When parents in Texas need a court order for child support—in a divorce, a suit affecting the parent-child relationship, or another family case—the starting point is usually the child support guidelines in Chapter 154 of the Texas Family Code. Those guidelines explain how courts compute net resources, which percentage schedules apply, and when a court may order a different amount. This article summarizes establishing support under the guidelines—not changing an existing order.
Where the rules come from
Chapter 154 of the Texas Family Code covers court-ordered child support. Subchapter C contains the guidelines. Section 154.121 states that the guidelines are intended to guide the court in determining an equitable amount of child support. Section 154.122 provides that the amount of a periodic payment established by the guidelines in effect at the hearing is presumed to be reasonable, and that an order conforming to the guidelines is presumed to be in the best interest of the child. A court may determine that applying the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate. Summaries also appear on TexasLawHelp’s child support page and in Office of the Attorney General Title IV-D materials.
Step by step: how guideline support is structured
Step 1: Identify duration and information to gather
Under §154.001, the court may order either or both parents to support a child until the child is 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later; until emancipation through marriage, removal of the disabilities of minority by court order, or other operation of law; until the death of the child; or, if the child is disabled as defined in the chapter, for an indefinite period. Section 154.002 addresses support through high school graduation when enrollment and attendance requirements are met. Section 154.006 lists events that terminate the duty of support unless otherwise agreed in writing or provided in the order. Section 154.063 requires tax returns for the past two years, a financial statement, and current pay stubs—often including W-2s or 1099s, self-employment records, benefit letters, and health or dental premium proof for families in Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley.
Step 2: Compute “net resources”
Section 154.061 directs that, whenever feasible, gross income should first be computed annually and then recalculated to average monthly gross income. The Title IV-D agency publishes tax charts to compute net monthly income. Under §154.062, resources include 100 percent of wage and salary income and other compensation for personal services (including commissions, overtime, tips, and bonuses); interest, dividends, and royalty income; self-employment income; net rental income; and other income actually being received, including retirement benefits, certain Social Security and VA disability benefits, unemployment, disability and workers’ compensation benefits, gifts and prizes, spousal maintenance, and alimony. Resources do not include return of principal or capital; accounts receivable; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or other federal public assistance benefits; or foster-care payments. From resources, the court deducts the items listed in §154.062(d), including social security taxes, federal income tax (single-person standard deduction basis), state income tax, union dues, and ordered health, dental, or cash medical support expenses for the obligor’s child. Section 154.069 states that the court may not add a spouse’s net resources when calculating child support.
Step 3: Apply the matching percentage schedule
Under §154.125(b), if the obligor’s monthly net resources are not greater than the maximum published by the Title IV-D agency in the Texas Register and are equal to or greater than $1,000, the court shall presumptively apply this schedule:
- 1 child — 20% of obligor’s net resources
- 2 children — 25%
- 3 children — 30%
- 4 children — 35%
- 5 children — 40%
- 6 or more children — not less than the amount for 5 children
Under §154.125(c), if monthly net resources are less than $1,000, the low-income schedule applies: 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, and 35% for one through five children, and not less than the five-child amount for six or more.
The maximum monthly net resources for the percentage guidelines is the amount most recently published by the Title IV-D agency in the Texas Register (§154.125(a)–(a-1)). The Office of the Attorney General’s 2025 Revised Tax Charts state that, effective September 1, 2025, that amount is $11,700.00. The OAG also provides an online monthly child support calculator.
Step 4: Amounts above the maximum; medical and dental support; payment
If net resources exceed the §154.125(a) amount, §154.126 says the court shall presumptively apply the percentage guidelines to the portion within that amount, and may order additional support based on the parties’ income and the proven needs of the child.
Section 154.064 states that the guidelines assume medical and dental support will be ordered in addition to guideline child support. Under §154.181(e), “reasonable cost” for health insurance means a cost that does not exceed nine percent of the obligor’s annual resources under §154.062(b). Under §154.1815(a), “reasonable cost” for dental insurance means a cost that does not exceed 1.5 percent of those annual resources. Section 154.004 generally requires payment to the state disbursement unit; TexasLawHelp notes that court-ordered payments go through the Texas Child Support Disbursement Unit to be recorded. Section 154.007 requires income withholding from disposable earnings under Chapter 158 when periodic child support is ordered, modified, or enforced.
When the court may order a different amount
Section 154.123 allows a different periodic amount if the evidence rebuts the presumption that applying the guidelines is in the child’s best interest and justifies a variance. The court shall consider factors listed in that section, including the child’s age and needs, the parents’ ability to contribute, time of possession and access, child care expenses, health insurance and uninsured medical expenses, special educational or health expenses, travel costs for possession and access, and other reasons consistent with the child’s best interest. Section 154.124 allows a written agreement on support, including variations from the guidelines. If the court finds the agreement is in the child’s best interest, the court shall render an order in accordance with it. Support terms may be enforced by judgment remedies, including contempt, but not as a contract. Sections 154.128 and 154.129 address children in more than one household.
Other points written into Chapter 154
- Support is not tied to visitation. Section 154.011 prohibits conditioning child support on whether a possessory conservator is allowed possession of or access to the child.
- Intentional unemployment or underemployment. Under §154.066, if actual income is significantly less than earning potential because of intentional unemployment or underemployment, the court may apply the guidelines to earning potential. Incarceration may not be treated as intentional unemployment or underemployment when establishing or modifying support.
- Wage presumption and findings. Under §154.068, without evidence of resources, the court shall presume income equal to the federal minimum wage for a 40-hour week (with a confinement exception). Section 154.130 requires findings when a party requests them or the ordered amount varies from the guideline percentage computation under §154.125 or §154.129.
What to gather before a hearing
- Tax returns for the past two years, a financial statement, and current pay stubs (§154.063)
- Self-employment income and ordinary and necessary business expense records (§154.065)
- Proof of health and dental premiums and whether coverage is available through employment
- Information about other children the obligor must support, benefit-income records, and notes on child care, travel for possession and access, or special educational or health expenses related to §154.123
Frequently asked questions
What percentage applies for one child under the standard guidelines?
Under §154.125(b), when monthly net resources are at least $1,000 and not greater than the published maximum, the presumptive schedule is 20% of the obligor’s net resources for one child.
What if monthly net resources are under $1,000?
Section 154.125(c) provides a low-income schedule; for one child, the presumptive percentage is 15%.
What is the current maximum net resources amount for the percentage guidelines?
The Family Code points to the amount published by the Title IV-D agency in the Texas Register. The OAG’s 2025 Revised Tax Charts state that, effective September 1, 2025, that amount is $11,700.00.
Are medical and dental support part of the guideline percentage?
No. Section 154.064 says they are ordered in addition to the guideline child support amount.
Can parents agree to a different support amount?
Yes. Under §154.124, if they enter a written agreement and the court finds it is in the child’s best interest, the court shall render an order accordingly.
Does child support stop if the other parent denies visitation?
No. Section 154.011 prohibits conditioning payment on whether a possessory conservator is allowed possession or access.
Questions in Brownsville and South Texas
Families in Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley often need a clear picture of how Texas guideline percentages, net resources, and medical or dental support fit together before a hearing. CRG Law’s Brownsville office works with parents on family law matters that include child support under Chapter 154. Contact the office with questions about these guidelines.