When child support becomes uncertain or feels unfair, parents deserve clear answers and reliable legal guidance. Working with a child support lawyer in Southlake, TX can help you understand your rights, protect your child’s needs, and move forward with confidence. At Wood & Sanchez Law, our attorneys have extensive experience establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support orders for families throughout Southlake and surrounding areas of Tarrant County.
Whether you are requesting support or responsible for paying it, we work to secure arrangements that protect your child’s well-being now and in the years ahead.
Understanding Child Support Under Texas Law
Child support in Texas is designed to ensure children have the financial resources they need to thrive, and it is separate from spousal support or alimony. Understanding how child support works, what it covers, who pays it, and how it is calculated can help parents make informed decisions and avoid unnecessary conflict.
What Child Support Covers
Child support is intended to meet a child’s essential needs, including food, clothing, housing, healthcare, education, childcare, and other day-to-day expenses. The goal is to provide stability and maintain a consistent standard of care, even when parents no longer live together.
Custodial vs. Noncustodial Parents Explained
In Texas, the custodial parent typically has primary physical possession of the child, while the noncustodial parent usually provides financial support. Although these roles affect support obligations, both parents share responsibility for meeting their child’s needs and supporting their overall well-being.
How Texas Calculates Child Support
Texas calculates child support using guideline percentages applied to the paying parent’s net resources, which may include wages, bonuses, commissions, and self-employment income. Courts also consider medical and dental insurance, childcare costs, and special-needs expenses. In certain situations, such as high-income divorce cases, courts may deviate from standard guidelines to ensure support remains fair and appropriate.
When You May Need a Child Support Lawyer
Child support issues can quickly become complex, whether you are establishing support for the first time, seeking a modification, or enforcing an existing order. A knowledgeable attorney can help you understand your options, avoid procedural errors, and protect your child’s financial security.
Establishing Child Support for the First Time
We assist divorcing, separating, and never-married parents with creating clear, enforceable child support orders that align with Texas guidelines and the realities of raising a child.
Modifying an Existing Child Support Order
A Southlake child support attorney can help ensure your modification request is properly documented and positioned for approval. You may qualify for a modification when:
- Your income changes significantly
- The other parent’s income changes
- Parenting time or custody arrangements shift
- Medical or childcare expenses increase
- A major life event affects financial circumstances
Enforcing a Child Support Order
Missed or unpaid child support can create serious financial strain. We help parents pursue enforcement through:
- Wage garnishment
- License suspension actions
- Contempt of court proceedings
- Arrears planning
- Enforcement motions in Tarrant County courts
Complex Child Support Situations
Some cases require advanced legal strategies, particularly those involving:
- Self-employment or fluctuating income
- Multiple families or prior support orders
- High-income households
- Children with medical, educational, or developmental special needs
Our experienced Texas child support attorneys are equipped to handle even the most complex support matters.
What You Should Do Before Filing for Child Support or a Modification
Gather Your Financial Documents
Collect recent pay stubs, W-2s, 1099s, tax returns, business income records, insurance information, childcare invoices, and medical or dental expense documentation.
Track All Child-Related Expenses
Documenting actual costs helps demonstrate your child’s needs and supports fair calculations.
Document Communication With the Other Parent
Keep records of messages or discussions related to payments, schedules, or disputes.
Avoid Social Media Conflicts
Posts and messages can be used in court. Maintain professionalism online.
Understand the Texas Guideline Percentages
Knowing the basic framework helps set expectations and reduce unnecessary conflict.
Speak With a Child Support Attorney Promptly
Early legal guidance strengthens your case and helps ensure your child’s needs are fully represented.
What to Expect When You Work With Us
In Texas, child custody is referred to as conservatorship, which defines each parent’s rights and responsibilities regarding the child. Custody arrangements may involve joint or sole conservatorship, depending on the family’s circumstances and the child’s needs. These determinations address decision-making authority over matters such as education, healthcare, and upbringing, while also structuring parental responsibilities to support the child’s daily routine and long-term stability.
Clear visitation schedules help reduce conflict and confusion by setting expectations for both parents. Parenting time arrangements may involve creating or modifying possession schedules that account for school calendars, holidays, and travel needs. Tailored visitation solutions are designed to support the child’s daily life and sense of consistency. In many cases, parenting time schedules align with child support considerations to ensure holistic, ongoing care.
Custody orders may be modified when circumstances change in a meaningful way. Relocation, work schedule changes, or the child’s evolving needs can all warrant a review of existing arrangements. Any request for modification must meet Texas’s material and substantial change standard.
Once finalized, we ensure your order is clear, enforceable, and aligned with your child’s best interests, remaining available for future modifications or enforcement.
How Child Support Works in Southlake & Tarrant County Courts
Child support cases in Southlake are handled through the Tarrant County family courts. While Texas child support guidelines apply statewide, local courts follow specific procedures, filing requirements, and scheduling practices. Parents should expect mandatory financial disclosures and, in many cases, mediation before a hearing is set.
Judges in Tarrant County emphasize accuracy, consistency, and the child’s best interests when reviewing support matters. Our familiarity with local court expectations allows us to guide parents through the process with transparency, efficiency, and realistic expectations. Our firm also handles prenuptial, postnuptial, cohabitation, and partition agreements, as well as high-net-worth divorce matters.
How Child Support Works in The Woodlands & Montgomery County Courts
Child support cases in The Woodlands are handled through the Montgomery County family courts, which follow Texas child support guidelines but apply specific local procedures and expectations. Parents should be prepared for structured filing requirements, mandatory financial disclosures, and, in many cases, a mediation session before a hearing is set. Timelines can vary depending on whether the issue involves establishing support, requesting a modification, or pursuing enforcement, but most cases move more quickly when both parents provide complete, accurate documentation.
Judges in Montgomery County place a strong emphasis on clarity, consistent financial information, and the child’s best interests when reviewing support orders. They expect parents to follow all mandated deadlines and procedures without exception. Our familiarity with the local courts—and how specific judges typically approach these matters—allows us to guide parents through the process with confidence, transparency, and realistic expectations. We also specialize in prenuptial, postnuptial, cohabitation, and partition agreements, as well as high-net-worth divorces.
Serving Families Throughout the Southlake Area
Wood & Sanchez Law proudly serves families throughout Southlake and surrounding communities in Tarrant County. Our knowledge of local courts, procedures, and judicial expectations allows us to provide dependable, well-informed representation.
Request a consultation or visit our Southlake office.
Schedule a Child Support Consultation in Southlake, TX
If child support issues are causing stress or uncertainty, you don’t have to navigate the process alone. A knowledgeable attorney can help protect your child’s future and provide clarity during a challenging time.
We offer both virtual and in-office consultations for your convenience. Call today or use the link below to schedule your consultation.
