Child Support Cap Increases in Texas effective September 2013

In Texas, the calculation of child support is straightforward.  It is based on a percentage of the Net Resources of the person who is paying child support.  The percentage is based on how many children support is being calculated for and how many other children that the person paying support has a duty of support for. If Net Resources are under the statutory cap, then the amount of support is presumptively correct.  The cap has been $7500 since 2007.

Legislation was enacted in 2007 to allow for an periodic automatic increase in the cap on net resources. 2013 is the year for this increase.  The attorney general's office published that the new cap is $8,550 per month of Net Resources.  This could mean an increase in support of  $200 per month or more.

Please be aware that the increase in support is not automatic.  A motion to modify child support must be filed in order to take advantage of this change in the Net Resources Cap.  if you are receiving child support from someone who is making in excess of $120,000 per year, it would be worth your while to explore the option of filing a modification in child support.

For Smart Divorce in Texas

Diane M. Wanger
304 Harwood Road
Bedford, Texas
817-285-2855
texasfamilylaw.info

Troubled Relationship? Divorce or Counseling?

I told you last year that I would tell you more about my dishwasher fixing story which relates to assessing the decision to stay together or get a divorce.

We bought a dishwasher eight years ago and it was fabulous. It would clean well and you could put the dishes in without washing them.

Recently it stopped cleaning. My husband, Carl, was ready to buy a new one.  I was convinced it was a fixable problem. Not willing to wait for my husband to look at it, I went to my "fix it" resource, YouTube.com, and researched the matter. I persevered and ultimately I diagnosed a blocked chopper and I cleaned it. Good as new.

It worked for about three months and then the same for a problem arose. I started looking at new dishwashers. Features we had on ours were only available on very expensive dishwashers. I decided to fix it again. This time I replaced the chopper blade rather than just cleaning it . Success again.

The different approaches of my husband and myself remind me of the different approaches people take when faced with a troubled relationship, and they are thinking about divorce.

Some are willing to bolt of the first sign of trouble- (buy a new one); some just hang in there without attempting to change any of the dynamics- (resolving to hand wash dishes), and some put time and effort into fixing what they have the power to fix hoping that will be enough to turn things around.  

Which kind of person are you? Awareness of your own approach to marital difficulties as well as observing your partner’s approach to trouble in the marriage can be a starting point in shifting your perspective or resolving to investigate solutions. This becomes part of your decision-making process. Unfortunately, the kind of person that you are doesn't change whether or not the relationship is fixable if it is broken beyond repair.  You can work at it for years and never get anywhere.  

A few takeaways.

1.  Moderation in all things.

2.  If everyone says there is a problem including your divorce attorney there probably is.

For Smart Divorce in Texas

Diane M. Wanger
304 Harwood Road
Bedford, Texas
817-285-2855
texasfamilylaw.info

Divorced? Getting what you want from ex or really anyone.

Bill Eddy was a Licensed Mental Health professional before he became an attorney. He has some really good information to say about getting what you want through proposals. Diane

© 2013 by Bill Eddy

Any problem in the past can be turned into a proposal about the future. Proposals don’t have to be complicated. You can just blurt one out during a conversation with anyone or during a meeting with any group. Proposals get attention, because they are solutions to past problems by focusing on the future. Most of us are relieved to talk about the future, rather than what we’ve done wrong in the past. On the other hand, most of us easily slip into talking about the past – or even get stuck talking about the past – including what everyone else has done wrong. This article focuses on how to make proposals in a way that is easy and can be done at any time.

Full article here
For Smart Divorce in Texas

Diane M. Wanger
304 Harwood Road
Bedford, Texas
817-285-2855
texasfamilylaw.info