Child support in Texas is designed to ensure children continue to receive financial
support from both parents, even after separation or divorce. Understanding how support
is calculated can help you feel more prepared and confident as you move forward.
Texas uses a standardized formula to calculate how much child support should be paid.
Texas calculates child support using percentage guidelines based on the non-custodial parent’s net monthly resources to set a baseline support amount. These guidelines are found in Texas Family Code §154.125 are meant to create consistency from case to case. In most situations, the guideline amounts are:
custody matters
20% of net income for one child
25% for two children
30% for three children
35% for four children
40% for five or more children
These percentages are applied to the non-custodial parent’s net monthly income which is calculated after certain deductions are taken from the non-custodial parent’s gross income. Common deductions include federal income tax, Social Security taxes, union dues, and the cost of health insurance for the child. The court starts with these guidelines, but it can adjust the amount if the circumstances of the family or the needs of the child warrant a different result.
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These percentages are applied to the non-custodial parent’s net monthly income which is calculated after certain deductions are taken from the non-custodial parent’s gross income. Common deductions include federal income tax, Social Security taxes, union dues, and the cost of health insurance for the child. The court starts with these guidelines, but it can adjust the amount if the circumstances of the family or the needs of the child warrant a different result.
Texas recognizes that some parents have a legal duty to support other children who are not part of the current lawsuit. When this applies, the court may give the non-custodial parent a credit for those additional children, which can reduce the percentage of income used to calculate child support in the current case.
This situation often arises when the non-custodial parent has children from another relationship and is either supporting them under a court order or has a legal obligation to do so. Instead of using the standard guideline percentages, the court applies an adjusted percentage that accounts for the number of other children the non-custodial parent is legally responsible for supporting.
It is important to keep in mind that this credit applies only to legal children, not informal financial support, and the parent must present evidence of their obligation to support those other children.
What You Should Know
It is also important to note that Texas does not apply child support percentages to
unlimited income. Instead, there is a set monthly income cap, meaning guideline support
is calculated only up to a certain income level. Courts can order additional support
above the cap, but only when there is evidence that the child’s needs require it.
On September 1, 2025, Texas increased the child support income cap from $9,200 to $11,700 per month. This change reflects rising costs for housing, food, healthcare, and other child-related expenses. For families affected by the cap, this change can significantly increase child support amounts. For example:
With one child, the maximum guideline support increased from about $1,840 to $2,340 per month. With two children, the maximum increased from roughly $2,300 to $2,925 per month.
Parents whose income falls below the cap will not see a change based on this update alone.
Child support plays a critical role in providing stability for children. Whether you are negotiating support for the first time or considering a modification, understanding how Texas calculates child support — and how the 2025 changes apply — can help you make informed decisions and avoid surprises.
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