Child Support Changes September 1
For cases filed after September 1, 2007, child support will go up, depending on one's income level. In House Bill 448, the Texas legislature made three changes to child support:
1. Although child support percentages remain the same, the "net resources" ceiling will increase from $6,000 to $7,500. This means that the percentages will be applied up to $7,500 in net resources instead of just to the first $6,000 of net resources.
The child support percentages are:
| 1 child | 20% of net resources |
| 2 children | 25% of net resources |
| 3 children | 30% of net resources |
| 4 children | 35% of net resources |
| 5 children | 40% of net resources |
| 6+ children | Not less than the amount for 5 children |
2. The second change is that the net resources ceiling ($7,500) is to be adjusted every six years to reflect inflation, according to the Consumer Price Index.
These changes are part of amended Texas Family Code section 154.125. The third change - requiring pro rata calculation of dependent health insurance - is reflected in Texas Family Code sections 154.182 and 154.183:
3. The Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Committee Report describes this third major change:
Provides that in calculating expenses for health insurance coverage, if the obligor has other minor dependents covered under the same health coverage the court shall divide the total cost to the obligor of the coverage by the total number of dependents, including the child that is the subject of the order.
None of this applies if a case is pending prior to September 1, 2007. Only if the case is filed on or after that date do these changes apply.
