How to Determine Child Support in Texas

In Texas, the family court determines child support by examining the noncustodial parent's income and expenses. The court requires the parent to pay child support based on how much he makes and how many children he must support. If the court believes the parent is deliberately unemployed, it may require him to pay a greater amount of child support than is standard for his income level.

Instructions

1

Calculate your net income. Take 100 percent of your wages and any other income you earn (dividends, self-employment income and rental income) and subtract Social Security taxes, federal and state income taxes and expenses for your children's health care.

2

Multiply your net income by a percentage based on the number of children you must support. As of 2010, Texas requires you to pay 20 percent of your net income if you have one child, 25 percent for two children, 30 percent for three children, 35 percent for four children and 40 percent for five or more children.

3

Subtract 2.5 percent from the percentage you owe each month if you are supporting a child from a previous marriage. For example, if you have two children from this marriage and one child from a previous marriage, use 22.5 percent as your percentage for determining child support for the children from this marriage.