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Child Support Law in Texas

This page covers child support law as it applies in Texas — the state and federal laws that govern it, filing deadlines, where to get help, and notable in-state decisions. For what child support protects generally, see the national overview.

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Quick answer

Texas sets child support using a percentage of the paying parent's monthly net income, following guidelines in the Texas Family Code. Both parents have a legal duty to support their children whether or not they were ever married. The Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division offers free services to help establish, change, and collect support. Some court deadlines — including a two-year window to pursue contempt for missed payments — are short, so act quickly.

Laws that govern child support in Texas

Texas state law

  • Texas Family Code Chapter 154 — Child SupportTex. Fam. Code Ch. 154

    Sets the percentage-of-income guidelines, the age when support ends, rules for medical support, and limits on retroactive support.

  • Texas Family Code Chapter 156 — Modification of OrdersTex. Fam. Code Ch. 156

    Governs when and how a child support order can be changed, including the three-year review presumption.

  • Texas Family Code Chapter 157 — EnforcementTex. Fam. Code Ch. 157

    Authorizes contempt proceedings and money judgments for unpaid support and sets the time limits for each remedy.

  • Texas Family Code Chapter 158 — Income WithholdingTex. Fam. Code Ch. 158

    Requires courts to order automatic paycheck withholding in nearly all child support cases.

  • Texas Family Code Chapter 160 — Uniform Parentage ActTex. Fam. Code Ch. 160

    Establishes procedures for determining legal parentage, including voluntary acknowledgment of paternity and court-ordered genetic testing.

  • Texas Family Code Chapter 233 — Child Support Review ProcessTex. Fam. Code Ch. 233

    Creates an administrative process through the Attorney General's office to establish or modify support orders without full court litigation.

Browse all of Texas’s statutes →

Federal law

Texas-specific deadlines for child support cases

Enter the date your problem happened to see which deadlines may already have passed. Not every deadline applies to every situation — this is a general estimate, not legal advice. Deadlines can be shorter, paused, or extended.

  • Deadline to file a contempt motion for missed child support payments: 2 years

    A court can hold a non-paying parent in contempt only if the motion is filed within two years after support ends. Missing this window eliminates the contempt remedy even if unpaid amounts remain.

    Tex. Fam. Code § 157.005(a)

  • Deadline to obtain a court money judgment for unpaid child support arrears: 10 years

    A court can confirm unpaid arrears as a money judgment within 10 years of the date support ends. A confirmed judgment may be collected through liens, bank levies, and similar tools.

    Tex. Fam. Code § 157.005(b)

  • Presumptive cap on retroactive child support — going back no more than 4 years: 4 years

    A court order limiting retroactive support to amounts owed in the four years before filing is presumed reasonable and in the child's best interest. A court may go further back if the paying parent knowingly avoided being identified as the parent.

    Tex. Fam. Code § 154.131

These deadlines are general estimates. They can be shorter than they appear, and can be paused (“tolled”) or extended in specific situations. This is not legal advice. If any deadline is near or has passed, talk to a lawyer right away.

Where to go & how to get help

Government agencies and non-profit legal-help organizations for child support in Texas.

How to take action in Texas

  1. 1

    Open a case with the Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division

    The Texas Office of the Attorney General provides free child support services, including establishing new orders, changing existing ones, and collecting overdue payments. Apply online at childsupport.oag.texas.gov or visit a local office.

  2. 2

    Establish paternity if the parents were not married

    Before a support order can be issued, the child's legal father must be established. Both parents can sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity at the hospital or through the Attorney General's office, or a court can order a DNA test.

  3. 3

    Gather proof of both parents' income

    Texas calculates support based on the paying parent's monthly net resources after taxes and certain deductions. Having recent pay stubs, tax returns, or employer records ready will speed up the process.

  4. 4

    Get a court order or use the Child Support Review Process

    A judge can set a support amount in court, or both parents can use the Attorney General's Child Support Review Process — a faster, lower-cost alternative authorized by Texas Family Code Chapter 233.

  5. 5

    Set up automatic income withholding

    Texas courts almost always require the paying parent's employer to deduct support directly from paychecks and send it to the state disbursement unit, reducing the risk of missed payments under Texas Family Code Chapter 158.

  6. 6

    Review the order every three years

    Either parent can request a review after three years. If the guideline amount would differ from the current order by 20 percent or $100 per month, a court can modify the order without proof of a change in circumstances under Texas Family Code Section 156.401.

A general roadmap, not legal advice — the right steps depend on your situation and deadlines.

Common questions about child support in Texas

How is child support calculated in Texas?

Texas uses a percentage of the paying parent's monthly net resources: 20 percent for one child, 25 percent for two, 30 percent for three, 35 percent for four, and 40 percent for five or more children. As of September 1, 2025, those percentages apply to the first $11,700 of monthly net resources under Texas Family Code Section 154.125. A court may order more than the guideline amount if the child has exceptional needs.

When does child support end in Texas?

Child support generally continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever comes later, under Texas Family Code Section 154.001. If a child is still enrolled full-time in an accredited secondary school program after turning 18, support can continue until graduation under Section 154.002.

Can I get child support if we were never married?

Yes. Texas does not require parents to have been married. If legal parentage has not been established, it must be determined first — through a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity or a court order — before a support order can be issued.

What happens if the other parent does not pay?

Texas enforcement tools include wage withholding, seizing tax refunds, suspending driver's and professional licenses, and reporting overdue amounts to credit bureaus. The Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division handles enforcement for free. A court can also hold a non-paying parent in contempt, which can result in fines or jail time.

Can a child support order be changed after it is set?

Yes. Either parent can ask a court to modify the order if there has been a material and substantial change in circumstances, such as a large income change. After three years, modification is presumed warranted if the current order differs from the guideline amount by 20 percent or $100 per month, under Texas Family Code Section 156.401.

What is retroactive child support?

Retroactive support covers amounts owed from before a court order was entered. Texas courts presume it is reasonable to limit retroactive support to the four years before the petition was filed, under Texas Family Code Section 154.131. A court can award more if the paying parent knowingly avoided establishing parentage.

Can parents agree to waive child support?

No. Under Texas law, child support belongs to the child, not to either parent. Parents cannot simply agree between themselves to eliminate support. Any change to a support order must be approved by a court, which is required to ensure the amount serves the child's best interest.

Not legal advice. State-specific statutes, deadlines and procedures are being sourced and will appear here.