Texas parents who fall behind on mandated child support payments can be found in contempt of court and can be jailed for up to six months and/or fined up to $500 every time they fail to make a payment. In addition, the arrearages will continue to accrue. The courts can also put liens on certain types of property owned by the delinquent parent. State-issued licenses, including driver's licenses and professional licenses, are subject to revocation as well.
Do grandparents have visitation rights in Texas?
In the absence of a court order, the laws of the state of Texas do not give grandparents the right to continuing contact or visitation with their grandchildren. There is a presumption that parents are to determine who is allowed access to their children, because parents are presumed to act in their children's best interests. Only with compelling evidence may grandparents gain the legal right to see their grandchildren.
Calculating child support
Texas parents dealing with child support issues may wonder about how the amount of support is to be determined. The state's law is straightforward, making use of a mathematical formula in computing the amount of support owed by a non-custodial parent. The financial obligation is based on the parent's net income, and the percentage owed depends on how many children are to be supported.
Child custody jurisdiction and relocating in a different state
Texas parents may wonder what happens to a child custody arrangement once one parent moves to another state. Prior to the enactment of The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, judges in different states sometimes ruled on custody issues that may have already been decided in the child's home state, which led to confusion.
Texas divorce and deciding what is best for the children
One important agreement parents make when divorce happens is what is best for the children. Using that as a base, an arrangement is structured that outlines whether one or both parents are responsible for decisions pertinent to the child's care. If parents are unable to reach a mutually agreeable arrangement, the court will decide.
