Parents in Texas understand the importance of making sure their children are taken care of. This can mean that they are supported both emotionally and financially. If parents are no longer together, the noncustodial parent has the legal obligation to pay child support. Parents may wonder how long these child support obligations will last.
Child support laws in Texas
In Texas, child support obligations are governed by the Texas Family Code, Section 154.001. It states that parents have the duty of providing child support until any one of the following occurs:
- The child reaches the age of 18 or graduates from high school, whichever one occurs later.
- The child is emancipated from their parents through marriage or removal of the child’s disabilities of minority by court order.
- The child dies.
If the child is disabled, child support may be ordered to occur indefinitely. A disabled child is generally one who requires significant care and supervision because of their disability and is not capable of supporting themselves.
Child support modification in Texas
A legal professional who is skilled in family law can help their client understand their child support obligations. Child support can be modified under a number of circumstances that may include:
- Loss of employment
- Increase or decrease in income
- The party paying support has additional children to support
- Special needs of child
- A child’s living arrangements have changed
- There are changes in a medical insurance.
An attorney will take the time to understand their client’s needs and will work through a plan that both helps their client and is in the child’s best interest.