake arrangement is falling apart — we help with that too. Child support almost always walks hand in hand with child custody, and sometimes with divorce; we handle the whole picture, in your language and without judgment.
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5 steps toward child support that is fair — and actually paid
01. Understand your situation
We listen to your whole story: whether you are seeking support or being asked for it, what orders already exist, what informal arrangements are in place, and what your children truly need.
02. A fair, complete income calculation
We gather the evidence of real income on both sides — wages, self-employment, cash, deposits, and lifestyle — so the calculation is based on facts, not stories.
03. The right support order
We ask the court for a clear order with wage withholding sent directly to the employer, so payment never depends on anyone's goodwill.
04. Collection and enforcement
If the other parent won't pay, we put the court's tools to work — contempt, license suspension, refund intercepts — and document every dollar owed.
05. Modifications when life changes
Job loss, a new job, changes in your child's needs: we help you modify the order legally instead of just stopping payments and piling up debt.
Questions about child support
One piece of advice we give every day: handshake deals and cash payments with no receipts are dangerous for both parents. The parent who pays can end up with no proof of what they already gave and look like a debtor; the parent who receives has no order to protect them if the money stops coming. A court order protects both of you — and above all, it protects the kids.
And if fear about papers has been holding you back, hear this: your immigration status does not stop you from asking for child support, and it does not work as anyone's excuse for not paying it. Status alone does not decide who keeps the children either — we explain more in our guide on child custody in Houston for undocumented parents.
How is child support calculated in Texas?
Texas uses general guidelines: support is calculated as a percentage of the paying parent's net income, and that percentage goes up with the number of children. The court can also weigh costs like health insurance and each child's needs. Every case is different, which is why we walk through the numbers with you before you ever step into court.
The other parent gets paid in cash — can I still get child support?
Yes. In Houston, plenty of people are self-employed or get paid in cash, and the courts know it. A judge can determine a parent's real income from their lifestyle, spending, bank deposits, and earning capacity. No pay stubs does not mean no obligation.
The other parent isn't paying — what can I do?
Texas courts have real enforcement tools: direct wage withholding, contempt of court (which can include jail time), license suspension, and tax refund intercepts, among others. The first step is reviewing your order and documenting everything that is owed.
I lost my job — can I lower my child support payments?
You can ask the court for a modification when your circumstances change significantly, such as losing a job or a major change in income. What you should not do is simply stop paying: the debt keeps growing, and the old order stays in force until a judge changes it.
Does being undocumented matter for child support?
No. You can ask for child support for your children regardless of your immigration status, and status does not excuse anyone from paying it either. The Harris County family courts handle these cases every day: protecting a child does not depend on papers.