Child support guidelines are designed to ensure that all parents and children are treated fairly. The numbers are inputted into the guidelines and formulas and a child support number is generated. The goal is to remove bias from the calculus. As discussed in a prior post, to help parents estimate their child support payments the Texas Attorney General has posted a child support calculator on their website. This post will address the final factors that the calculator considers.
An attorney can explain the guidelines and how they may apply to you but this calculator provides some hints as to what the court will expect you to submit and substantiate with evidence. The previous post discussed income and pay periods.
This post will discuss potential deductions to child support. The first deduction is health support payments, specifically, health insurance. You can substantiate these claims with copies of your health premiums paid. Be sure to note the insurance company, the court may request a follow-up to confirm.
The other major deduction is current child support obligations. It is imperative that you track your child support payments. Keep receipts and statements showing your regular payments. You will also need to produce information that details how many children you support, including those that live with you. This can be anything from receipts from the grocery store to school supplies. Don’t worry about being too expansive with your documents, your attorney can help you organize them.
If you are in the middle of a child support dispute then you may want to speak to an attorney. The child support calculator is a good estimator of your potential payments but ultimately it is up to the court to decide. The court will require you to submit income statements, bank statements and perhaps even tax returns. If you try to seek a deduction, the court will seek further documentation to substantiate those claims. an attorney can help you prepare your arguments and ensure that your child support payment plan is fair.
