Child Support

• Texas allows any parent or individual in possession of a child to file for child support. When a child support case is filed, the court determines which parent is responsible for paying the other support payment based on the percentage of time each parent cares for the child and each parent's income. Texas Family Code section 154.003 states the payments can be made periodically, as a single payment, as an annuity purchase or as setting aside property that is administered to support the child.
  
  

Modification

• While only a court can change an existing child support order, Texas Family Code section 154.124 allows parents to enter into a written agreement about child support that contains provisions addressing when the order can be modified. The court has to determine if the agreement is in the child's best interest, but if it does, it can adopt the agreement and make it a part of the court's order.
  
  

Termination

• Texas Family Code Section 154.001 states that support orders can be made until a child reaches 18, becomes emancipated through marriage or dies. However, if the child is 18 and still enrolled in high school, the court can order that the paying parent continue support payments until the child graduates or leaves high school. The child must meet minimum attendance requirements, or the paying party can ask the court to terminate payments.
  
  

Enforcement

• If a person is obligated to pay child support in Texas, that parent must do so or face penalties. A child support order is a court order, and Texas residents who fall at least three months behind on their payments face having their driver's licenses suspended. Furthermore, the court's child support order is a court order, and anyone violating the terms of the order is subject to contempt sanctions by the court.