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

New Year

Here's a double double wish for a Happy New Year.  Not only is it after 1-1-12, but the Chinese New Year  is today.  This is the Year of the Dragon.  The symbol Dragon in the East is not a threatening evil as is in the West.  The Dragon to the Chinese is a symbol of among other things, power. Now, not all of us have been born in the year of the Dragon.  But, I think it would be empowering to think about the qualities of the Dragon and take that feeling of power and infuse it into your thinking about divorce.

How to do that, to have "power" in your divorce?  One way is to choose to divorce using Collaborative Law. Collaborative Law is a process that I have been doing for 10 years.  It is interdisciplinary.  That means that in addition to having an attorney and your spouse having an attorney, there is also at least a neutral communications facilitator and maybe a financial specialist and/or child specialist.  The professional team guides your case along in a way that will maximize results for you and your children.  There is a lot more to say about this fantastic process and I would love to tell you about it if you come see me.

What does Collaborative Law have to do with power? In Collaborative Law you and your spouse contract to do your divorce outside of the court system.  That means that you and your spouse are able to design your divorce on your own timetable, in private, not at the courthouse and you utilize neutral specialists as needed.  It is the most powerful and empowering way to divorce bar none.

For Smart Divorce in Texas

Diane M. Wanger
817-285-2855